Philosophy Friday: A Light Worth Living by Leo Jenkins “Fuck Suicide. Life isn’t anything but what you make it.” The poignant words from Henry Rollins danced in my head as the rain hit the window overlooking the ocean, because his words echo my own. A few years ago, I came under fire for calling Robin Williams a coward for choosing to commit suicide. I then took it even … [Read more...]
10 Things Every Person Should Do in Their Life: An Army Ranger’s Bucket List
10 Things Every Person Should Do in Their Life: An Army Ranger's Bucket List by Leo Jenkins 1) Learn to play a musical instrument There is something magic in music. Regardless if it is jazz or rock or country or blues or mariachi. It doesn’t matter if it’s the flute, the drums, guitar, or xylophone. Music unites people. Music is a language in and of itself. … [Read more...]
Lest We Forget: An Excerpt
Lest We Forget: An Excerpt An excerpt from 'Lest We Forget: A Ranger Medic's Story': "Should we have a BBQ for the fourth of July this weekend?" Asked Matt. "This is America isn't it?" I respond. It is the final days of June 2005 and I was already preparing to leave on my second combat deployment. Matt and I shared a two story, three-bedroom condo that was considered … [Read more...]
On Being A Veteran… After Being a Ranger
It doesn’t seem that long ago. The memory of pulling away from the brown fence that surrounded 3rd Ranger Battalion for the final time is still as vivid in my memory as the taste of the burnt black coffee that I had for breakfast this morning. Despite it being 7 years and 2 weeks since I was honorably discharged I still recall how that particular drive home felt. Notions … [Read more...]
Ashley’s War
After serving multiple combat deployments as an Army Ranger in my twenties and going on to write for a living in my thirties, I’ve found many books in the recent military history genre miss the mark. Palpable overtones of ego and exaggeration can stain otherwise brilliant pages. Furthermore, when a civilian writer steps in and tries to capture the fraternity of the military … [Read more...]
“100% And Then Some:” Live, For The Warriors On Your Left And Right
Never shall I fail my comrades. I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong, and morally straight, and I will shoulder more than my share of the task, whatever it may be, one hundred percent and then some. -3rd Stanza of The Ranger Creed ___________ This might not be what anybody wants to hear, but it is something I have to say. I'm not saying this because … [Read more...]
A Warrior, (re)Defined
Editor's Note: This article first ran in Havok Journal a little over two years. Many things have changed since then, but the fundamental things that make someone a "warrior" have not. The last time that I had my nose broken was in an MMA bout in Alabama. After securing a very deep triangle hold on my competitor he stacked me up and released one final effort to get me … [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...]
The Art of War
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things." ~John Mill Those married to the miraculous madness of combat need no delineation of the layers comprising its complexity. War is a word, in that word resides a world. Memories created in this time and place are so substantive that they intertwine themselves with our senses. A slight odor of burning trash lingering in … [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...]
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