The Havok Journal | Military & Veteran News, Commentary, Culture

• Lethal Calm August 15, 2026
  Introduction: Leadership in the Fire Leadership isn’t about rank, a title, or the weight of a badge.It’s about what you choose to carry when the world turns violent and uncertain. I’ve lived much of my life inside that uncertainty—deployed against Al-Qaeda in Iraq, translating intelligence that could save or cost lives, and now leading as […]
  Sergeant Ayman Kafel, MSC
• Things Combat Vets Wish They Could Tell You | Part 2 August 15, 2026
  By Britta Reque-Dragicevic This first appeared in Britta’s blog, “Life After War” and is republished with the author’s permission. If you haven’t read Part 1, please do. This is part of a discussion designed to help combat vets help others understand them better. If this article resonates with you, pass it along to a loved one. […]
  Special Guest
• The Four Burner Theory and the Military Profession: When Duty Consumes All Else August 14, 2026
  The “Four Burner Theory” is a deceptively simple metaphor for modern life. Popularized by author David Sedaris and often repeated in leadership and productivity circles, the theory imagines life as a stove with four burners: family, friends, health, and work. To succeed professionally, the theory suggests, one must turn down one burner. To achieve extraordinary […]
  Charles Faint
• I am Who I am Because of Those Lost August 14, 2026
  I live because they cannot. I strive to achieve because I must. I speak because their lessons deserve to live forever. I share because their memories should never fade. I am the culmination of those loved and lost. I am forever driven by guilt for surviving when they sacrificed. I am passionate and expressive because of those destroyed by the unforgettable […]
  Jake Smith
• Things Combat Vets Wish They Could Tell You | Part 1 August 14, 2026
  By Britta Reque-Dragicevic This first appeared in Britta’s blog, “Life After War” and is republished with the author’s permission. _________________________ One of the most challenging aspects combat vets face when coming home is the gap between who they are now and who their loved ones expect them to be. Warriors say that you can’t translate […]
  Special Guest