Profiles in Havok

Mitchel Coffman is a New York City-based artist. He is the son of a Vietnam-era veteran and is the longtime friends of several special operations folks. His 25 oil-on-canvas portraits of fallen Rangers are featured at the 75th Ranger Regiment Hall of Honor at Hunter Army Airfield and his newest exhibit is an immersive look at the GWOT, titled, "Wish You Were Here." He has painted murals in Maryland and New York, including pieces for the Brooklyn Diner in Times Square and the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Dakota Silvey is a New York-based playwright, stage manager, wildland firefighter and U.S. Air Force Veteran. Recorded in-person at the Players in NYC, Dakota spoke about life as both a writer and an active participant in the profession of arms. His play INTERMISSION PLAY placed second in Veterans Repertory Theater's latest 10-minute playwriting competition.

Peter Corbett is a medically retired 20-year veteran of the South Portland, ME police department with an extensive career as a patrol officer, school resource officer and member of the dive unit. Medically retired after struggling with PTS, Peter is a candid, heartfelt and compelling advocate for mental health in the first responder community.

Stephanie Kline is a playwright from Arlington, VA. She is a Marine Corps veteran, former Air Force dependent, and served as an Army civilian and defense contractor. Her short plays have won multiple competitions and festival selections, including selection to the NYC Players' Theatre 2021 Short Play Festival with a four-night, off-Broadway run of ‘Torture Chamber.' Her first full-length stage play-in-progress, a drama about the military's treatment of servicemembers with PTSD, was selected for the 2023 Chicago Dramatists' Scene Showcase. Stephanie is a Dramatists Guild member and studied playwriting at the Kennedy Center, DC's Shakespeare Theatre Company, and Chicago Dramatists.

Dan Lauria has appeared as a guest star in over seventy television episodic programs and more than twenty Movie Of The Week productions plus a score of motion picture credits. Dan is a very familiar face to the off-off, and off-Broadway and regional theatre scene having performed, written or directed over 50 professional stage productions. In 2010/11 Dan was seen on Broadway as the legendary coach Vince Lombardi in LOMBARDI, with the beautiful and talented Judith Light playing Marie Lombardi. The production was directed by Thomas Kail (Hamilton). Dan returned to Broadway in the 2013 & the 2014 production of the Tony-nominated A CHRISTMAS STORY: The Musical directed by Tony winner John Rando. A published playwright, Dan's DINNER WITH THE BOYS and JUST ANOTHER DAY have received many productions. However, Dan is most recognized as the Dad on the highly acclaimed, Emmy-winning ABC television show THE WONDER YEARS. Dan was most recently seen on the Fox TV show PITCH as manager Al Loungo and then joined the family of THIS IS US both series written by television's most talented writer, Dan Fogelman. Dan and dear friend, the lovely and talented Wendie Malick have performed the play THE GUYS by Anne Nelson, for veteran & firemen organizations around the country. THE GUYS is a tribute to those brave men and women who died on 9/11. Wendie and Dan now do LOVE LETTERS as fundraising events for the development of new plays at regional theatres, and to save our planet and the animals that inhabit it. Dan is a Marine and Vietnam Veteran.See Dan's JUST ANOTHER DAY in NYC this March!

Kat Furrow is a self-taught artist based in Carlsbad, California. She is a Navy veteran, a full-time student, and an art instructor with over a decade of experience. Drawing inspiration from her love of people and nature, Kat is passionate about her craft, utilizing bold colors and textures. She embraces an "Art Every Day, it's a Mindset" philosophy, viewing her art as a metaphor for living life with curiosity and hope. As a "Trusted Art Seller" with the Art Storefronts Organization, she ensures quality and value in her work. Kat is open to commissions, special editions, and offers classes, embodying her belief in the transformative power of art.Follow Kat here.

Tamim Fares is a combat veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan. After struggling with chemical dependencies, he turned to writing. His work, featured in Lethal Minds Journal and the Savage Wonder literary blog, often delves into themes of struggle, recovery, and hope, reflecting his personal experiences.For a deeper dive into his life and work, follow Tamim Fares on Instagram at Blackfoot Chronicles and Insurgent Chimichanga.

Episode 123 is our annual year-end episode featuring the entire core Havok Journal team. We talk about our favorite HJ writers, articles and themes from 2023 and look ahead to another year of exponential growth in 2024.

Mikael Cook is a former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant and veteran of the war in Afghanistan. He holds a master's degree in business administration, residing and working in Southeast Michigan. During the August 2021 evacuation of Afghanistan, Mikael was a part of the #DigitalDunkirk team that saved thousands of our Afghan allies that had been left for dead. He was personally responsible for the evacuation of 20 of our allies, most of whom have now joined him in Michigan. Mikael is an active member of the veteran community and continues his advocacy work for the Afghan allies left behind.Buy Life and Death at Abbey Gate

I sit down with Havok Journal owner Charlie Faint to discuss the Israel/Palestine issues and get some recent historical perspective.

