The Havok Journal

The Voice of the Veteran Community

West and Dunn Law

As a Veteran, I Am a “Minority”

As a Veteran, I Am a "Minority" by Jeffrey Marshburn This article first appeared in The Havok Journal in August of 2017. _____ Since August 12th  2017, there has been an amazing surge of national insanity that has swept social media, as well as our mainstream media.  In the midst of trying, as a nation, to once again come to grips with both domestic terror and racism as … [Read more...]

Veterans: The New Hipsters?

Veterans: The New Hipsters? By Kevin Wilson There’s always a certain tension when two servicemen meet for the first time. The nature of the tension often varies based on branch, job, and life experience. One might reasonably expect a grunt, for instance, to size up another grunt, the tension of two warriors vying for dominance. When fellow Havok Journal denizen and fellow … [Read more...]

“Dear White People… :” Another New Low

"Dear White People... :" Another New Low by Leonard Benton I read just about the most asinine thing possible from an older article and I have personally written some controversial things. But controversy is one thing. We can agree to disagree and we can debate in a rational fashion. But the article written by Emanuella Grinberg, titled Dear white people with dreadlocks: … [Read more...]

Credit Cards and the Veteran Lifestyle: Blessing or Curse?

Credit Cards: Blessing or Curse? by Scott Faith If you're a veteran, or any American for that matter, should you regularly use credit cards? The obvious answer is "yes."  But many personal finance experts or financial websites will tell you to stay away from credit cards simply because it adds to your debt and can make you do impulsive purchase. But if you look closely, … [Read more...]

The Work-Life Balance: Tips For Veterans (And The Rest Of Us)

The Work-Life Balance: Tips For Veterans (And The Rest Of Us) by Scott Faith Have you ever experienced a kind of mental and psychological breakdown before? It's not as uncommon as you might think.  At those moments, you feel as though the entire world is against you and then begin to think of ways to declutter your life. It is something that is sadly worse for many married … [Read more...]

The Far-Reaching Effects of Marketing Fear in the Digital Age

The Far-Reaching Effects of Marketing Fear in the Digital Age by Kevin Wilson Fear is not a choice. In the face of danger, nearly everyone with an ounce of sanity is afraid. This reaction is hardwired into us by millions of years of natural selection. The instinct to avoid danger, the fight or flight response, all of these were and are valuable tools, even in the modern, … [Read more...]

The “Signature Injury” of the War on Terror Is Not PTSD. It’s Low-T.

The "Signature Injury" of the War on Terror Is Not PTSD. It's Low-T. by Kevin Lacz This past June, I was invited to speak at a symposium on TBI/PTSD in Warsaw, Poland. As a Physician Assistant in functional medicine, I was invited by the Friends of GROM (editor's note:  GROM is Poland's elite special operations force) to speak on hormone replacement in males with TBI/PTSD. … [Read more...]

Going For Woke in Board Games Isn’t the Point…and Isn’t Fun

Going For Woke in Board Games Isn't the Point...and Isn't Fun by Kevin Wilson Should board gamers play the role of racists, slavers, and Nazis? This is the question posited in the title of Kevin Draper’s article in the New York Times that tackles the subject of board games with overt historical themes. In the age of digital entertainment, it might surprise many of you to … [Read more...]

Don’t Tell Me How To Do My Job: A Law Enforcement Officer’s Perspective

Don’t Tell Me How To Do My Job: A Law Enforcement Officer's Perspective by Nick Perna 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 oil changed and the service technician comes out and asks me if I want a new air filter for my flux capacitor I flip a coin in my head and … [Read more...]

“The 90% Solution:” Managing Your Boss’s Military Ego

"The 90% Solution:"  Managing Your Boss's Military Ego by Nick Perna Every organization has an internal hierarchy. Whether it be the US Army, Hewlett Packard, or the Federal government they all have a multi-tiered chain of command through which all concepts, products, ideas, memos, projects and so on need to be routed through. Battalion Commanders, C.E.O.s, Chiefs Of … [Read more...]