The Havok Journal

The Voice of the Veteran Community

West and Dunn Law

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...]

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...]

Awww, Nuts: Understanding Testicular Cancer

Awww, Nuts: Understanding Testicular Cancer by Andrew Fisher This article originally appeared in The Havok Journal on September 30, 2014. Andrew D. Fisher is stationed at Fort Benning, GA and is a Physician Assistant in the U.S. Army. He has no financial interest in any products mentioned, nor has any conflict of interested to disclose. These opinions are his own and … [Read more...]

“Hey Doc, Why Do You Always Give Me Motrin?”

"Hey Doc, Why Do You Always Give Me Motrin?" by Andrew Fisher Andrew D. Fisher is stationed at Fort Benning, GA and at the time this article was written, was a Physician Assistant in the U.S. Army. He has no financial interest in any products mentioned, nor has any conflict of interested to disclose. These opinions are his own and are not endorsed by the U.S. Army or the … [Read more...]

The Chess Game of Ammo Type and Shot Placement

The Chess Game of Ammo Type and Shot Placement by Sydney Vail, MD As a trauma surgeon and a tactical medical specialist, I am often asked by law enforcement officers what caliber and type of handgun ammunition offers the most stopping power. I can't answer that question. Let me explain why. The ammunition most commonly carried by law enforcement officers is a … [Read more...]

Brain Games: A Shock to the System

Brain Games: A Shock to the System by Marty Skovlund This article first appeared in the Havok Journal August 8, 2014. When I first learned about a new experimental technique, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (TDCS), I was interested, then… saddened. The Pentagon ordered this research to increase alertness in service members, to cut training time, and to sharpen … [Read more...]

Lifestyle Nutrition: A Ranger Speaks

Lifestyle Nutrition: A Ranger Speaks by Leo Jenkins There are as many opinions on what we should eat as there are experts on the subject.  The issue becomes even more convoluted when people with little to no background interject their opinions. The simple truth is there is no perfect diet, no magic answer to the question “what should I eat to perform better?”  What I am … [Read more...]

“Breathe”: What It’s Like to be a Special Forces Medic

"Breathe": What It's Like to be a Special Forces Medic   by Aaron Smith Breathe. Breathe. Breathe. Training takes over, I need gloves! Where the fuck are my gloves?? Hands slippery with sweat struggle to put them on, Too hard, Too Hard! Try another pair… They’re too small and I’m too sweaty. Get to work. Bare hands now, slipping down into the ditch; Two pairs of eyes, … [Read more...]

Myostatin Inhibitors: Life Saver Or The Next “Performance Enhancing Drug?”

Myostatin Inhibitors: Life Saver Or The Next "Performance Enhancing Drug?" by Richard Farnum In 1997 Dr. Se-Jin Lee and Alexandra McPherron from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine discovered a gene encoding a substance known as myostatin. These two geneticists were able to successfully breed mice who possessed so-called “loss of function mutations” in the gene … [Read more...]