Michael D. Fay is a former USMC Combat Artist with multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mike enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1975 and was discharged in 1978 as an 81 mm mortarman (MOS 0341). In 1978, he returned to Penn State Univeristy and graduated in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in Art Education. In 1983, re-enlisted into the Marines and served as an avionics technician (MOS 6322) in the Presidential Helicopter Squadron (HMX-1) and Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 365 (HMM-365) until 1993. Fay served a tour on recruiting duty (MOS 8411) and was a recruiter of the year for 1989 and 1990. He left active duty at the end of September 1993. Fay returned to service in the USMCR in January 2000. He was assigned as an official combat artist. He is now retired from the Marine Corps. Fay's artwork is in the Marine Corps Combat Art collection, the National Museum of the Marine Corps and the collection of the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.Fay has also had solo exhibitions at the Farnsworth Museum, where he was the target of a protest group. His artwork has been published in Leatherneck Magazine—the official magazine of the Marine Corps Association—and the New York Times. The Guardian called his work "exceptionally moving and thought-provoking", and said, "Over the past decade, Fay has seen action as a war artist with US troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan, but his latest journey was to a military veterans' hospital in Richmond, Virginia. In the resulting New York Times blogs, he relays his meetings with three young men severely wounded in Afghanistan. His account of their injuries and rehabilitation is gripping, but what really deepens the reporting are his drawings, reproduced alongside the articles."Fay has also recorded wounded veterans recovering from their injuries. As part of this work he founded the Joe Bonham Project to document the experiences of the wounded. After retirement, Fay campaigned for enhanced recognition and improved working opportunities for war artists. Fay also uses sculpture. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Illustration; his thesis was called The Boy Who Drew Soldiers.

The child of a Ukrainian POW and US Air Force veteran, Michael Bard is an active musician, composer and teacher who resides near Washington, D.C. He has performed as a soloist and with various musical ensembles throughout the United States, Europe, Japan, North Africa, South America, Central America and the Middle East. He has also been featured on various radio and television programs around the world. He has served as Vice President of the Dayton Classical Guitar Society as well as Vice President of the Washington Guitar Society.While pursuing graduate studies at Arizona State University, Tempe, Michael was awarded a full scholarship to study at l'Accademia “Ottocento” in Vigevano, Italy, a school which specializes in the classical guitar music of the 19th century. During that time he also participated in a concert tour of northern Italy and Switzerland.Michael has also performed as rhythm guitarist for Higher Octave/Virgin recording artists Shahin and Sepehr with whom he has toured nationally and abroad. He also appeared on their fourth album “World Cafe” which peaked at #18 on the Billboard charts and was featured on NPR's “All Things Considered.”As a performer, Michael was chosen by the U.S. State Department to concertize throughout Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, and the kingdom of Morocco with fellow guitarist Corey Whitehead. Billing themselves as ‘Douze Cordes' Michael and Corey effectively served as cultural ambassadors, offering diplomacy through music. They were later invited to give more performances in Jordan and Kuwait on a second tour again sponsored by the U.S. State Department. More recently they embarked on an 11 city concert tour throughout the country of Chile, this time as a trio with vocalist Deborah Benner, Michael's wife & musical partner.Michael has performed for many luminaries and dignitaries including former President Bill Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore as well as various members of royalty throughout the Middle East & South America.His first recorded solo effort entitled ‘Illumination' features original compositions for guitar and solo piano, blending a soothing mix of of Spanish, Latin, and adult contemporary instrumental styles. His composition ‘Mediterranean Beauty' for two guitars is published by Lathkill Music Publishers, England.He provided Spanish guitar accompaniment for The Choral Arts Society of Washington‘s award winning NAXOS recording “Celebrating Sacred Rhythms” featuring Ariel Ramirez' “Misa Criolla” & “Navidad Nuestra.”Michael currently performs & records with Washington D.C. based Latin Rumba-Flamenco group Trio Caliente, which has released 3 albums, performed nationally, and whose music was featured on NBC's former hit TV show “Smash” as well as E! Entertainment Television Network. ​​Michael holds a Masters degree in music from Arizona State University, Tempe and a Bachelors degree in music from Wright State University, Dayton, OH.Get tickets to Michael's Carnegie Hall concert on November 4, 2023.

Arriving in the US as a refugee, Ayman Kafel escaped civil wars in both Lebanon and Liberia. Following 9/11, Ayman enlisted in the US Army where he saw combat in Iraq before being forced to medically retire due to service-connected injuries. He continues to serve as a law enforcement officer. A regular contributor to Havok Journal, he is also the host of Project Sapient, a podcast dedicated to law enforcement and military issues. he recently published his first book through the Second Mission Foundation, THE RESOLUTE PATH.RSVP to come to Ayman's book launch and see Ayman in VetRep's immersive performance of THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER

Episode 117 with former Army combat veteran Dave Campisano, founder of 22 Mohawks. Dave joined the Army in 2001 and served in various light infantry units until his separation in 2016. In 2009, he passed Ranger School and was deployed with the Golden Dragons 2/14In, 10th Mountain Division to Iraq. After his honorable discharge in 2016, he attended Suffolk University in Boston where he majored in Finance and now serves as a Financial Advisor with Northwestern Mutual and a financial planning team based in Wellesley, Ma.He currently lives with his daughter, Isabella, and dog Winston in Millis, Ma.After his separation from the Army, David began to notice that more and more service members were taking their own lives and felt compelled to start the non-profit, 22Mohawks. The main goal of 22Mohawks is to bring awareness to veteran suicide. They sponsor multiple events each year that bring veterans and their families together. Their mission is to create and keep the bond between veterans so that everyone knows that they have someone with similar experiences they can lean on. A big part of that bond and connection is lost after separation from the military and believing fully in their mission to reinforce and maintain that sense of community.

Episode 116 with former NYPD detective and actor/singer Michael Devine. Mike, a native New Yorker, is an intrepid character actor recognized for his roles as Detective Paul O'Rourke on the Emmy-nominated "The Undoing" (HBO) and James Tech on "Limitless" (CBS). With various guest star appearances on network, streaming and pay cable television, he is no stranger to the camera. His work can also been seen on the big screen in dozens of A-List directed films such as The Wolf Of Wall Street, The Post, The Woman In The Window, Inside Man, etc.When not working on set, Michael is in the recording studio. As an accomplished singer, Michael's first album, "Songs of Valor and Hope," hit #1 in four categories on Amazon. His second album, "Sentinels" has just been released.

