The Havok Journal

The Voice of the Veteran Community

West and Dunn Law

“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...]

Mandatory Awards: No Thanks…Oh It’s Either That or an Article 15?

Mandatory Awards: No Thanks...Oh It's Either That or an Article 15? by Dave Chamberlain Directly from the Air National Guard Yellow Ribbon webpage: “The National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 established the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program (YRRP) to assist National Guard and Reserve members as they transition between their military and civilian roles. By … [Read more...]

Peace and Dialogue: What Tel Aviv and Orlando Taught Me About “Pride”

The Peace and Dialogue Leadership Initiative: What Tel Aviv and Orlando Taught Me About “Pride” by Lieutenant Colonel Charles Faint This first appeared in The Havok Journal in December 4, 2016. Every summer for the last three years, it has been my pleasure to accompany a group of amazing young undergraduates from some of the nation’s top schools on a two-week educational … [Read more...]

Leaders: Myth and Reality – A Review

Leaders: Myth and Reality - A Review by Mike Kelvington This first appeared in The Havok Journal December 21, 2018. When many big names in business, politics, and pop culture sit down to pen a new book, they tend to capture personal exploits, successes, accumulation of wealth, awards, and achievements.  In the bestselling release of Leaders: Myth and Reality, GEN … [Read more...]

“Don’t Ring The Bell”: A Senior SEAL’s Wisdom

"Don't Ring The Bell": A Senior SEAL's Wisdom by Marshall McGurk Admiral (Ret) William H. McRaven, former SOCOM commander, told graduating seniors at the 2014 University of Texas commencement ceremony 10 lessons from his Navy SEAL experience.  The final one: “If you want to change the world don't ever, ever ring the bell.” He’s right, of course. I know what happens … [Read more...]

Pick Your Fights, Carefully | Special Forces and Entrepreneurship

Pick Your Fights, Carefully | Special Forces and Entrepreneurship by E.M. Burlingame Years ago, my then mentor and lead investor, told me calmly, succinctly. “You don’t know what you don’t know.” This a week into my discussing, increasingly arguing, value of pivot strategy and necessary funding. A week in which I was becoming angrier each day. Why was he ready to … [Read more...]

Stop, Shut Up and Sit Down | Special Forces and Entrepreneurship

Stop, Shut Up and Sit Down | Special Forces and Entrepreneurship by E.M. Burlingame 2003, Far East Asian nation, mere formality of a meeting. Little more than a press event really, final meeting between Minister of Finance and Minister of Science and Technology as well as with four of the nation’s leading industrialists. Mock signatures and chops on agreements signed … [Read more...]

The Type of Failure is What Matters | Special Forces and Entrepreneurship

The Type of Failure is What Matters | Special Forces and Entrepreneurship by E.M. Burlingame Lot of talk going around last few years in the circles of experts. Talk related to the importance of failure. Having failed a good number of times in my life, I cannot and would not disagree with most the experts on the importance of failure to ultimate success. I might … [Read more...]

Get Ready, This will Hurt | Special Forces and Entrepreneurship

Get Ready, This will Hurt | Special Forces and Entrepreneurship E.M. Burlingame There’s an incredible amount we don’t know. About self, others, the ever more connected world we live in. Of course, these are the big unknowns we’ve wrestled with since the beginning of time. What about the more immediate and critical? Our organization and functional team, market segment … [Read more...]