The Havok Journal

The Voice of the Veteran Community

West and Dunn Law

What Ocasio-Cortez’s Popularity Says about Our Culture

What Ocasio-Cortez’s Popularity Says about Our Culture by Gregory Drobny This first appeared in The Havok Journal January 31, 2019. I did not actually want to write about Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). But so many people are talking about her that I think it offers an opportunity to look at something bigger because of that very reason. She is, after all, … [Read more...]

Why Veterans Hate Posers So, So, So, SO Very Much

Why Veterans Hate Posers So, So, So, SO Very Much by Scott Faith I think it’s logical for people who have never been in the military to wonder why some veterans have such a deep, abiding, and visceral hatred of military posers—the people who pretend to be what we are. After all, this is a free country, what’s the harm in a couple of lies to impress a girl, score a free … [Read more...]

What a Runner Could Learn from a Ranger Mom

What a Runner Could Learn from a Ranger Mom by Kenneth Posner A long time ago, I was a U.S. Army Ranger. It was just about the toughest thing I ever did. Honestly, I wasn’t very good; my path ended up taking me to Wall Street, which was a better fit for my skills. But I’m proud to have served my country as best I could, and I remain very impressed with the caliber of people … [Read more...]

Get Help: A Female Veteran’s Perspective

Get Help: A Female Veteran's Perspective by Lana Duffy Last night I sat having a beer or two with some good friends who happen to be fellow veterans. As it sometimes does, the conversation turned to mental health and our experiences. I haven’t been back to a counselor since the last one told me I looked like his wife and started speaking to me in Italian. I’m not Italian, … [Read more...]

I Wish You Could See Your Suicide

I Wish You Could See Your Suicide by Thomas Knight You didn’t mean to hurt anyone. That’s what the priest told us during the funeral Mass. It sounds good, at least. I’d love to ask what you were thinking, but, well, y’know. That ship has sailed. None of us outside that casket are going to know what was going through your mind right before the bullet. We never got to see the … [Read more...]

The Death of a Ranger

The Death of a Ranger by former Ranger Johnny B. So, you heard a Ranger died today What a tragic waste, you said That he should die in a foreign land With so much of life ahead He still had so much left to do He was too young, you lament Why should a man like him have to die With so much of his life unspent? Yes, it's true, he was too young And his death is a … [Read more...]

The Five Martial Arts a Vet Should NEVER Do

The Five Martial Arts a Vet Should NEVER Do by Christopher Paul Meyer Working as a bouncer on the Sunset Strip, I laid hands on people every night. But before conducting face-to-fist diplomacy, my antagonists had a Bond-villian-like habit of warning me exactly how many stripes of aggregated badassery they had accumulated. Some were Division I wrestlers and boxing coaches, … [Read more...]

Things You Shouldn’t Miss About the Military

Many days we tend to be nostalgic about all the wonderful times we had in uniform. As a reminder, I came up with a list of things not to miss: Taking clean weapons out of the armory, to clean them again, only to get them rejected by the armorer Going to 1700 formation only to be told that no one has been released yet and to come back at 1800 Meeting at 0330, because … [Read more...]

Vetrepreneurs, It’s Time To “Ranger Up!” Pt. 4: Veterans and Voices

Vetrepreneurs, It’s Time To “Ranger Up!” Pt. 4: Veterans and Voices by Michael Kane Editor’s Note: In this series of articles from 2016, HJ writer Michael Kane interviews Ranger Up CEO Nick Palmisciano, who is considered by many to be “the Godfather” of modern veteran entrepreneurship. Nick was listed by We Are The Mighty alongside other high-profile veterans like General … [Read more...]