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

• Navigating the Fog: Bridging the Gap Between Warriors and Corporate America October 11, 2026
  “Maybe it’s just me. Maybe I can’t assimilate. Maybe I’m so broken that I can’t do anything else.” These aren’t just words; they’re a haunting echo that reverberates in the minds of many combat veterans as they transition into the civilian workforce. The unsettling truth is that most veterans won’t stay in their first job […]
  JC Glick
• Excellence Punished, Mediocrity Protected October 11, 2026
  The Uncomfortable Reality There’s a grim little truism that most people learn sooner or later: being liked at work is often more important than being good at your job. It’s one of those truths everyone nods at in private but rarely says out loud—especially in the military, where “performance” and “integrity” are supposed to be […]
  Dave Chamberlin
• Gold Star Healer: A Soul-Saving Journey of Redemption October 10, 2026
  Michael Gerald Reagan, Marine Vietnam combat veteran, and nationally known artist to presidents, athletes, and Hollywood stars, opened his 75-year-old hands and showed his palms to me. “You see these hands?” he said quietly. “It’s the only part of you that you can look directly at. You can only see your face through a mirror. […]
  Stephen B. Lewis
• The Problem with Extreme “P” and Why Blaming PTSD is a Disservice to Veterans October 10, 2026
  This morning was an extra shitty morning. I couldn’t stand up because of my spinal cord injuries and my leg wouldn’t snap on because the nubby was swollen.  To say that I was hurting this morning would be an egregious understatement and most people would assume I would just say “fuck this” and take the […]
  Shane Jernigan
• We Are Not All in the Same Boat. We Are Just in the Same Storm. October 9, 2026
  There is an appealing simplicity to the phrase “we are all in the same boat.” It suggests shared danger, shared sacrifice, and shared responsibility. It reminds us that whatever differences existed before the crisis began, we now face the same wind and waves. The expression is intended to unite us, and sometimes it does. But […]
  Charles Faint