Alex Hollings

Alex Hollings Alex Hollings writes on a breadth of subjects ranging from fitness to foreign policy, all presented through the lens of his experiences as a U.S. Marine, athlete and scholar. A football player, rugby player and fighter, Hollings has spent the better part of his adult life competing in some of the most physically demanding sports on the planet. Hollings possesses a master's degree in communications from Southern New Hampshire University, as well as a bachelor's degree in Corporate and Organizational Communications from Framingham State University.

Op-Ed: Firearm safety rules apply to everyone. Don’t be an idiot.

The United States has long been, and will likely forever continue to be, embroiled in a debate about firearms. What firearms are okay to own, where is it okay to carry them, and how to prevent nefarious types from getting their hands on them are the subject of polarizing arguments around every national election – […]

A simple mental exercise that increases your chances of surviving a gunfight

For a defensive minded person, potential threats to the well-being of you and your family are always near the forefront of your mind. Whether you’re walking down a dimly lit New York City alleyway or trudging up the steep and well-worn mountain path behind your wooded home, there are dangers to consider and mitigate if […]

Field Watch Review: Sans 13 Tactical Sport Watch from S&B

We’ve scoped out the SANS-13 Tactical Sport Watch from S&B (formerly Smith and Bradley) before and found it to be an exceptional field timepiece, but the watch recently underwent a redesign that was informed heavily by feedback S&B received directly from military and law enforcement users. The result is one hell of a tough duty […]

The secret to making a Ruger LCP carry-able is buying the right accessories

I picked up a Ruger LCP for a steal a few months ago. I wasn’t on the market for compact pistol (I’m a big enough guy that my EDC Glock 19 rarely gives me any trouble concealing) but I am, for better or worse, a gun guy. When I’m presented with an opportunity to buy […]

Let there be light: Why making a flashlight part of your EDC is worth it

From the earliest days of mankind, one of the few things that separated our particular breed of big-brained monkey from the rest of the competition in the wild was our ability to harness light, in the form of fire. Fire, of course, was paramount to our success as a species for a number of other […]

Opinion: Let’s talk about what ‘real men’ do.

Masculinity is a tough topic to discuss in an open forum nowadays. Invariably, within the first few sentences (which makes up the preview seen on most social media platforms), everyone that takes the time to scan the headline above will place me into one of two categories: the man’s man (or purveyor of toxic masculinity) […]

Research says it takes just 15 extra pounds of gear to compromise your ability to fight

It’s the mental debate every war fighter has before departing for a mission, every hiker has before stepping off on a journey, and every camper has as they pack their bags: how much can I carry and still be as effective as I need to be? At what point is the extra weight of our […]

Watch: This insane drone footage puts you inside a rocket artillery barrage

Despite the widespread use of photo and video capturing technologies in our modern world, there are still some sights that elude all but the most fortunate (or unfortunate) of us. Bigfoot remains nothing more than a brown blur no matter how many megapixels Apple crams into their new iPhones and although we’re all certain that […]

Winning the fight: The biggest, strongest guy in the bar usually isn’t the one you need to worry about

For the security conscious, walking into a crowded bar usually isn’t your idea of a good time. Crowds are exceptionally good at concealing threats, and those who have built careers (either legitimate or otherwise) by being a threat know that. These days, I’m a pretty big fella. At six feet tall and around 245 pounds, […]

VA institutes new policy aimed at stopping vets from hiding guns in wheelchairs

For many veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs can be a source of seemingly limitless frustration. Long wait times, understaffed facilities, and miles of red tape are just some of the barriers between veterans and the care they seek, and as a result, a rash of gun related incidents have plagued VA facilities in recent […]