The Havok Journal

The Voice of the Veteran Community

Sean Parnell

Physical Fitness and Transitioning Back to Civilian Life

Physical Fitness and Transitioning Back to Civilian Life Special Guest Author: Christian LopezAs time passes by, I often recount where my passion for fitness started.  It has been tough to put a finger on that exact moment in time, as there have been many instances where fitness has had a major impact on my life.  I started my personal training career as a young 18 year … [Read more...]

“Best Ranger” Mentality: Push It To The limit

The author of this article is a former Best Ranger competitor who wishes to remain anonymous. _____ As I crossed that finish line in 2001, I genuinely, and finally knew what it was to be tested. Up until that time, I had conquered most challenges I had thrown myself into without feeling that I had ever, truly, been pushed to my limits.I had won State & National … [Read more...]

An Open Letter to the Future Women of Special Operations

At least once a day I receive a message from someone with aspirations to join Special Operations seeking advice. It occurred to me recently that over the years and thousands of inquiries, I have yet to receive one from a female. Make no mistake, woman have been playing an integral role in not just our military, but also our Special Operations Forces (SOF) for some time already. … [Read more...]

Vetrepreneurs, It’s Time To “Ranger Up!” Pt. 5: William Shatner Called Mat Best A What???

Editor’s Note:  In this series of articles, 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 Stanley McChrystal and Veteran Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald as a “veteran poised for impact” in … [Read more...]

The Five Martial Arts a Vet Should NEVER Do

Editor's Note:  As part of "Fitness Month" on Havok Journal, Christopher Paul Meyer offered up what he thought were the five best martial arts for veterans.  There was such good response to that article that he decided to follow it up with the kinds of martial arts veterans SHOULDN'T pursue.  Enjoy. ____ Working as a bouncer on the Sunset Strip, I laid hands on people every … [Read more...]

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

Originally published in The Havok Journal on 14 July 2014. _____ 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 responsible for the production of … [Read more...]

The Five Best Martial Arts for Vets

Editor's Note:  January is "Fitness Month" on Havok Journal.  In this article, Christopher Paul Meyer offers his opinion on the five best martial arts out there for veterans.  What do you think of his list? _____ You’re a vet. You’ve lived more than most people have experienced at the movies. But do you really want to spend your life thrilling civilians with stories about … [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 LaczThis 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...]