Episode 115 with former NYPD detective and actor/singer Michael Devine. Mike, a native New Yorker, is an intrepid character actor recognized for his roles as Detective Paul O'Rourke on the Emmy-nominated "The Undoing" (HBO) and James Tech on "Limitless" (CBS). With various guest star appearances on network, streaming and pay cable television, he is no stranger to the camera. His work can also been seen on the big screen in dozens of A-List directed films such as The Wolf Of Wall Street, The Post, The Woman In The Window, Inside Man, etc.When not working on set, Michael is in the recording studio. As an accomplished singer, Michael's first album, "Songs of Valor and Hope," hit #1 in four categories on Amazon. His second album, "Sentinels" has just been released.

Charles Faint currently serves as the Chair for the Study of Special Operations and an assistant professor in the Defense and Strategic Studies program for the Modern War Institute at West Point. A retired military intelligence officer, he commissioned into the military intelligence branch of the US Army through the ROTC program at Mercer University and claims Alabama as his home state. After completing a branch detail to the infantry in the 101st Airborne Division, he subsequently served as an intelligence officer in a variety of units, including the 2nd Infantry Division, the 5th Special Forces Group, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, and the Joint Special Operations Command. His most recent operational assignment was at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, where he served as the Chief of Intelligence – Plans and Exercises and then Chief of Intelligence – Operations on the G2 staff of US Army Pacific.In addition to his role as MWI Deputy Director, he teaches the Comparative Defense Policy course. During a previous tour at West Point, he was the course director for MX400, the superintendent's capstone course on officership, for two years. He also instructed international relations, American politics, comparative politics, conflict and negotiation, and intelligence and national policy for three years in West Point's renowned Department of Social Sciences.He earned his doctorate in business administration through Temple University. He also holds five undergraduate and graduate degrees, the most recent of which is from Yale University. Educated in fields ranging from engineering to communication to international relations, his research interests include special operations, civil-military relations, and small business entrepreneurship.Over the course of his career, Lt. Col. Faint earned the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal (4 awards), the Meritorious Service Medal (six awards), the Combat Action Badge, and the pathfinder, airborne, and air assault badges. He has earned seven combat stripes for his service in Iraq and Afghanistan and also served in Egypt, Korea, and the Philippines.Early in his career, he served a six-month peacekeeping tour with the Multinational Force and Observers in Sinai, Egypt, an experience that began a career-long interest in the region. That interest prompted his involvement in the Peace and Dialogue Leadership Initiative (PDLI), a joint Yale/West Point endeavor that selects high-performing students from both schools for a yearlong fellowship that includes two weeks on the ground in Israel and Palestine. Faint was a cofounder of PDLI and served as its security advisor, accompanying the group to the Levant for each of the first five years of the PDLI's existence.Published in a number of blogs and professional journals, his most significant publication is coauthorship of the book Violence of Action: The Untold Stories of the 75th Ranger Regiment in the War on Terror. He was also the editor-in-chief of West Point's Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, is the owner of the military-themed blog The Havok Journal, and is the executive director of The Second Mission Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Ivan F. Ingraham is a writer, speaker, and storyteller. He served 24-years in the United States Marine Corps, mostly in Special Operations. Ivan is the CEO of Golden Compass, LLC, a leadership consulting company.Read Ivan's work at The War Horse, Task & Purpose, and Havok Journal.Ivan's Amazon author pageFollow Ivan here

This week, due to our August scheduling mishaps and my innate curiosity, I sat down with myself for a little editorial speculation about the war in Ukraine and the way we in the military/veteran community think about it. Why do so many otherwise knowledgeable folks give Russia any benefit of doubt? Why are we so confused as to why it's worth supporting Ukraine? Why do so many people who never cared about - or actively protested - our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan feel so militant and feverish about supporting Ukraine? Why are we so much more comfortable flying Ukrainian flags now than Afghan - or even US - flags over the past 20 years? I'll speculate on all this and more.The 1980's Called...CNN articleFordham University Veterans Mental Health SummitSecond Mission FoundationVetRep

Episode 111 with Scott Chapman. Scott served in 2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment from 2001-2005. He deployed to Iraq during the 2003 invasion and then to the Afghan theatre 4 times. After the military, Scott worked in the executive protection space and then as an OGA security contractor. Providing security support to the Intelligence community where he deployed 17 times; mostly to the Forward Operating Bases (FOB). He provided security support for Intelligence personnel and operations. Scott continues to work in the contract security area.Many of Scott's articles for Havok Journal have gone viral, including "A Taliban Feast", "Every Day is Sept 12, 2001", "The Last Plane out of Kabul", "Written in Taliban", and "Keep Your Powder Dry".Follow Scott here.

Poet, musician and former USMC combat veteran Benjamin Fortier has finally published his latest book PHANTOMS, covering his deployment to Iraq in '06-'07. About the book, Sebastian Junger said, "Fortier's poetry – can I even call it that? - seems to do the impossible: transfer the experience of combat directly into our psyches. PHANTOMS is stunning. If you have never been in combat, you will understand something new and important. And if you have – well, you don't need to hear it from me. Just take a deep breath and open up the book."

This week, due to several last-minute guest cancellations, sees me talk with myself about the newly released CDC numbers regarding suicide in 2022 and the way they intersect with the veteran population. While rejecting monocausal explanations, I do speculate and pontificate about some lesser-covered root causes ranging from foreign influence and self-loathing in the veteran community.

