Saturday’s clash between the Army West Point Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen lived up to the hype, delivering a nail-biting finish that will be remembered for years. Set against the backdrop of one of college football’s most storied rivalries, the 2025 Army-Navy Game saw the Midshipmen edge out the Black Knights with a heart-stopping 17-16 victory on December 13, 2025. The win pushes Navy’s record to an impressive 10-2, while Army settles at 6-6.
What makes this annual gridiron battle so captivating? For starters, the Army-Navy Game isn’t just about football—it’s a celebration of tradition, service, and fierce competition. Each year, cadets and midshipmen, alumni, and fans from across the nation gather to witness the pride and pageantry that only this matchup can deliver. The 2025 edition was no different, with an electric atmosphere and both teams leaving everything on the field.
The contest itself was a showcase of grit and determination. Navy’s offense, led by a balanced attack, managed to find just enough seams in Army’s tough defense to put points on the board. The Black Knights, never ones to back down, responded in kind, keeping the game within reach from start to finish. But in the end, it was a crucial defensive stand and a perfectly executed field goal that sealed the win for the Midshipmen. Fans could hardly believe it as the final seconds ticked away—what a finish!
“This is what you play for,” said a Navy player after the game, echoing the sentiments of teammates and coaches alike. The victory marks another chapter in Navy’s resurgence this season, as their 10-2 record now stands as one of the program’s best in recent memory. For Army, the narrow loss stings, but with a .500 record, there’s still much to be proud of in a season filled with ups and downs.
Beyond the scoreboard, the Army-Navy Game is renowned for its unique blend of sportsmanship and rivalry. Both teams, comprised entirely of future military officers, demonstrate a level of mutual respect seldom seen in other college football contests. The post-game handshakes and joint singing of alma maters are a testament to the enduring bond between these service academies, regardless of the outcome on the field.
But the action wasn’t limited to the football stadium this week. On December 10, 2025, just days before the big game, a significant milestone unfolded at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. There, a Soldier assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) pinned the coveted Special Forces Tab on a newly graduated Green Beret during a formal tabbing ceremony. The Special Forces Tab is awarded to U.S. Army Soldiers who successfully complete the Special Forces Qualification Course—a physically and mentally demanding program that trains Soldiers in the basics of unconventional warfare. The ceremony, captured in a striking image by Pfc. Edgar Martinez, was a powerful reminder of the dedication and sacrifice required to join the ranks of America’s elite warriors.
The week was packed with other notable developments in the military and national security arenas. On December 9, Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, a military police officer from the 863rd Military Police Company, West Virginia Army National Guard, was laid to rest with full military honors at the West Virginia National Cemetery in Grafton. Her service and sacrifice were honored by family, friends, and fellow Soldiers in a moving ceremony that underscored the deep bonds within the military community.
Meanwhile, the world of special operations continued to evolve. A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, released on December 8, identified safety concerns with the Osprey aircraft and offered recommendations to mitigate risks. The ongoing modernization and readiness of these critical platforms remain a top priority for military planners, especially as new threats emerge in the cyber and space domains.
Speaking of modernization, December 11 saw the promotion of Lieutenant General Michelle A. Schmidt, now serving as the Army’s Deputy Chief of Staff, G-2. With a distinguished career in both conventional and special operations intelligence, her leadership is expected to accelerate the Army’s adaptation to a rapidly changing security environment. In a similar vein, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency welcomed a new director on December 12, promising a renewed focus on analytics and artificial intelligence to bolster U.S. capabilities.
Special operations forces (SOF) are also making waves in the global security landscape. As highlighted in a recent Special Warfare Journal article, the integration of Army Special Operations Forces into the SOF-Space-Cyber Triad is extending the operational reach, survivability, and agility of forward-deployed teams. “A Team Room Discussion on the SOF-Space-Cyber Triad” emphasized the importance of leveraging technology while preserving the core activities that define ARSOF missions.
Elsewhere, special operations forces demonstrated their versatility with a quiet but significant maritime interdiction operation. On December 14, 2024, U.S. SOF boarded a China-to-Iran ship in the Indian Ocean, a mission that barely made headlines but showcased the global reach and effectiveness of these elite units.
Back on the home front, the Department of Veterans Affairs faces challenges of its own. Reports indicate that the VA may soon eliminate up to 35,000 health care positions, including doctors and nurses, on top of the 30,000 already lost this year. These cuts could mean longer wait times for veterans seeking care, adding pressure to an already stretched system. The well-being of America’s veterans remains a pressing concern, with advocates like Matthew Buckley, president of the No Fallen Heroes Foundation, speaking at Harvard about the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for veterans struggling with trauma and depression.
Internationally, U.S. special operations forces have been active in the fight against transnational crime. As of mid-December 2025, at least 22 kinetic strikes around Venezuela have resulted in the deaths of more than 80 drug smugglers, underscoring America’s commitment to combating illicit trafficking in the region. In the Caribbean, Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) aircraft and personnel—including HH-60W helicopters and HC-130J planes—have arrived as part of a broader military buildup. These assets are poised to support potential operations and provide critical rescue capabilities if the regional situation escalates.
With so much happening in and around the world of military sports and operations, it’s clear that service, sacrifice, and competition remain at the heart of America’s armed forces. The Army-Navy Game may have provided the week’s most thrilling finish, but the stories of dedication and excellence stretch far beyond the football field.
As the dust settles from Saturday’s dramatic contest, both Army and Navy can look back on a season defined by perseverance and pride. For the Midshipmen, a 10-2 record and a hard-fought win over their greatest rivals is a fitting capstone. For the Black Knights, the narrow defeat serves as motivation for next year’s showdown. One thing’s for sure: the spirit of competition and camaraderie that defines the Army-Navy rivalry will endure, inspiring future generations of cadets, midshipmen, and fans alike.
