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]

The Pentagon is recruiting Wall Street bankers to deploy $200 billion in defense deals The Department of War is headhunting talent from Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, and Bank of America to build a 30-person "Economic Defense Unit." The two-to-three-year secondment program aims to counter China's economic coercion through strategic investment. Read full article →

VA's AI fraud scanner is coming for a million veterans claims The VA is deploying an AI tool to flag potentially fraudulent disability questionnaires dating back to 2010 — with no formal guardrails yet in place. Veterans advocates warn the system could reduce legitimate ratings based on suspicion alone. Read full article →

Congress moves to make drill weekend pay tax-free for Guard and Reserve members A new House bill would exempt Inactive Duty Training pay from federal income taxes for the more than 800,000 part-time service members who balance civilian careers with military service. Backers say it will boost recruitment and retention. Read full article →

5,000 more Marines are heading to the Middle East — and the Strait isn't open yet The USS Tripoli is leading an amphibious ready group toward the Persian Gulf as CENTCOM pushes for reinforcements. With Iran's new supreme leader vowing to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed, Trump says tanker escorts are coming "soon." Read full article →

Apologies to our female readers, we realize this skews male, as does our audience (like 90%). We write what we know. Maybe an XX subscriber can submit the female version of this soon.

1. Use bar soap, not body wash You’re not 15. Bar soap smells and works better.

2. Find a quality barber or stylist A great haircut is one of the highest-ROI grooming investments you can make. Find someone who understands your hair type, book consistently every 3–4 weeks, and tip well — that relationship pays dividends. If you cut your own hair to save a few bucks, just go ahead and unsubscribe from this newsletter.

3. Know how to dress for any occasion You don't need a large wardrobe, you need the right one. A well-fitted suit, a sharp casual outfit, and clean everyday basics will cover 95% of your life. The goal isn't fashion; it's never being underdressed or overdressed for any room you walk into. Fit matters more than brand.

4. Invest — even if it's a small amount Compound interest doesn't care about your intentions, only your start date. At minimum: contribute enough to your 401(k) to get your employer match (that's a 50–100% instant return), open a Roth IRA, and put money into a low-cost index fund. You don't need to be rich to start. You just need to start.

5. Have a side hustle Build something outside of your regular day job. Not only can it turn into a second revenue stream, it gives more purpose to your life than being a wage slave. It also provides you new skills, experiences, and networks to leverage.

6. Know how to cook — really cook Master the basics: a proper scrambled egg, a good steak, etc. and then learn one dish that takes real technique, like a beef wellington or something. Cooking for yourself is the cheapest health upgrade you'll ever make. Cooking for others is one of the most attractive things you can do.

7. Order a drink that isn't a White Claw or a Jack and Coke Know what you like. A well-made Old Fashioned, a good glass of wine you can actually describe, a proper beer selection — it signals that you've developed taste. You don't need to be a sommelier. You just need to have a thoughtful go-to order that isn't the first thing you discovered at 19.

8. Get your bloodwork done annually Most men have no idea what their testosterone, cholesterol, vitamin D, or blood sugar levels look like. Your body keeps score even when you're not paying attention. An annual panel costs almost nothing with insurance and gives you a baseline to actually manage your health rather than react to it when it's too late.

9. Understand what you own and what you owe Know your net worth — assets minus liabilities. Know your monthly cash flow. Know your credit score and what's on your credit report. Financial literacy isn't glamorous but it's the foundation everything else is built on. You can't make good decisions about money if you don't know where you actually stand.

10. Consume one book a month Twelve books a year, across history, business, biography, and fiction, compounds into a perspective most people simply don't have. Read the physical pages if that's your mode. If you're commuting, working out, or doing chores, audiobooks are awesome.

11. Be the one who maintains friendships Friendships don't maintain themselves after your mid-20s. The guys who have a strong circle at 35 and 45 are the ones who sent the text, made the reservation, and showed up when it wasn't convenient. Invest in a small number of real friendships the same way you'd invest in anything else that matters.

12. Learn basic home and car maintenance Change a tire, reset a circuit breaker, patch a drywall hole, unclog a drain, change your oil. None of these are complicated. Knowing them saves you money and means you're not helpless the moment something breaks.

13. Have a physical outlet — and protect it Lifting, running, martial arts, hiking, sports — it doesn't matter what it is, but it needs to be something. Your mental health, stress tolerance, discipline, and confidence are all downstream of whether you're physically active. This isn't optional after 25. The men who skip it show up differently at 35.

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.

Jim is a giant nerd for improving the military, especially how we manage and support our people. Officially, he is LTC in the USAR assigned to the Office of the Chief of Army Reserve as a product manager. In that role, he supports GigEagle.mil, an incredible talent marketplace platform for the joint force. Professionally, he is the Deputy CIO at the defense software startup Onebrief and an expert in cloud computing and security. He has led multiple non-profits supporting the DoD and he often writes for War on the Rocks.

Our very own PART⚡TIME boi Ted Delicath vibe coded this new app to help service members get a holistic projection and understanding of their entire potential retirement income—pension, VA disability, TSP, and social security.

It creates a pretty compelling case not to get out of the military the first (or millionth) time somebody pisses you off before you’ve hit 20 years.

It’s pretty cool—check it out: https://milretire.netlify.app/

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

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.