We are thanked for our service numerous times a day. Sometimes we don’t even know how anyone knew to thank us. Maybe it’s our demeanor, maybe it’s our tattoos, or maybe it is our service dogs that give us away as veterans. Whatever it is, everywhere we go, someone is thanking us for our service.The problem with this?Well, none, really. It doesn’t hurt anyone; it is … [Read more...]
The “Sheepdog” Analogy is Deeply Flawed
Everyone who reads this site is familiar with the sheep, wolves, and sheepdog analogy, as popularized by LTC (Ret) Grossman in his book On Combat. We all fit into one of those categories, he says—we need protecting, we are a predator, or we are a protector.While Grossman’s analogy has a lot to do with the psychology of how an individual deals with trauma or how they are … [Read more...]
Philosophy Friday: Love Is Destroying The World
by Cleo DeLoner Many people believe that LOVE conquers all, but it is LOVE that is destroying the world.We as human beings have become so accustomed to violence, hatred, evil and anger. It is those who LOVE these things who are the destroyers of our world.The evil that is perpetrated upon us every moment is done so by those who LOVE it. It is not done out of … [Read more...]
The Immorality of Pacifism
The Immorality of Pacifism By Kevin WilsonFrom an early age, we teach our children that violence never solved anything. We teach them that the correct way to defend oneself from a bully is to appeal to authority, that the designated grownup will save them. We teach them that to strike another child, for any reason, is wrong.In short, we teach them pacifism.Now … [Read more...]
On The SpecOps Battlefield, And In Business, Don’t “Believe,” Know
Only two types of confidence exist: the artificial and the real. The first is the far more common of the two, arising from either a need to feel accomplished when not or from a need to feel strong when weak. Conditions even those with real confidence feel at times. The difference between those who remain with artificial confidence and those who possess real confidence is … [Read more...]
6 Rules Anyone Can Follow to Rise to the Occasion
“Your life is an occasion. Rise to it.” ― Suzanne Weyn, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium Last night was movie night with my nine-year-old daughter. Quite by accident we chose to watch Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium. It’s a nice feel-good family movie I of course didn’t pay much attention to having my mind focused on work and … [Read more...]
I Sat at Your Grave Site…
Written By Special Guest Author JR ColemanI went and sat at your grave site...I couldn't bring myself to go to the wake and viewing, didn't feel right.Was like, that body...a shell, absent of life wouldn't capture the moments we shared.I remember the jokes we cracked while sucking on the 8 miler to Cole range in RIP.The time we gave either other a hug and … [Read more...]
My Summer “Vision Quest” and Why Every Veteran Needs To Take One
Have you been out of the military for more than a few years? Do you feel “incomplete” or as if you are just going through the motions of life without any gratification? If you answered yes, keep reading.Those that know me realize I served my country in numerous ways from the military to federal law enforcement to becoming a contractor. They know I have multiple degrees of … [Read more...]
Special Forces, Entrepreneurship: Accidental Leadership
In Far Eastern philosophy, there exists a very ancient concept, “The student becomes the master, the master becomes the student - 學生成為碩士，碩士成為學生.” While this has remained with me more than four decades now, most of that time I thought, “yeah, yeah, yet another undecipherable, Yoda-like, statement out of Asian mysticism.” Even after having diligently studied martial arts from … [Read more...]
Perspective from a Ranger: I was an Animal
Perspective from a Ranger: I was an Animal David Venzor originally published in September 2017When I was about ten years old my older brother (by five years) got a pump action BB gun for his birthday. This was the real deal. I'm talking 1990's, pump this thing up 12 times and it was going through a wooden fence, weren't quite the regulations their are today, real deal. My … [Read more...]