The Havok Journal

The Voice of the Veteran Community

Sean Parnell

“We the People of the United States…”

Way back in the 1970s when I was a kid a record came out entitled, “Free To Be, You and Me”. It had such hit songs as, “It's All Right to Cry” and other snowflake soliloquies. It was revolutionary in the fact that it explored gender equality issues and other sensitive topics for the first time. One of the main themes throughout the record was the importance of being unique, an … [Read more...]

The Most Important Lesson I Learned From My First Sergeant

The Most Important Lesson I Learned From My First Sergeant by Nick PernaFirst Sergeants are the linchpin of the military community. They maintain tradition and continuity in a world where platoon leaders, company commanders, battalion commanders and others are constantly coming and going. They are experts in their field. An Infantry First Sergeant for example, has served … [Read more...]

“Not Quite One Weekend A Month:” Disaster Relief With The National Guard

"Not Quite One Weekend A Month:" Disaster Relief With The National Guard by Nick PernaIn the summer of 1992 I was a college student on the “four and a half year” plan at a college in North Florida. I was in Army ROTC, waiting to get commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. At the time, ROTC cadets could serve part time in National Guard units as part of the Simultaneous … [Read more...]

“Thank You For Your Service.” Yeah, Right.

This article first appeared in The Havok Journal on 21FEB15. _____ By the time I deployed I had served in the Army in some capacity for over 10 years. I spent 3 years on active duty with the 82nd Airborne in the post-Gulf War era where I fully expected to go to war but never did. I left active duty in 1996 and spent time in various National Guard and Reserve Units. I always … [Read more...]

Search Warrants: The Fruit of The Poisonous Tree

Search Warrants: The Fruit of The Poisonous Tree by Nick PernaThere has been much said, written and posted recently about the Nunes letter that made allegations regarding the veracity and integrity of the FISA warrants that launched the Russian Collusion investigation. What’s come into question is the credibility of the Fusion GPS report that provided at least some of the … [Read more...]

82nd Airborne: Life in a New Sparta

Originally appeared in Havok Journal on 06JAN15.by Nick PernaThere has been resurgence of interest in the last five years or so over the warrior culture of Sparta. The Spartans are admired by the military, law enforcement,  sports fans, cross fitters and others for their “never say die” way of life and their warrior ethos.For the historically challenged the Spartans … [Read more...]

“Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda:” Don’t Let This Be You

The Wegonna tribe was the most powerful in the land. They were a proud and noble people, known for getting things done. They never took no for an answer and accomplished everything they set out to do. Nothing was too hard for them. They planted their crops every spring, harvested them every fall. They hunted in the summer, giving them meat throughout the year.The Wegonnas … [Read more...]

No One Likes Being a “Has Been”

“I Was” . Depending on what your profession was these can be the two saddest words in the English language. No one likes being a “has been”. For those who served their country this is especially true. When the glory days of riding in helicopters, shooting belt fed weapons and facing deadly threats are in the past, we feel diminished. For some, being an, “I was” is intolerable, … [Read more...]

Army Life: This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things

Written by Nick PernaIf you take two privates and lock them in a closet with a five hundred pound steel BB, when you come back an hour later they will either have broken it or lost it.”As quoted from my first Platoon Sergeant We truly get the best and brightest in the armed forces. But, along with them, comes everyone else…For every budding Rhodes Scholar who joins … [Read more...]