There is perhaps no greater friend to persons of lower rank in the military than reporters who cover the military, defense, and veterans beat.

Reporters provide rare external accountability for the military, accountability Congress has been reluctant to undertake https://twitter.com/MarcusReports/status/1247207739480256517

The Department of Defense has become increasingly hostile towards such accountability -- a problem not unique to the current administration, but this administration has certainly continued in that vein.

Acting Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Modly, says that the media has an agenda.

The only agenda I've seen from the many reporters I have interacted with is a passion for careful stewardship of resources, both taxpayer money, and the welfare of military service members and families

On the other hand, the upper echelons of military leadership, both in and out of uniform, have certainly demonstrated both personal and political agendas time and time again.

From toxic unit cultures, to sexism and sexual assault, to program cost overruns, corruption, to endless wars, the work of so many reporters have exposed wrongs inside of the military, which commands had opportunities to correct, but, for their own agendas, chose not to.

It is a scary thing, to be an E3. You place your life and well-being into the hands of a powerful institution. When that institution becomes hostile towards a media which seeks to hold it to account, the world becomes even scarier

Without the media, to whom can they turn?