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

• The Sanctimony Industrial Complex May 28, 2026
  We’ve built a society where moral status is rented by the hour, and the monthly fee is public performance. That’s the thesis. Not that people have become more ethical. Don’t be adorable. They’ve become more theatrical. We now live under a regime of inflatable virtue, the kind you strap on in public like a fluorescent […]
  Tammy Pondsmith
• When Survival Becomes the Lens May 28, 2026
  A while back, I had a conversation with a friend that has stayed with me long after it ended. He said something simple: “Observe the observer observe.” At first, I thought it was one of those philosophical statements people repeat because they sound profound. The kind of thing people nod at for a few seconds, […]
  Sergeant Ayman Kafel, MSC
• Crusty Old Veteran May 28, 2026
  As I looked across the room of first-year college students, I wondered which parts of my story would be relevant to share. I was asked to come and speak to a small class at Wake Forest University about the veteran experience. I’m always humbled to be able to share and hope that, through my awkwardness […]
  Stan Lake
• Walmart Started Winning When They Replaced Inventory with Innovation May 27, 2026
  Most people think Walmart won because it had more stuff. More inventory.More stores.More buying power. That’s not what made Walmart dominant. Walmart started winning when it stopped thinking about inventory—and started thinking about innovation. The Old Model: Win with More For decades, success in retail was simple: stock more shelves than your competitors and sell […]
  Charles Faint
• Great Warriors Stumble: The Silence of Suicide May 27, 2026
  The aftermath follows an all too familiar script. A post rich with the accomplishments and feeling about the warrior lost, though the reason is vague. Often, “The family requests space.” The reason is never expressly stated but the truth boldly lies in the vagueness. The truth quickly rips through the community, yet no one says it.  The […]
  Jake Smith