Mike Schropp is a visual artist, specializing in abstract painting and sculpture. Mike is a combat veteran, having deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan with the US Army. Our wide-ranging conversation touches on his artistic process, the unique circumstances of his marriage, his most eventful day in Afghanistan, his adjustment to civilian life, and the rugged independence he has claimed on his artistic journey. Mike was one of the first veteran artists I followed on IG. Yet it still took this long to get him on the show. His work is phenomenal and his personal story of wrong turns, false starts and dead ends culminates in absolutely magnificent artwork. My two cents, but seriously - buy his work before it goes out of your price range.Follow Mike here.

Scott Cottrell is a retired US Army Colonel. His debut novel, When Chaos Reigns, is available now on pre-order and will be released on Kindle on August 8, 2023. China, Russia, a powerful drug cartel, and a radical Islamic terrorist group form a secret cabal bent on shocking America and her global influence to its core while taking what they want across the globe. With the U.S. President facing impeachment on multiple counts and focused on securing a trade agreement with China without Senate approval, his actions put the Reagan Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll at risk and ignite the tinderbox of the South China Sea. Can the web of corruption and deceit created by enemies, foreign and domestic, be uncovered and destroyed in time to save the United States and Western civilization? So well documented in present-day fact,When Chaos Reigns seems too close to reality to be called fiction.A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Scott served for 29+ years in the U.S. Army in locations worldwide, including as Commander of the US Army Kwajalein Atoll/Kwajalein Missile Range, now the Reagan Test site. Scott has three master's degrees, including a Master's in Military Art and Science from the Army's School of Advanced Military Studies; and a Master's in National Security and Strategic Studies from the US Naval War College. Scott's other military assignments included the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii; the Near East Project Office in Ovda, Israel, with the US Army Corps of Engineers; US Southern Command's Engineer Directorate in Panama; XVIII Airborne Corps G3 Plans section in Fort Bragg, NC; US Space Command J5 Plans Section; and the US Central Command's Engineer, which involved many trips to the Middle East. He is married to Peggy, with two children and eight grandchildren.Follow him here.

Gina Herrera is a mixed-media artist residing in California. A 25-year veteran of the Navy, Army and Air Force, she received her BFA in Art Education from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. During her studies, she was deployed overseas in support of several war contingencies with the Armed Forces. Once her final tour was complete, she obtained her MFA in Studio Arts from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Herrera has exhibited extensively throughout California and nationally. She has been privileged to receive recognition for her work through various grants and has been published in various media including Peacock TV and Hulu. Follow her here.

Fred Burton is a former police officer, special agent and New York Times best-selling author. He's served on the front lines of high-profile investigations like the hunt for and arrest of Ramzi Yousef, the mastermind behind the first World Trade Center bombing; the 1988 plane crash of PAK-1 that killed U.S. Ambassador Arnold Raphel and Pakistani President Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq; and the search for Americans kidnapped by Hezbollah in Beirut, Lebanon.His best-selling books include his personal memoir GHOST: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Agent, Chasing Shadows: A Special Agent's Lifelong Hunt to Bring a Cold War Assassin to Justice, Under Fire: The Untold Story of the Attack in Benghazi and his fourth book, Beirut Rules: The Murder of a CIA Station Chief and Hezbollah's War Against America.Burton also consults with Fortune 500 companies on security developments and how to keep their personnel and business safe as the Executive Director of the Ontic Center for Protective Intelligence. Burton was selected by Security Magazine as one of the Most Influential People in Security in 2021 and his books have been featured in thrillers by Brad Thor, Jack Carr and Tom Clancy's Target Acquired by Don Bentley. Follow Fred on IG

Jason Kasper is the USA Today bestselling author of the Spider Heist, American Mercenary, and Shadow Strike thriller series. Before his writing career he served in the US Army, beginning as a Ranger private and ending as a Green Beret captain. Jason is a West Point graduate and a veteran of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, and was an avid ultramarathon runner, skydiver, and BASE jumper, all of which inspire his fiction.Follow Jason here.

Ryan Stovall is a former adventurer, world traveler, and Green Beret, twice decorated for valor and awarded two Purple Hearts. His poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction can be found in numerous anthologies and journals, and on his blog at ryanstovall.com. Having completed one Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree through Fairfield University in 2021, in 2022 he began taking classes towards a second MFA through Lesley University's low-residency writing program. He recently finished a first draft of a fiction novel, and hopes to have it placed for publication within the next two years. Ryan, a University of Maine alumnus (class of 2018), lives in Phillips, Maine, with his wife and three kids. Black Snowflakes Smothering A Torch is his first book.

