The owners of Combat Flip Flops appeared on an episode of ABC's hit series, Shark Tank. Did they survive? This article first appeared in The Havok Journal on 31DEC15. _____ “We were gonna take a handful of special operations veterans, and we were going to deploy back to countries affected by conflict. We were gonna take military capacity that was established to … [Read more...]
Transition Dispatch: Part One
This is Part One of a three-part series on transition from the active duty military.As I go through the transition from military to civilian life, I’m more cognizant of things surrounding the transition process. It is surprisingly smooth (I have yet to do the Veterans Affairs medical process so we’ll see). I notice weird things, small things, things to remember, things to … [Read more...]
The Button Box: A Tribute to My Brother—A Vietnam Vet
The Button Box: A Tribute to My Brother—A Vietnam Vet by Cheryl PalmerIn honor of my brother, Gregory Allen Steenbergen, November 1, 1950–December 14, 2018I was a young girl, maybe 14 or 15 years old, when my big brother’s draft number was “up” and he went off to the Army. I didn’t know exactly what that meant, but I could see that it was serious business based on the … [Read more...]
Why I Became a Veteran
Editor's Note: This highly compelling account is updated slightly from Nick Tran's personal blog and is presented here with the permission of the author. It was first re-posted in Havok Journal on 04JAN15. _____ As we celebrate the New Year, I felt that it would be an appropriate time to share the story of my own journey here to the United States and how the actions of a … [Read more...]
Get Help: A Female Veteran’s Perspective
Get Help: A Female Veteran's Perspective By Lana DuffyThis article was originally published on 23 January 2018. Last night I sat having a beer or two with some good friends who happen to be fellow veterans. As it sometimes does, the conversation turned to mental health and our experiences. I haven’t been back to a counselor since the last one told me I looked like his … [Read more...]
Imperfections, Special Forces, and Entrepreneurship
It is often subtle differences, slight incongruities, which are the real strength of the individual, making possible extraordinary contributions. And the success of any difficult venture is far more often than not, realized through the collective efforts of a group of individuals, each with their own slight or not so slight incongruities. In the world’s of startups and Special … [Read more...]
USMC Veteran Michael Broderick on HBO’s True Detective
USMC Veteran Michael Broderick will be appearing in HBO’s highly anticipated third season of True Detective, which premiered January 13th 2019 on HBO, HBO Now, HBO Go, and HBO on Demand.This new season features Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali (Moonlight, Green Book) as detective Wayne Hays. Stephen Dorff (Somewhere, Immortals) plays the role of Arkansas State Investigator … [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...]
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...]
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...]