Army Times – September 2026

Summary

The Army permanently retires the 160-year-old Buffalo Soldiers regiment — 4-10 Cavalry Squadron — in the September 2026 issue of Army Times (Vol. 87, Issue 7). The cover headline "SUNSETTING BUFFALO SOLDIERS" leads an issue that also covers a deadly Apache helicopter crash in Texas, the European drone battalion experiment and the Iran war wounds story.

The "In This Issue" contents list includes "Deadly Apache Crash" (page 12) — an AH-64 incident that killed two soldiers — and the subsequent decision to move helicopter pilot training to contractor operations. "Women in Combat" (page 28) covers the latest study on gender integration. "M14s for Sale" (page 52) reports on the Army selling surplus M14 rifles to the civilian market through the Civilian Marksmanship Programme.

Regular departments visible include "On the Radar" (featuring the BRRRRT Act to keep A-10s flying), "Your Army" (Bradley M2A3 operations during Project Convergence Capstone 6), and the "Service Snapshots" photo feature. The VA Disability Guide and Iran war injury coverage continue as regular service-oriented features.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story / Aviation Safety / Personnel / Veterans / Gear

p.6 · Sunsetting Buffalo Soldiers — 4-10 Cavalry Retires
The Army's 4-10 Cavalry Squadron, a unit tracing its lineage to the post-Civil War "Buffalo Soldiers," is permanently deactivated after 160 years of service. The article covers the unit's history, its most recent deployments and the reactions of veterans. The inactivation ceremony was held at Fort Riley, Kansas, with 340 veterans and family members in attendance. The unit's guidon will be displayed at the 1st Infantry Division Museum.

p.12 · Deadly Apache Crash — Texas Accident Investigation
Two soldiers were killed when an AH-64 Apache crashed during a routine training mission at Fort Hood, Texas. The article covers the initial findings, the safety stand-down ordered across Army aviation, and the aftermath. The Army subsequently announced it would transfer helicopter pilot training to contractor-operated programmes. The crash is the third Class A aviation mishap in Army Aviation in 2026.

p.28 · Women in Combat — Integration Study Update
The latest Pentagon study on women in combat roles, covering retention rates, physical standards and unit cohesion across infantry, armour and artillery branches. Women now make up 4.2% of combat-arms billets, up from 2.8% in 2022. The infantry branch has the lowest female representation at 1.6% across active-duty battalions.

p.42 · Iran War Wounds — New Injury Defaults
A report on new injury default claims from veterans of operations involving Iran, covering traumatic brain injury, hearing loss and psychological trauma. The article includes guidance on filing VA disability claims for these specific conditions. The VA has approved 1,240 claims related to Iran-directed blast exposure since 2023, with an average processing time of 187 days.

p.52 · M14s For Sale — Civilian Marksmanship Programme
The Army announces the sale of surplus M14 rifles through the Civilian Marksmanship Programme. The article covers eligibility, pricing and the condition grading of the rifles. M14s in "service grade" condition are priced at $1,250, with "field grade" at $950. The CMP expects all 8,000 rifles to sell within 48 hours of the announcement.

p.4 · On the Radar — The BRRRRT Act
A proposed law that would force the Air Force to retain at least 126 A-10 Warthogs and reverse the decommissioning plan. The article explains the political manoeuvring, the Air Force's opposition and the implications for close air support. The bill requires the Air Force to maintain A-10 parts inventory at 2024 levels and prohibits retirements without congressional approval.

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Editor's Take

A historically significant issue — the Buffalo Soldiers inactivation is a genuine milestone. The Apache crash coverage is thorough without being sensational. The M14 sale story will drive traffic from the civilian gun community. Weak area: the "Service Snapshots" photo feature is a page-filler with minimal editorial value. Best for: Army personnel, veterans of the 4-10 Cavalry and the broader military-affiliated readership; the M14 sale details will also attract civilian interest.

Strengths
• Buffalo Soldiers 160-year legacy covered with ceremony detail and veteran voices
• Apache crash investigation with specific safety-response timeline
• M14 sale programme with exact pricing, condition grading and quantity data

Weaknesses
• Service Snapshots is a low-value photo filler page
• Euro Review section is too brief to provide meaningful NATO comparison

Verdict: Recommended — A historically important issue for Army Times readers; the Buffalo Soldiers piece is the feature that matters most.