Hollie McKay is a writer, war crimes investigator, and the author of “Only Cry for the Living: Memos from Inside the ISIS Battlefield.” (Jocko Publishing/Di Angelo Publications 2021). She was an investigative and international affairs/war correspondent for Fox News Digital for over fourteen years, where she focused on war, terrorism, and crimes against humanity.Hollie has worked on the frontlines of several major war zones and covered humanitarian and diplomatic crises in Ukraine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Iran, Turkey, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Burma, Russia, Africa, Latin America, and other areas.Hollie was in Afghanistan in the summer of 2021, where she became one of the few western journalists to stay in the country during and after the government fell to the Taliban. She was then the only American journalist to stay behind for the long haul, witnessing the first four months of the new regime. Hollie was then based in Ukraine to cover the leadup and subsequent invasion by Russian forces. Hollie continued to write and report on Afghanistan for numerous publications, including the New York Post, Empire Media Group, National Review, Liberty Dispatches, National Interest, Deadline Hollywood, The Independent, Dallas Morning News, Skillset Magazine, Recoil Magazine and SmartHer News.Her globally-spanned coverage, in the form of thousands of print articles and essays, has included exclusive and detailed interviews with numerous captured terrorists, as well as high-ranking government, military, and intelligence officials and leaders from all sides.Hollie also provided television and radio coverage for dozens of major outlets, including BBC World Service, NPR, ABC News Australia, Fox News, Sky News, The Ben Shapiro Show and KTLA.Her coffee table book collaboration with combat photographer Jake Simkin is “Afghanistan: The End of the U.S. Footprint and Rise of the Taliban Rule” (DiAngelo Publications).Hollie is also a 40 Under 40 Honoree with the Middle East Policy Council (MEPC) and a 2022 Media Fellow for the Foundation of Defense of Democracies (FDD) honorary board member for EMERGENCY USA, a non-governmental organization that assists victims of conflict worldwide. She was the 2021 recipient of the EMERGENCY honors award for “her commitment and dedication to providing surgical and medical care to people affected by war and poverty.”Hollie serves as the Outreach Director for Burnt Children Relief Foundation (BCRF) to bring severely bomb-burned Syrian children to the U.S. for life-saving treatment.Hollie is based in Washington, D.C.Follow her here.Subscribe to her Substack here.

Elliot Ackerman is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Halcyon, 2034, Red Dress In Black and White, Waiting for Eden, Dark at the Crossing, and Green on Blue, as well as the memoir The Fifth Act: America's End in Afghanistan, and Places and Names: On War, Revolution and Returning. His books have been nominated for the National Book Award, the Andrew Carnegie Medal in both fiction and nonfiction, and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize among others. He is a contributing writer at The...

Proud theatre geek turned Army Special Forces Green Beret, turned 'Medal of Valor'-earning firefighter and now back to actor, Jeff Bosley is a film and television actor. During his years in theatre performing on stage Jeff's studies focused on The Meisner Technique. As he transitioned to film & television his education expanded to Stanislavski's 'Method' while studying for nearly 5 years at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Conservatory. He continues to train and study at Strasberg, the American Film Institute, the SAG-AFTRA Conservatory and multiple studios in the Los Angeles area.His current work and projects have earned him major roles transporting him to international movie sets and Cannes Film Festival Screenings. His indie feature film 'Parallax' (which he starred in and produced) has been making the festival rounds for the last several years with 11 awards as of December 2021- including multiple winners of Best Actor, Best Producer, Best Short Film and Best Thriller.

As a musician, Tyron McFarlan was almost signed to two major record labels before each opportunity was derailed. As an actor, Ty McFarlan appeared on Dawson's Creek, One Tree Hill Drop Dead Diva, and Army Wives and in addition to many other commercial and TV appearances. But Ty may be best known as the 34th Ringmaster of Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey circus. A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Ty was the son of a career Army warrant officer who went on to became the first black state trooper in South Carolina. Ty himself served 13 years in the Army National Guard rising to the rank of Captain in the Ordnance branch.

Master Sergeant Corban Lundborg is currently serving in the Air Force Reserve as a combat photojournalist at the 4th Combat Camera Squadron based out of Charleston, South Carolina. Corban is one of the unit's designated aerial photographers, working as fully qualified aircrew. The unit supports the Department of Defense with frontline imagery in combat, aerial and humanitarian environments. Corban's photojournalism work has been recognized around the world. He earned the title "Air Force Photographer of the Year" in the 2018 media awards and won first place at the 2022 international Best Combat Camera Competition. Corban is now living in Atlanta, Georgia where he creates full time, working on a variety of projects in different mediums, from painting to woodworking. He also leads a creative agency with his wife called CALM Collective, where he works as a creative director and cinematographer. His camera work has attracted top companies and non-profits from around the country, who have hired him as a director of photography on national ad campaigns and commercials. Moving forward, Corban's dream is to use his creative gifts to serve others and Christ. Corban's website

Jared Prewitt is a husband, father, Marine, author, carpenter/teacher/coach, and a lover of great stories. He was a Sergeant in the Marine Corps with 1st Battalion, 6th Marines based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He participated in the Battle of Ramadi as a Designated Marksman from 2006-2007 and as a Squad Leader in the Battle of Garmsir in 2008. After being honorably discharged in 2009 after serving for five years, he moved to Colorado and was married thereafter in 2011. He has a Bachelor's in Business and a Masters in Writing. He lives with his wife and two kids, a boy and a girl. You can find him bowling, golfing, camping, hunting, or fishing when he's not around his family. He is the author of the forthcoming book "It'll Buff Out".You can find Jared on Instagram here.

Larry Freeland is the author of historical fiction novels Chariots in the Sky and the Patriarch, the first part of the Legacy of Honor trilogy. Larry was born in Canton, Ohio. Since his father was an officer with the United States Air Force he grew up on many Air Force bases across this country. After graduating from High School at Ramey Air Force Base in Puerto Rico, he attended the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. He graduated in 1968 with a degree in mathematics and a concentration in finance. He joined the U.S. Army and served one tour in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division as an Infantry Officer and a CH-47 helicopter pilot. He is the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal, with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star, and various other military service medals.Upon release from active duty in 1973, Larry returned to civilian life and pursued a career in the Financial Industry. During his professional career, he continued his education earning graduate degrees in Management and Banking. He worked for 29 years in the banking business with Trust Company of Georgia, Citizen and Southern Corporation, now Bank of America, and Wachovia, now Wells Fargo. After retiring from banking he worked as an independent financial consultant for 3 years in the Atlanta area and then worked as an instructor for 6 years with Lanier Technical College in their Management and Leadership Development Program.Larry is now retired and lives in North Georgia with his wife Linda, a retired school teacher. They stay involved in various activities, most notably those associated with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Veterans related organizations. They also enjoy traveling together and spending as much time as possible with their two daughters, three grandsons, and two granddaughters.

