Civic Essays
What We Owe the Next Generation
There is a kind of conversation that has gone out of fashion in this country, and we are paying for its absence. It is the conversation older people used to [...]
The Havok Journal | Military & Veteran News, Commentary, Culture
- Material Girl, or How America Turned a Wink Into a Personality Disorder July 16, 2026Featured image note:Satirical editorial illustration for cultural commentary on consumerism and the “Material Girl” persona; not affiliated with, endorsed by, or spiritually financed by Madonna. More than forty years ago, Madonna released “Material Girl,” a glossy little pop grenade dressed up like a Marilyn Monroe fever dream, and America, bless its rhinestone-covered frontal lobe, heard […]Tammy Pondsmith
- Under the Uniform They Bleed the Same for Less July 16, 2026Why is it that in the United States Army, the gold standard of mid-career recognition—the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM)—is so often pinned on the chests of officers simply for existing in their rank, while the backbone of the Army, its Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs), must claw their way to the same recognition, often only receiving it […]Daniel Dodds
- What Does It Mean to Serve? July 16, 2026By Derick Bosely What does it mean to serve? What makes a soldier’s sacrifice enough? Is it enough to serve quietly, or do you have to fight to earn honor? Is it sufficient to just do your job and go home, or do you have to fight? In most cases involving war, there’s an element […]Special Guest
- Waste No More Time Arguing About What a Good Man Should Be. Just Be One. July 15, 2026“Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.” — Marcus Aurelius There’s a certain kind of man everyone in the military has met before. He can quote every leadership book ever written. He talks endlessly about discipline, standards, warrior ethos, sacrifice, accountability, and integrity. He has opinions on everything—from […]Charles Faint
- Count the Other Column July 15, 2026There is no shortage of reasons to become discouraged these days. Turn on the television, and you are immediately reminded of political division, violence, economic uncertainty, international conflict, and social unrest. Open social media, and the algorithms seem determined to convince you that outrage is the normal state of humanity. Every scroll brings another reason […]Dave Chamberlin
