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

• The Danger of Being “Normal”: Carl Jung and the Illusion of Stability July 20, 2026
  In military culture, “normal” is often treated as a benchmark. A soldier is expected to behave normally under pressure, to react normally to stress, to reintegrate normally after deployment. The word itself carries weight—it implies stability, reliability, predictability. In a profession where chaos is ever-present, normalcy becomes a form of reassurance. Carl Jung would have […]
  Charles Faint
• Extremism Starts Before the Weapon July 20, 2026
  My understanding of radicalization did not begin in a classroom. It began much earlier, shaped by personal experience, growing up in environments affected by civil conflict, witnessing firsthand how instability, fear, and identity can reshape communities and individuals. I have seen how quickly ordinary life can fracture under pressure, and how narratives of grievance and […]
  Sergeant Ayman Kafel, MSC
• Sleeping Wonder July 20, 2026
  Reality often does notOnly in dreamsAre we who we want to beSuch in a cold world Reality is often triteCascading thoughtsAre often what dreams look likeSay it thrice In a world so beholdenSuch thoughts are niceWondering in idealsReality is a bitter pillSuch forth I strive for truthBeauty hidden between the huesGrey sings of youArticulated as […]
  Ryan Mimna
• The Moment I Knew Why There Were Suicide Bombers July 19, 2026
  I was preparing to deploy to Iraq when the thought bubbled up, seemingly out of nowhere. “Maybe I’ll die in Iraq.” I was surprised because my inner monologue was hopeful. A flicker of excitement kindled in my chest—I didn’t understand. Why? And the answer came just as quickly. I couldn’t possibly do more if I […]
  Mike Warnock
• The Power of Sharing Your Story July 19, 2026
  By Britta Reque-Dragicevic This first appeared in Britta’s blog, “Life After War” and is republished with the author’s permission. ___________________ What you have experienced and witnessed and carry within you is powerful. It’s sacred. It’s human. It’s what you relive every day, every night. What you can’t forget and what you don’t want to ever […]
  Special Guest