Carey Kight combines operational military experience with an art school education to run efficient productions.He is an award-winning Executive Producer and Head of Production for integrated advertising campaigns. He currently plays that role at Circus Maximus, AdAge's 2021 Small Agency of the Year (11-75 Employees), GOLD, where they won AdAge's Creativity Awards' Best New Product Launch for King C. Gillette.Previously, he was with Boomshot and 77 Ventures Creative where he was a part of the team that helped develop, create, and launch Anheuser Busch's internal agency, DraftLine NYC. He wrote and produced their first ever Super Bowl ad, a regional spot for Natty Light.Carey got his start in advertising with the old Time, Inc. Studios, now The Foundry @ Meredith.As a member of the United States Air Force, he served in the United Kingdom, throughout Europe, and Afghanistan. He used the Post-9/11 GI Bill to study Film Studies at The Ohio State University and earned a BFA in Creative Writing for Entertainment from Full Sail University.After college, Carey cut his teeth as a first assistant director and unit production manager on indie film sets in Los Angeles working with A-list talent and studying under seasoned filmmakers.Carey is also a published author and award-winning screenwriter, director, and indie film producer. He and his wife, Andrea Buccilla, co-founded Greater Fool Productions. Their films have been distributed by no budge, Film Shortage , and Twelve Cabins as well as having played Florida Film Festival, Panic Fest, Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, and more.Carey hosts and produces a podcast called Veteran Made where he connects with other veterans to equip the community with skills to successfully transition from service to civilian.

Michael Jerome Plunkett served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. After working in the financial industry for Fidelity Investments and Morgan Stanley for several years he began pursuing fiction writing and acquired his MFA at College of Charleston. He currently works as an EMT. His writing has been published by Coffee of Die (Black Rifle Coffee), Dead Reckoning Collective, and The Havok Journal. Lit of War

Navy veteran Logan Vath is an award-winning singer/songwriter from Norfolk, Virginia. A Midwest native, he has established himself as a biographical lyricist who finds balance in intricate phrasing and a simple, genuine connection to his audience. His songs have found themselves on Spotify's "Roots on the Rise" and "Fresh Folk" playlists, as well as Apple Music's "Breaking Singer/Songwriter."You can see him live at VetRep's performance of Savage WonderGround: Three Strangers at @principlegallery on April 13 at 6pm (savagewonder.com)

Michael D. Fay is a former USMC Combat Artist with multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mike enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1975 and was discharged in 1978 as an 81 mm mortarman (MOS 0341). In 1978, he returned to Penn State Univeristy and graduated in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in Art Education. In 1983, re-enlisted into the Marines and served as an avionics technician (MOS 6322) in the Presidential Helicopter Squadron (HMX-1) and Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 365 (HMM-365) until 1993. Fay served a tour on recruiting duty (MOS 8411) and was a recruiter of the year for 1989 and 1990. He left active duty at the end of September 1993. Fay returned to service in the USMCR in January 2000. He was assigned as an official combat artist. He is now retired from the Marine Corps. Fay's artwork is in the Marine Corps Combat Art collection, the National Museum of the Marine Corps and the collection of the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.Fay has also had solo exhibitions at the Farnsworth Museum, where he was the target of a protest group. His artwork has been published in Leatherneck Magazine—the official magazine of the Marine Corps Association—and the New York Times. The Guardian called his work "exceptionally moving and thought-provoking", and said, "Over the past decade, Fay has seen action as a war artist with US troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan, but his latest journey was to a military veterans' hospital in Richmond, Virginia. In the resulting New York Times blogs, he relays his meetings with three young men severely wounded in Afghanistan. His account of their injuries and rehabilitation is gripping, but what really deepens the reporting are his drawings, reproduced alongside the articles."Fay has also recorded wounded veterans recovering from their injuries. As part of this work he founded the Joe Bonham Project to document the experiences of the wounded. After retirement, Fay campaigned for enhanced recognition and improved working opportunities for war artists. Fay also uses sculpture. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Illustration; his thesis was called The Boy Who Drew Soldiers.

A Coast Guard veteran and native of Long Beach, California, Reagan Pettigrew found his love for reading and writing while in the military. After his discharge, he began a new life on the road that took him from America to Europe. Suicide In Slow Motion is his breakout novel.From Long Beach, California to the mountains of the Pyrenees in northern Spain, Suicide In Slow Motion takes the reader on a voyage of discovery through Tristan's eyes, while confronting the horrors of PTSD and delving into the philosophy of self-destruction. It also seeks to answer the question that many veterans ask once they leave the military... what the hell do I do now.

Neville Johnson was born and raised in South Africa by a Mum who was a Nurse and a Dad who was a Police Officer. This early exposure to a life of service to country influenced his most significant life decisions. Before he started writing, this path took him to the United Kingdom, where he ended up in London as a member of her Majesty's Royal Infantry.Neville currently resides in New Zealand with his wife and three children. He works at a high school as the Pathways Coordinator, assisting young people in developing essential life skills for their transition into the workforce. His first book, Sangin, Then and Now, is a stoic collection of poetry from a lifelong loyal subject of the Commonwealth. The verses within tell the story of a young man following in the footsteps of his father as we accompany him on a journey to war and back. It is a rationale for the dangers we face in staying in a toxic relationship with professions and landscapes trying to swallow us whole.

