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

• We Are Not Four Letters August 23, 2026
  “When educating operators on Operator Syndrome, the most common response is: How did you know? This response is usually expressed with a tone of relief and a subtle smile. For the operator, it marks a moment of validation and a glimmer of hope: Maybe I’m not alone.” – C. Frueh I came to as I […]
  Clay D
• Our War August 23, 2026
  Editor’s Note: First published in The Havok Journal on August 23, 2022, this reflection remains as relevant on the anniversary month of our withdrawal from Afghanistan as it was in the immediate aftermath, honoring the service and sacrifice of all who fought there. A lot of people have reached out to me over the past […]
  Peyton Knippel
• Dismissed with Prejudice August 22, 2026
  It has taken almost two weeks for me to find these words. Words that should have taken me only minutes to find. The outcome was as expected, “Charges dismissed…” but what followed was the unexpected icing “… with prejudice.” Just like that, it was finally over. Years of wasted time as we faced charges that should have never been […]
  Jake Smith
• Stop Blaming PTSD, Fix the System August 22, 2026
  By Cindy McClister, CEO & Founder, Reboot Hope, Inc. When I first read Shane Jernigan’s article “PTSD Isn’t Killing Us…The System Is,” I felt a deep, familiar ache in my chest. His words were not just commentary—they were a mirror, reflecting the reality I have witnessed for years working alongside service members, veterans, and those […]
  Special Guest
• Pulvis et Umbra Sumus: “We Are Dust and Shadow” August 21, 2026
  There’s a quiet brutality in the Latin phrase pulvis et umbra sumus—we are dust and shadow. It’s not motivational. It doesn’t belong on a recruiting poster or etched above a gym door. It doesn’t promise glory or legacy or meaning. It simply reminds us of the uncomfortable truth: whatever we build, whatever we fight for, […]
  Charles Faint