Personal Discipline and Political Leaders
Although we would like perfection from our public servants, we are forced to accept the least venal of a sordid assembly.
Joe Heaton
After Service, Then What? A Soldier Wants To Know
Here and there, I have gone. Some of those experiences have shaped me, but none of those experiences have defined me.
Military Retirement: Just When You Thought You Were Out
First, what they say is true… retirement from the military is a process, not an event. It takes more time, research, and planning than I expected.
Leadership, Before and After Military Service
Once you’re no longer in the Army, no one is under orders to give you a chance at leadership.
A little Courtesy Goes a Long Way With The Cops
America is NOT systemically racist, although there are racist pockets still in our society. You don’t throw out an entire apple because it has a spot. You cut out the spot. The rest is still good.
The Soul of Our Nation
The 2020 notion was that we “are in a battle for the soul of the nation.” So let me ask a few questions:
Where is Your Loyalty?
Where is your loyalty? I have talked to a few people recently that I consider friends. One works to support veterans. Another tries to shape future generations. Someone else asked me why I am retiring. A yet different person asked me to continue service in an alternate capacity. I fully intend to continue service in …
A Subtle Change; A Profound Difference.
A subtle change; A profound difference. Just a couple years ago, the military mantra was “Mission First, People Always.” Now, the mantra is “People First, Mission Always.“ A small change at the strategic level. Huge implications down in the foxhole. We are the Military. When we do our job, people die. If you put people …
The Church of England explores a “gender neutral God.”
The Church of England is currently exploring a “gender neutral God.” That raises the question of “What does it mean to be created in God’s image?”
MacArthur’s Farewell Address at West Point
Winston Churchill is famous for quite a few things. Perhaps one of the least of these is the quotation to the effect of: It takes three hours to write a ten-minute speech, but it only takes ten minutes to write a three-hour speech. I was pondering MacArthur’s farewell address to the Corps of Cadets. An …
Suicide. There is no more somber of a topic.
Editor’s Note: Suicide is an emotional topic. People of good will, often disagree as to the best way to prevent this sad and unnecessary loss of life. The opinions in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of American Free News Network. Suicide. There is no more somber …
Another Leadership Story; “How Are You Doing Joe?”
There is another leadership story I would like to tell. I tell this to future officers when I get the chance. In 2011, I was the appointed leader of an organization. While I owned the responsibility given to me, I never felt I deserved the role. One day, my boss’s boss asked me how I …
Do we Belong to Different Classes?
I am Joe Heaton and I approve of this message… You say we belong to different classes, sir? Truly I agree. As it was and as it were, let me tell you what that means to me. You look down upon my friends and you look down upon me. You think that wealth means …
How Do I Know If I Have Honor?
How do I know if I have honor? A pointed question from a young man unsure of his way and seeking advice from an American warrior.
Media Monopoly
Is there a media monopoly? When I was a sophomore in college, a professor told the class that 10 people owned approximately 90% of the news outlets in America.
The Road Less Travelled
“Two roads diverged in the woods and I took the road less travelled,” by Robert Frost; a poetic version of being a thinker. That has made all the difference.
Joe Heaton: Make It Work
If you carry a gun, then you need to be able to make it work. You also need to be able to make it so it cannot. These are two fundamentals of responsible carry.