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

• When We Mistake Credentials for Competence November 9, 2026
  I spent a long time in the Army, and most of my adult life in a uniform of one type or another. I have many awards and decorations, including three combat patches from different special operations units, four bronze star medals, and seven combat stripes. I value those credentials and are grateful for the experiences […]
  Charles Faint
• Low-Hanging Fruit and Other Ways to Sound Smarter Than You Are November 9, 2026
  Why people use complicated language to impress others, and why it often backfires. There is a peculiar phenomenon that occurs when otherwise intelligent people enter a conference room. Ordinary words suddenly become inadequate. Simple tasks become “low-hanging fruit.” Problems become “challenges.” Using something becomes “leveraging” it. And apparently, nobody can just talk to someone anymore. […]
  Dave Chamberlin
• When You Can’t Be a Warrior Anymore… is There a Reason to Go On? November 9, 2026
  By Britta Reque-Dragicevic This first appeared in Britta’s blog, “Life After War” and is republished with the author’s permission. It’s that hollow numbness, the sense that you are already dead, the complete lack of desire to go on, the craving to be gone, to be done here. The feeling that you are nothing more than […]
  Special Guest
• When You Don’t Believe Forgiveness Applies to You November 8, 2026
  By Joe DeCree This first appeared in Britta Reque-Dragicevic‘s blog, “Life After War” and is republished with permission. I just spoke to a friend, another veteran, and my heart bleeds for the guy. He is a Vietnam era vet. He put almost 30 years in the Marine corps starting in 1966. He went on to […]
  Special Guest
• The Bridge November 8, 2026
  I’ve been thinking about him a lot lately. The man on the bridge. That cursed bridge. I’d put him out of my mind for years. Lately, I’ve been seeing his face again when I try to get to sleep. The image haunted my dreams for years. Now, he’s just a face I see sometimes when I close my eyes.  He wasn’t […]
  Stan Lake