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

• Straight to Fifth Gear September 15, 2026
  My son, Hans, called me. Hans is an Iraq War vet (2011 deployment). He likes to talk to me about his work (he pumps concrete for a living down in Texas). When we chat on the phone, the conversation always drifts toward military topics. Both Hans and I are veterans, and we have a mutual […]
  Frank Pauc
• Coming Down From Mission Mode September 15, 2026
  I was in that middle ground between frustration, fatigue, and anger… again. What’s worse is I couldn’t remember why I was there or how to fix it. It was 0200 as I put my now one-year-old back in his crib. Technically speaking, he’d been a toddler for two hours. I got up to check the […]
  K.C. Aud
• The Beer Wasn’t the Point September 15, 2026
  What the Air Force Lost When We Stopped Knowing Our Troops At the end of a particularly miserable day on the flightline, sometimes your supervisor would be waiting as you headed out the door. He might reach into a cooler and hand you a cold beer. If you didn’t drink, there were sodas. Nobody made […]
  Dave Chamberlin
• Good Men Must Know Violence September 14, 2026
  “Good men must know violence, so evil men do not become fluent in it.“ The phrase has been attributed to many different people over the years, and whether or not anyone famous ever uttered those exact words is almost beside the point. That’s because the statement captures an enduring truth about civilization, one that has […]
  Charles Faint
• In the Moment and Alone September 14, 2026
  Editor’s Note: If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Veterans, service members, and their loved ones can Dial 988 then Press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line, or text 838255. Help is available 24/7. _________________ […]
  Special Guest