Arete: 12.17.25

Arete is my hand-picked weekly list of the most thought-provoking articles, essays, and links I come across—curated for mountain and tactical athletes. Not always the newest, but always worth your time. It’s what I’d forward to a sharp teammate or training partner.

— Rob Shaul, Founder, Mountain Tactical Institute

MILITARY / NATIONAL SECURITY

Hegseth: Pentagon won’t release full video of Sept. 2 boat strikes, Defense News
Ukraine strikes Russian submarine with underwater drones, UK Defense Journal
Navy Has 20,000 Gaps at Sea Due to Training Backlog, Past Recruiting Shortfall, USNI
The Imperial Trap: Russia’s War in Ukraine and the Lessons of Failed Conquests, War on the Rocks
US military kills 8 in latest attacks on vessels in eastern Pacific, Al Jazeera
Pentagon plan calls for major power shifts within U.S. military, Washington Post
Army stands up Western Hemisphere Command prioritizing homeland defense, consolidation, Breaking Defense
Pentagon escalates review into Sen. Kelly over ‘illegal orders’ video, Defense News
Kelly on Pentagon review escalation: ‘It doesn’t seem … very serious’, Defense News
Nearly 300 days after purge, Pentagon taps new Air Force vice chief, JAG, Defense One
How Europe Lost, Foreign Affairs
The Nvidia Chip Deal Is a National Security Disaster Waiting to Happen, Foreign Policy
New GAO, Navy reports warn of serious V-22 Osprey safety risks, with some fixes stretching into 2030s, Defense One
Attacker Who Killed US Troops in Syria Was a Recent Recruit to Security Forces, Official Says, military.com
Are the Drug Boat Killings Trump’s Vietnam Moment? Foreign Policy
Ukraine funding is an iceberg for European unity, Morning Defense
Why Ireland is So Left-Wing, Chronicles
Leadership by Example Has Broken Down at VMI, The Cadet
America’s Drone Delusion, Foreign Affairs
Congress wants to screen drone operators for PTSD, depression, Task Force& Purpose
5 questions only a veteran would ask the top generals at West Point and the Naval Academy, Task & Purpose
Sailors can expect to do fitness tests twice a year, says Navy’s top enlisted leader
The stories behind the unit patches at this year’s Army-Navy Game, Task & Purpose

FIRST RESPONDER / HOMELAND SECURITY / WILDLAND FIRE

D.C. Police chief pushed cops to manipulate crime data, House Oversight report alleges, Police 1
Man sentenced to 20 years in prison after assaulting, strangling ICE officer, Police1
‘They’re not gonna die alone’: N.H. firefighters recall being trapped in house fire, FireRescue1
11 firefighters injured in explosion, collapse during N.C. house fire, FireRescue1
FIREFIGHTER, FOUR CIVILIANS INJURED IN HOUSE FIRE – ARKANSAS, FFCC
Command and Tactical Coordination of Search and Rescue, Fire Engineering
N.Y. firefighter dies during rescue of injured hiker, FireRescue1
Worcester marks 26 years since Cold Storage Warehouse fire that killed 6 firefighters, FireRescue1
N.J. officers will be required to retake 2019 sergeant’s exam, risking demotion if they fail, Police1
Idaho to ‘double’ logging efforts under new USFS wildfire agreement, Wildfire Today

MOUNTAIN

Ford Kills the All-Electric F-150 as It Rethinks Its EV Ambitions, Gear Latest
Columbia Unveils Uniforms for USA Curling Team, and You Can Buy Them, GearJunkie
The Comeback Is On: Vonn Surges to Victory for First Time in 7 Years, GearJunkie
Skiers May Not Be Surprised by NOAA’s Snow Drought Update, but It Still Hurts, Powder
Indiana Hunter Tags Giant 190-Class Buck After Watching Him for 4 Years — and Missing Him Once, Outdoor LifeItalian Ski Racer Pulls Off Spectacular 75mph Gate Splitting Save Unofficial Network
Mammut & Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Celebrate 60 Years Of Alpine Excellence With Renewed Uniform Partnership, Snow Industry News
30-Plus Years After Climbers Were Banned, a Historic Bouldering Area Reopens, Climbing
14 Climbers Who Broke Historic Records in 2025, Climbing
Best Sheep Rifles: My Lifelong Pursuit of the Ultimate Mountain Hunting Rig, Outdoor Life
Alaskan Heli-Skiing Operation Offers Insider Discounts To Outdoors Industry Professionals, Unofficial Networks
Climbers Complete 31-Pitch 5.14a in Yosemite, Gripped
Colorado Ski Area Temporarily Shuts Down SkiingOperations Due To Warm Stretch, Unofficial Networks
The 2025 Outsiders of the Year, Outside
The North Face Introduces The Snowsports Collection, Snow Industry News
4 Backcountry Skiers Rescued After Smart Decisions Help Avoid Disaster Near Stowe, VT, SnowBrains
Montana Snowmobiler Alive After 12 Minute Burial In Large Avalanche, SnowBrains
The Skier Who Built the Coolest Ski Brand You’ve Never Heard Of, Powder
The 7 Best Late-Season Duck Hunts, Outdoor Life
Great Salt Lake, UT, Loses Two-Thirds of its Volume Since 1987, SnowBrains
Why Team USA’s Heavy Wool Uniforms Are Actually A Competitive Advantage, Outside
Four Backcountry Skiers Needed Help in Stowe. Here’s What They Did Right., Powder
Crash After Crash Filmed Along Snow-Covered Section Of Iowa’s I-80, Unofficial Networks
The Most Popular U.S. Ski Destinations for Winter 2026, Ranked by Price, SnowBrains
The Average Winter Temperature in the U.S. Has Risen Drastically Over the Last Century, SnowBrains
Hunting Musk Ox and Caribou in Greenland Was Nothing Like I Imagined, Outdoor Life
Colorado Lost? – Political Agendas Vs. Science-Based Wildlife Management, Eastman’s
The Off-Limits Nature of Politics In Skiing—And What It Means In A Fraught Time, Powder
The Surprisingly Tender Art of Rat Taxidermy, Outside
Alaska on Steroids: Inside the Greenland Heli Realm That’s Redefining Big-Mountain Skiing, SnowBrains
School Teacher Dies in Front of Students in Tragic Ski Accident in Austrian Ski Resort, SnowBrains
Carhartt’s $33 Winter Gloves That Keep Hands Warm in ‘Freezing Temperatures’ Are Selling Like Crazy, Men’s Journal

FITNESS / NUTRITION / HEALTH

Should You Test?, Uphill Athlete
Why the Decline Bench Press Disappeared—But Does It Still Belong in Your Chest Workout?, Muscle & Fitness
Pickleball Is a Threat to Public Health, Sensible Medicine
Steroids, Peptides, and World Records: Inside the Enhanced Games, Men’s Health
The 10 Buzzing Fitness Trends That Will Dominate Gyms and Workout Programs in 2026, According to ACSM, Men’s Journal
How Much Protein Do You Need in a Day? We Consulted the World’s Smartest Protein Experts., Men’s Health
Five Health and Nutrition Megatrends Shaping the Future of Food, Kerry Group Press
Review of Medical Cannabis Use Finds Little Evidence of Benefit, NY Times
How We Cured DEI at the NIH, Spectator
RFK Jr.’s Junk Science Agenda Is Anti-Freedom, Real Clear Health
Chris Hemsworth says caring for his dad with Alzheimer’s has reshaped his priorities as a father, Business Insider