Richard Sisk

Richard Sisk: Chronicling the Human Dimensions of Military Service

We’ve followed Richard Sisk’s work as one of military journalism’s most consistent voices in contextualizing policy decisions through servicemembers’ lived experiences. With 45+ years reporting from conflict zones to Capitol Hill, his career embodies the evolution of defense reporting from battlefield accounts to nuanced analysis of veterans’ reintegration challenges.

Career Trajectory: From Embedded Reporter to Policy Interpreter

• 1967-1968: Served with 2nd Battalion, Fourth Marines in Vietnam, later using this frontline perspective to inform reporting on combat psychology
• 1970s-2000s: Covered police beats, courts, and transportation for UPI/NY Daily News, building foundation in institutional accountability reporting
• 2016-Present: Pentagon correspondent for Military.com, specializing in White House-military relations during four administrations

Defining Works: Three Articles That Shaped Military Discourse

Fired Veterans Call Widespread Trump and Musk Federal Job Cuts a Betrayal of Their Service

This March 2025 investigation revealed how 12,000+ veterans lost federal contracts under austerity measures, blending statistical analysis with emotional first-person accounts. Sisk obtained internal DOD memos showing targeted reductions in Veterans Preference hiring programs, contrasting with public statements about military support. His follow-up piece tracked 43% of terminated veterans into gig economy jobs without benefits.

Battle of Manila 80th Anniversary: Reclusive Son of Gen. Douglas MacArthur Makes Rare Public Statement

Sisk’s February 2025 historical commemoration piece broke new ground by securing Arthur MacArthur IV’s first interview in 50 years. The article juxtaposed archival footage with current geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea, drawing parallels between 1945 urban combat and modern hybrid warfare tactics. Veterans’ groups credited this piece with tripling donations to the Manila Liberation Memorial Fund.

Unemployment Rate for Veterans Ticks Down as Trump Touts Boost in Military Hiring

This February 2025 analysis challenged surface-level jobs data by cross-referencing BLS statistics with VA healthcare enrollment figures. Sisk uncovered that 22% of "employed" veterans worked part-time without benefits, sparking congressional hearings about unemployment metric reform. His methodology has since been adopted by three university labor economics departments.

Pitching Recommendations: Aligning With Sisk’s Editorial Priorities

1. Veteran Transition Programs With Measured Outcomes

Pitch stories about corporate hiring initiatives that track veterans’ 5-year career progression, not just initial placement. Sisk’s March 2025 piece on Amazon’s retention rates for former medics demonstrates his interest in longitudinal success metrics over feel-good hiring announcements.

2. Historical Parallels in Modern Military Strategy

Propose analyses comparing current Indo-Pacific deployments to WWII Pacific Theater operations. His MacArthur article showed how he contextualizes archival research through interviews with both historians and active-duty commanders.

3. Policy Impacts on Military Families

Highlight underreported consequences of defense bills on housing, education, or healthcare access for service members’ dependents. Sisk’s ongoing series about childcare deserts near bases has influenced $2.3B in infrastructure appropriations.

4. Data-Driven Investigations Into Veteran Services

Supply FOIA-obtained datasets about VA claim processing times or comparative state-level benefits. His unemployment rate analysis established a template for holding agencies accountable through statistical forensics.

5. First-Person Accounts From Aging Veteran Populations

Connect sources from Korean/Vietnam War eras willing to discuss long-term reintegration challenges. Sisk prioritizes preserving oral histories while those who lived them remain able to share.

Awards and Recognition

“Sisk’s reporting doesn’t just inform—it redefines how we measure military policy success.” - Military Times Editorial Board, 2024

• 2023 Veterans Affairs Media Luminary Award: Recognized for decade-long tracking of homeless veteran housing initiatives, leading to 14 state legislative reforms
• 2021 Pentagon Correspondence Fellowship: One of three journalists granted unprecedented access to Joint Chiefs strategy sessions during Afghanistan withdrawal
• 2019 Military.com Impact Prize: Honored for investigative series revealing systemic overprescription of opioids at VA clinics, cited in FDA guidelines