Editor’s Note: In this series of articles from 2016, 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 … [Read more...]
The Things I Carried: A Special Forces Officer Reflects
On October 2, 2015, I gave notice to my boss: it’s time to do something different after ten and half years in the Army. In the spirit of a writer from my Dad’s generation, I look back on the things I carried:A great admiration for then-Captain Craig Whiteside, West Point TAC officer. Our cadet squad was shorthanded due to multiple injuries. He volunteered as a squad … [Read more...]
Veterans In Portland: Watch “The Terrorist Whisperer” …For Free
Veterans In Portland: Watch "The Terrorist Whisperer" ...For Free by Scott FaithHamody Jasim was an Iraqi who worked with American forces in Iraq. In fact, he was so good that they called him "The Terrorist Whisperer."All seven of my combat deployments were with Special Operations units, and three of them were in Iraq. So although I don't know Jasim, I know … [Read more...]
Muslim Veterans Speak Out, Part I: The Biggest Misconceptions About Islam and the US Military
When it comes to terrorism, US foreign policy, US military operations, the true nature of Islam and the extent of Islamic radicalization, there are no shortages of opinions. As a survivor of the 9/11 attacks and a former US soldier, I certainly had my own. But when it came to discussing Islam intelligently, I had more questions than answers. Frustratingly, most interviews I’ve … [Read more...]
Congress, Stop Buying Us S#!t We Don’t Need
No one speaks for all veterans, but there are things veterans can all agree on. One of them is this: Congress, we want you to stop buying us shit we don’t need.As just one example of Congressional budgetary malfeasance, the Army was forced to buy tanks it doesn’t want and can’t afford to maintain… and this isn’t the first time. Nor is the Army the only military service … [Read more...]
For Veterans, College is a Bad Place to Make Sense of the War
by Sean RusselThis article first appeared in Havok Journal on 31JAN15. _____ Thanks to the GI Bill, college is the place a lot of veterans go after they finish their service. For veterans, it’s a time to grow like a normal person, but also a time to process what the hell just went down the last four or so years. That’s some trippy shit.College for a young vet means … [Read more...]
The Bonus Army: Lessons from the Past, Lessons for the Future
I used to have a friend, an elder gentleman who was a Korean War Marine. He had nothing good to say about General Douglas MacArthur. I assumed it had something to do with getting surprised by the Chinese but when asked, he merely shook his head, ‘Nope, the Bonus Army’. This answer started a life-long fascination with this forgotten story of American history. I think it is … [Read more...]
Trump, Mattis, Middle East Policy, and “One World Government”
Trump, Mattis, Middle East Policy, and "One World Government" by Nathan PlayerIf the press is to be believed, America’s adventurism in the Middle East is winding down. Agree or disagree on the policy, this should surprise no one. This has always been the current administration’s goal. It has also been the stated policy objective of politicians on both sides of the aisle … [Read more...]
“Don’t Ring The Bell:” A Senior SEAL’s Wisdom
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 when you do.Bad stuff doesn’t start when you ring the bell; it starts … [Read more...]
Sebastian Junger: Sharing the Moral High Ground
So what happens when the warrior no longer wears the uniform? Can a warrior still be a warrior at home if he's no longer a "quiet professional"? What does that look like? Many traditional warrior societies believed their warriors were always warriors, but that their missions changed after their last battles were fought. Once they came home for good, their mission was to … [Read more...]