The Havok Journal

The Voice of the Veteran Community

West and Dunn

Veterans Coping with PTSD Through Natural Plants: A Discussion with Ryan LeCompte

Veterans Coping with PTSD Through Natural Plants: A Discussion with Ryan LeCompte by Donovan Ronin “It’s a fundamental wrong if I as an adult am not free over my own consciousness. Then I am absolutely not sovereign over anything. I can’t claim any kind of freedom at all.”  -Graham Hancock Ryan LeCompte is a former United States Marine, 0311, Infantryman to be exact. … [Read more...]

5 Ways to Heal PTSD and Save Money at the Same Time

5 Ways to Heal PTSD and Save Money at the Same Time by Donavin Ronin This first appeared in The Havok Journal November 9, 2015 I am not a doctor. I am a guy who is looking for an answer. Each of the following has worked for me greatly. Maybe they can work for you. I urge you to do more research, if you’re still skeptical. If you aren’t sure if we can learn how to hack … [Read more...]

Veterans, COVID-19, and Software Development…Oh My!

Veterans, COVID-19, and Software Development by Greg Drobny This originally published in Code Platoon on May 29, 2020. It is re-published here with the author's permission. At this point, I think we can safely say that COVID-19 is a major event in our history and, at the very least, one of the biggest things to happen in our lifetime. Where you fall on the question of … [Read more...]

Homeless Vets and COVID-19

Homeless Vets and COVID-19 by DiAnna Steele A tattered, soiled blanket covered the homeless man lying on the sidewalk while a thin layer of cardboard served as his mattress. Next to him a coffee jar guarded a few coins. In his hand he clutched a cardboard sign that read, “PLEASE SUPPORT VETERANS.” As the former spouse of a Special Forces Officer and the mother of 3 sons … [Read more...]

Gratitude in the Time of COVID-19

Gratitude in the Time of COVID-19 by Major T. We, the world, are in our sixth month of dealing with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. At the time of this writing, every country save a select few has found positive COVID-19 patients within their borders. Over 340,00 have died, and more unfortunately will die until the virus subsides or a vaccine is discovered. In the … [Read more...]

“It’s all in your head”​ – mild​ Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI)

"It's all in your head"​ - mild​ Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) by Geoffrey P. Dardia. Anyone who has battled with brain injury knows the frustration of having their injury downplayed because they "look fine" from the outside. There have been times where I wished I was missing a limb so medical providers would take me seriously. Unless you have been stuck in the shell of … [Read more...]

What If You Threw a Quarantine and No One Came?

What If You Threw a Quarantine and No One Came? by Ben Buehler-Garcia and Scott Faith First they came for restaurants and bars, and I said nothing because I was not a waiter. Then they came for the churches and I said nothing because I am agnostic When they arrested the surfers I did not speak out because I don’t live near the ocean Then they came for my tenured … [Read more...]

Finding the Magic Pill for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Finding the Magic Pill for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) by Amy Morosini “What branch of service were you in?” That’s usually the first question I am asked when I tell a servicemember or veteran that I have a Traumatic Brain Injury or TBI.  “I wasn’t,” I reply, “I am a wounded civilian.” A TBI occurs when a sudden blow or jolt to the head leads to dysfunction in the … [Read more...]