Charles McCaffrey is a Navy Veteran with over 35 years of military, government contracting and small business experience; and is a serial entrepreneur, instructor, mentor and ardent supporter of the military community. Charles serves as the Director of the Veterans Career Program (VCP) at Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) that provides FREE employment support and vocational counseling assistance to ALL veterans, transitioning service members, spouses, and caregivers. Prior to joining PVA in October 2021, he served as the Executive Director of Eastern Market Main Street (EMMS), a nonprofit, and designated DC Main Streets program, dedicated to fostering a collaborative, connected, and competitive business community in the heart of the Capitol Hill neighborhood in Washington, DC.He was on the staff at George Mason University's Community Business Partnership; and served as Director of the Business Incubation Center (2012-2013) and Director of the South Fairfax Small Business Development Center (2013-2015) before founding and serving as the Director of the Veterans Business Outreach Center for the Mid-Atlantic region from 2015 to 2019. The Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) program (a program of the Small Business Administration) is designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling, and resource partner referrals to transitioning service members, veterans, National Guard & Reserve members, and military spouses interested in starting or growing a small business. In 2016, he was named Boots to Business Instructor of the Year; and in 2018, the VBOC at Community Business Partnership was named the Veteran Business Center of Excellence by the Small Business Administration.Charles is also active in the broader community; serving as a learning lab partner for the Dog Tag, Inc., Fellows program. He is also an avid storyteller, writer and artist; and has been a mentor with the Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP). Charles told his first story on stage in 2017 as a graduate of the Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP) Storytelling 101 class; and has since gone on to perform at ASAP's Service to Stage performance (DC Improv in 2018), Story District's annual OutSpoken show (9:30 Club in 2019), and Story District's TopShelf performance (Lincoln Theater in 2020). His first short story (fiction), “Dancing in the Dark,” will be published in a special literary issue of the Journal of Veterans Studies in Spring 2023.

Kacy Tellesen was born in Spokane and raised in Spangle, Washington, a small farming community that clings to the edge of the Palouse. Kacy joined the Marine Corps infantry directly out of high school and deployed twice to Iraq as an Infantry machine gunner with Second Battalion, Third Marines from 2005-2009. He lives in Spangle, Washington with his wife and two children and is currently pursuing a Juris Doctor at Gonzaga University School of Law.Kacy's debut memoir, Freaks of a Feather, has been reviewed and excerpted by Task & Purpose, The War Horse, The Big Smoke, KHQ, and others. Previously, his work has appeared in The New York Times, Zero-Dark-Thirty literary journal, as well as the SOFLETE website.

Ben Cantwell is a USMC veteran, firefighter and artist from Northern California. His original work reflects his experience as an infantry veteran. Featuring an array of styles, moods and themes, Cantwell's work is available on custom shirts, playing cards, patches and more. See it here.

Francisco is a product of the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism and serves as an editor and contributing writer to Panorama: The Journal of Intelligent Travel. He is an Into the Fire writing retreat scholarship recipient, and a Virginia Center for the Creative Arts Fellow. He is a product of the Writers Guild Foundation Veterans Writing Project, and the Veteran's Summer Writing Intensive at Marlboro College sponsored by Words After War. He also participates in a Veterans Playwriting Workshop, created by the Theatre Communications Group as part of their Veterans & Theatre Institute, at the La Jolla Playhouse. Francisco's work has been featured in The Line Literary Review, Hippocampus Magazine, Iron & Air (Issue 41), Wrath-Bearing Tree, Consequence, BULL, Hobart, Construction Literary Magazine, Split Lip, The War Horse, River Teeth: Beautiful Things, Collateral Journal, and the Dominican Writer's Association. He is also a contributing co-editor in the second volume of the Incoming series Sex, Drugs, and Copenhagen.

Dave Campisano joined the Army in 2001 and served in various light infantry units until his separation in 2016. In 2009, he passed Ranger School and was deployed with the Golden Dragons 2/14In, 10th Mountain Division to Iraq. After his honorable discharge in 2016, he attended Suffolk University in Boston where he majored in Finance and now serves as a Financial Advisor with Northwestern Mutual and a financial planning team based in Wellesley, MA. He currently lives with his daughter, Isabella, and dog Winston in Millis, MA.After his separation from the Army, David began to notice that more and more service members were taking their own lives and felt compelled to start the non-profit, 22Mohawks. The main goal of 22Mohawks is to bring awareness to veteran suicide. They sponsor multiple events each year that bring veterans and their families together. Their mission is to create and keep the bond between veterans so that everyone knows that they have someone with similar experiences they can lean on. A big part of that bond and connection is lost after separation from the military and believing fully in their mission to reinforce and maintain that sense of community.

Vicki Cody grew up in Burlington, Vermont and graduated from the University of Vermont in 1975, with a BS degree in education. For the next 33 years she was an Army wife, supporting her husband in his career. While raising their two sons and moving all over the United States and overseas, she served as a coach and mentor for Army spouses and as an advocate for Army families.Vicki has received numerous awards for her work on behalf of military families. In 2007, she was written into the Congressional Record in a tribute to her by Congressman Sylvestre Reyes, for her writings about Army life and her contributions to the nation as an Army wife and Army mom. In 2021, Vicki, along with her husband Dick, received the General Creighton Abrams Medal for Service from the Association of the United States Army.She is the author of Your Soldier, Your Army: A Parents' Guide and most recently, the revised edition, Your Soldier, Your Army: A Family Guide, both of which were published by the Association of the United States Army. This book is free of charge to everyone. To date, over 500,000 copies of these books have been distributed. Her articles have appeared in numerous military magazines and publications.Her first memoir, Army Wife: A Story of Love and Family in the Heart of the Army was published in 2016 by She Writes Press. Army Wife won the 2016 USA Best Book Award for narrative non-fiction, was a Finalist for the 2016 Foreword Indies Book of the Year in the military category, and was listed in Kirkus Reviews Top Indie Books of 2016.Her new memoir, Fly Safe- Letters from the Gulf War and Reflections from Back Home, was released in August 2021 by She Writes Press. Fly Safe was a finalist for the 2021 Best Book Awards in the History/Military category; made the Kirkus Reviews 2021 list of Great Indie Books worth discovering; and is a finalist for the Military and Front Lines Book Award in the Chanticleer International Book Awards.She and her husband of forty-six years live in the Washington, DC area. Their two sons, both Apache helicopter pilots, continue to serve on active duty in the US Army.

