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

• Adding Up The Losses August 16, 2026
  Every drop of hot water was soothing as they rained down upon my body. I lay on the shower floor, staring as drop after drop slid down the side onto the ground. Each drop became the representation of the passing of time. I lay there, physically exhausted, and mentally attentive. Why I was there seemed unknown. I […]
  Jake Smith
• Afghanistan: The Price of War is a Piece of You August 16, 2026
  By Martin Jones In the graveyard of empires, experiences varied wildly: the year, the unit, the province, the problem, the strategy, and the mission. Exposure was limited for some, extensive for others, and many fell in between. Your experience may have been deeply intimate or alarmingly impersonal. Across the spectrum of possibilities and proven throughout […]
  Special Guest
• Lethal Calm August 15, 2026
  Introduction: Leadership in the Fire Leadership isn’t about rank, a title, or the weight of a badge.It’s about what you choose to carry when the world turns violent and uncertain. I’ve lived much of my life inside that uncertainty—deployed against Al-Qaeda in Iraq, translating intelligence that could save or cost lives, and now leading as […]
  Sergeant Ayman Kafel, MSC
• Things Combat Vets Wish They Could Tell You | Part 2 August 15, 2026
  By Britta Reque-Dragicevic This first appeared in Britta’s blog, “Life After War” and is republished with the author’s permission. If you haven’t read Part 1, please do. This is part of a discussion designed to help combat vets help others understand them better. If this article resonates with you, pass it along to a loved one. […]
  Special Guest
• The Four Burner Theory and the Military Profession: When Duty Consumes All Else August 14, 2026
  The “Four Burner Theory” is a deceptively simple metaphor for modern life. Popularized by author David Sedaris and often repeated in leadership and productivity circles, the theory imagines life as a stove with four burners: family, friends, health, and work. To succeed professionally, the theory suggests, one must turn down one burner. To achieve extraordinary […]
  Charles Faint