In school, I remember learning about the Spanish-American War. One of the reasons cited for the US going to war against Spain was the alleged sinking Continue Reading
Service Disconnected: Veteran Disability Claims, Legit and Otherwise
I have tattoos. Like most vets, my ink represents my time in service. Like most former paratroopers, my stuff is mainly Airborne related (shocking, Continue Reading
“Thank You For Your Service.” Yeah, Right.
This article first appeared in The Havok Journal on February 21, 2015. By the time I deployed, I had served in the Army in some capacity for over 10 Continue Reading
82nd Airborne: Life in a New Sparta
There has been a resurgence of interest in the last several years over the warrior culture of Sparta. The Spartans are admired by the military, law Continue Reading
Much Ado About Mar-a-Lago
Much has been made of the FBI Raid on Mar-a-Lago. The Department Of Justice's handling of the investigation, search warrant execution, and releasing Continue Reading
Don’t Tell Me How To Do My Job: A Law Enforcement Officer’s Perspective
I don’t know anything about cars. When something goes wrong with mine or it needs service I take it to a mechanic. Like most people, when I get the Continue Reading
“The 90% Solution”: Managing Your Boss’s Military Ego
Every organization has an internal hierarchy. Whether it be the U.S. Army, Hewlett Packard, or the Federal government they all have a multi-tiered Continue Reading
Guns Are Becoming The Bogeyman
Wikipedia describes a bogeyman as a “mythic creature used by adults to scare children into good behavior.” It’s basically a scare tactic, using a Continue Reading
The End of the Conversation: What Soldiers Talk About
It's been said about combat that it consists mainly of boredom occasionally punctuated by moments of terror. But, mostly, there's lots of boredom. Continue Reading
The Most Important Lesson I Learned from My First Sergeant
First Sergeants are the linchpin of the military community. They maintain tradition and continuity in a world where platoon leaders, company Continue Reading
“We the People of the United States…”
Way back in the 1970s when I was a kid a record came out entitled, “Free To Be, You and Me.” It had such hit songs as, “It's All Right to Cry” and Continue Reading
“Not Quite One Weekend a Month”: Disaster Relief with the National Guard
In the summer of 1992, I was a college student on the “four and a half year” plan at a college in North Florida. I was in Army ROTC, waiting to get Continue Reading