Mike Reynolds is an active duty Marine and Marine Corps Combat Artist. With roots at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA while attending some very basic elective art classes; following the attacks of September 11th, 2001, he left college and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. As an Ammunition Technician he has been assigned to 10th Marine Regiment, 8th Marine Regiment, and Combat Logistics Regiment-35. As a Chief Warrant Officer, he has served with 3rd Supply Battalion, Marine Corps Systems Command, Marine Corps Base Quantico, and as an LDO he currently serves with Marine Forces Special Operations Command. A veteran of OIF, OEF, and OIR he has done his share of creating unit t-shirts and coins, but took a more focused approach to creating artwork in recent years.“A few years after transitioning to the Warrant Officer ranks, I volunteered to assist the annual Warrant Officer Basic Course at Quantico, Virginia. I was was teamed with Staff Platoon Commander and Marine Corps Combat Artist, Captain Charles “CJ” Baumann where I rediscovered my passion for art in working with him and studying his work.”Mike's passion for creating artwork stems from the idea that art should tell a story, and the stories of the GWOT demand to be told.Check out Mike's work here.

I found talking two Afghan social activist and human rights advocate Crystal Bayat incredibly cathartic - I think during the interview I even called it “medicinal.” I was thinking about why I chose to put it that way, and the best I can articulate it is that for many veterans of Afghanistan and many Afghans themselves, I think there a sort of “trauma bond” has formed - a very intimate relationship forged in the wake of a withdrawal that has been forgotten as quickly as it chaotically occurred. Talking with Crystal was, in some ways, like returning to the scene of the crime. While I was listening to her, it struck me how rarely we hear Americans speak as passionately, sincerely and fervently about freedom and democracy. Crystal truly represents the pro-American, young, educated Afghan that understands and appreciates American efforts – and has been betrayed even more by our withdrawl.Crystal herself is a beneficiary of our war effort. Born in 1997, she spent her life coming of age while American troops were on the ground. To hear her talk about the freedom - personal social and political - that she experienced because of our war in Afghanistan is a necessary reminder that in 20 years of war America enabled a generation of Afghans to come of age with possibilities and optimism unknown to previous generations. Crystal is clear eyed and resolute about the threats still present in Afghanistan. Crystal is forthcoming about everything from the Taliban's assassination attempt of her to an analysis of the multiple foreign influences still gestating, fomenting and developing new threats inside Afghanistan. It is a conversation, I think, that that every American should listen to. Crystal pulls no punches and identifying the culprits responsible for Afghanistan's collapse. As a member of the Loy Jerga, Crystal was present at the Doha peace talks - she is an activist but not an outsider. She has intimate knowledge and first-hand experience of the inner workings of the Ghani government which makes for an incredibly compelling insightful conversation. I think any one who cares about Afghanistan will deeply appreciate this episode. And anyone who wants to know why they should care about Afghanistan deserves the answers Crystal offers.Learn more about Crystal here.

No two veteran's stories are the same. But Torie Fisher's life is one that a lot of veterans can probably relate to. After a rough initial exit from the military, Torie re-enlisted, found a job she loved…only to again leave the military under less than ideal circumstances. She founded Backward Flag Brewing Company, but very soon found herself struggling as a new business owner, recent divorcee, newly married – gay – there were a lot of big changes all happening at once. It wasn't long before the temptation to end it all was one trigger squeeze away. Yet Torie dug deeper, quit drinking heavily, focused on her daughter and focused on helping those around her. Arms 2 Artisans, her nonprofit, became a way for her to continue to serve the military community, support her brothers and sisters in arms, and allow her to pave the way for transitioning veterans to become artists, creators, and artisans. Her selfless service extended to becoming a Mental Wellness Director at Recalibrate, pursuing advanced degrees in Psychology and even working as a Veteran Advocate in local law enforcement. I wasn't simply impressed by the strength and resilience Torie continues to show, juggling so many pursuits - all targeting the transitioning/separated veteran – but also by her honesty, her transparency, and her willingness to be an example for other veterans to find their path by helping others find theirs.

Angelo T. Robinson is an interdisciplinary artist and photographer who lives and works out of Senoia, GA. A self-taught artist, he joined the US Navy in 1992, where he served ten years active duty and four years in the Naval Reserves as a Seabee. Traveling to locales such as Italy, Spain, Turkey, Greece, Africa, France, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Egypt, the Virgin Islands, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates greatly influenced Angelo's approach to art. The vibrancy, diverse richness and simple beauty of the cultures he experienced are shown throughout his work.His work exudes a level of spirituality and an organic connection with the human condition. This reflects his experiences growing up as the son and grandson of preachers. Angelo's creations invite the viewer to participate in a physical, mental or spiritual dialogue with what they experience. Deep vibrant abstracts, joyous colorful mixed-media portraits, and majestic sports pieces are brought to life using vivid colors and bold compositions.Yellowtub Creative