For the almost 40% of the US military with real jobs.

We talk business, news, and culture for the PART⚡TIME warrior.

This week:

Interested in becoming a featured newsletter sponsor? Want to be highlighted or contribute? Reach out to [email protected]

One Week In, Trump's Iran Gamble Is Getting Complicated Military wins haven't translated into a clear endgame. With shifting war goals, rising oil prices, Hezbollah re-entering the fight, and MAGA support showing early cracks, analysts warn that "Operation Epic Fury" risks becoming the open-ended quagmire Trump always promised to avoid. Read more →

Noem Out: DHS Secretary Abruptly Departs Amid ICE Controversy Kristi Noem is leaving the Department of Homeland Security as questions mount over funding and the conduct of immigration enforcement officers — a major shake-up at the agency central to Trump's border agenda. Read more →

Gas Prices Just Jumped 14% in a Week — and Could Keep Climbing The U.S.-Israel attack on Iran has effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz, sending crude oil above $90 a barrel and the national gas average to $3.41 — up from under $3 just days ago. Trump, who made low gas prices a cornerstone of his campaign, says he's "not concerned." Read more →

The identifies of the first six U.S. military casualties in Operation Epic Fury were reported this week. They were Army Reserve soldiers from the 103rd Sustainment Command, killed in a drone strike at Port Shuaiba, Kuwait.

That matters beyond the tragedy itself. I’m always amazed how often I hear civilians say “I had no idea they (Guard/Reserve) were over there”,

It exposes how badly the public—and plenty of active-duty troops—still misunderstand Compo 2 and Compo 3.

The reserve component is not a bench. It is baked into global logistics, sustainment, command-and-control, and the daily machinery of U.S. power projection.

Friendly Forces exist partly to drive home that reality to employers and the broader public: this is not “one weekend a month, two weeks a year” anymore. It is a force expected to absorb real operational risk while still carrying civilian jobs, family obligations, and a public image stuck decades behind reality.

The latest numbers show that Guard and Reserve make up 37% of our uniformed force.

RIP to the fallen:

Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa
Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Lakeland, Florida
CW3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California
Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota
Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska
Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of Des Moines, Iowa

You can be VA Disability rated and continue to serve and deploy in the Guard/Reserve!

Got knee pain? Anxiety? Peyronie's Disease? You may qualify for VA disability now. And can start collecting now.

Don't wait until you're out and your records are scattered and you have to track a million people down. A VA-accredited attorney like Matt Brooks will assess your case, gather evidence, and build the strongest claim possible.

Former federal prosecutor. Direct VA access. No "claim shark" games. No bullshit.

Boss giving you grief about your military commitments? Call Brian Lawler.

If you’re running into problems with your employer due to your military service, contact Brian Lawler.

Brian’s a former Marine pilot, reservist, and one of the top USERRA attorneys in the country. He knows the law better than your HR department, and he’s made a career out of holding employers accountable.

Free consult. No win, no fee. If your job’s on the line, Brian’s the guy you want in the fight.

Huge congrats to Caitlin Rourk (who we’ve highlighted before) for winning the Democratic primary in her district.

Caitlin Rourk is a Democratic candidate for Texas's 10th Congressional District. An Army veteran who served in the U.S. Army Reserve and Texas Army National Guard, she holds degrees from the University of Chicago and UT Austin's McCombs School of Business, and has worked in communications and marketing at Dell Technologies.

Frustration with a broken Congress drove her to run, calling for a new generation of servant leaders focused on working families. She won the March 3rd Democratic primary with 60.8% of the vote and now faces Republican Chris Gober in the November general election.

The Army is pushing a major information warfare overhaul. A new fact sheet says JFK Special Warfare Center and School is consolidating Information Operations and Psychological Operations under a broader Information Warfare (IWar) approach, with doctrine, training, and force design changes already underway. Pilot qualification training is expected in Q2 FY26, and experimentation is happening now through I CORPS with active, Guard, and Reserve participation—including public affairs, cyber, electronic warfare, civil affairs, and space professionals.

The big takeaway for reservists: this looks less like a niche SOF concept and more like a wider effort to build a modern information force for the current battlefield, with branch and proponent changes still being worked out.

A living list of stuff we like—tactical, grooming, whatever, with discounts.

1) Black Wool Cap: Cool black wool caps, use discount code GRAYMAN for 15% discount

2) OTB Boots: Baller tactical footwear company, use this link for discount

Huge shoutout to OTB Boots for hooking CPT Chadwick up with the not-even-released-yet Pirata Mids. The all-new Pirata Series from OTB Boots is purpose-built to bridge maritime and land-based operations without compromise.

If you want to make baller ass unit gear repping our logo suite, check out The Fratty Guard Unit Collab Store.

Or for the GOAT classics, head over to The Fratty Guard.

If you support the work that Friendly Forces does, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help keep the lights on. Every bit helps. Turns out stuff is expensive and we put countless man hours into the work.

Absolutely massive things coming.