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Turning Volunteer Work Into Engaging Challenges
How to Make Service Feel Like Purpose-Driven Adventure Let’s be honest: When most people hear “volunteer work,” they imagine chores, long hours, or thankless tasks. But that’s because they’ve never seen service transformed into a challenge —a mission, a test of grit, heart, and leadership. At Covenant of Courage , we don’t just recruit volunteers. We raise purpose-driven leaders who serve with energy, urgency, and excellence. And the secret? We turn service into challenge-ba
Kirk Carlson
Oct 21, 20252 min read


You Don’t Meet People by Accident
There’s Always a Reason: A Lesson or a Blessing. Every person who enters your life is part of your story—for a moment, a season, or a lifetime. And whether the experience is joyful, painful, or somewhere in between, there’s always something they leave behind: A lesson to sharpen you. A blessing to build you. Or sometimes… both. ⸻ 🌱 The Lesson: Growth Wrapped in Discomfort Not everyone you meet is meant to stay. Some come into your life to challenge your thinking, test you
Kirk Carlson
Oct 20, 20252 min read


Building Brotherhood Across Generations: Covenant of Courage at the Janet Goeske Foundation
On September 16, 2025, Covenant of Courage hosted a powerful tabling event at the Janet Goeske Foundation in Riverside, California, as part of our ongoing Veteran Empowerment Workshop Series. The event brought together veterans from different generations — including several Vietnam-era veterans — for a day of connection, reflection, and renewed purpose. We shared stories of military life, sacrifice, and resilience — moments that reminded us how much we have in common despite
Kirk Carlson
Oct 20, 20251 min read


Start Leading with Purpose
At The Covenant of Courage , our mission is simple but powerful: to build a community where men ignite their potential through authentic connection, meaningful conversations, and shared experiences. Our vision is a world where no man walks alone —where every man searching for friendship finds a deep, unshakable brotherhood rooted in leadership, truth, and transformation . Why Small Group Leaders Matter Small group leaders are at the heart of this mission. By opening a space f
Kirk Carlson
Oct 19, 20251 min read


Comfort Is the Enemy of Growth. Get Uncomfortable.
There’s a reason growth doesn’t feel good. Because it’s not supposed to . Growth demands stretching, adjusting, letting go, and stepping into the unknown. And if you’re always chasing comfort—if you’re always waiting until it “feels right”—you’ll stay stuck exactly where you are. Comfort zones don’t build warriors. They build walls. ⸻ 💥 Growth Requires Discomfort You can’t get stronger without resistance. You can’t become wiser without challenge. You can’t lead if you’re af
Kirk Carlson
Oct 19, 20252 min read


Expanding Reasonable Ranks Across the Nation
By Covenant of Courage ⸻ ⚖️ A Movement for Fairness and Reform The #ReasonableRanks Campaign began as a small but determined effort to confront one of the most overlooked injustices in military policy — the lack of reasonable accommodations for injured and disabled service members. What started as a single petition has now grown into a national movement calling for systemic reform in how the U.S. military handles medical discharges . With more than 600 signatures and counti
Kirk Carlson
Oct 19, 20252 min read


The Goal Is to Get Finer, Happier, Wealthier, and Healthier
And You Deserve All Four. Let’s make something clear: Wanting more out of life isn’t selfish—it’s strategic . We live in a world that tells us to “be grateful and sit down,” but real growth happens when you say: “I can be grateful AND still want to elevate every area of my life.” So here’s the new standard: Finer. Happier. Wealthier. Healthier. Not for show. Not for clout. But for you , your future, and the people you’re called to impact. ⸻ 🔥 Finer – Level Up Your Presence
Kirk Carlson
Oct 19, 20252 min read


LOOKING FOR VETERANS READY TO BREAK INTO IT
By Covenant of Courage ⸻ 💻 The Fight for a Second Mission Are you a veteran or service member who was told that because of your medical discharge , you’re unqualified to do what you did in the military? You’re not alone — and you’re not unqualified. Every year, thousands of skilled men and women leave the military not because they can’t serve, but because the system doesn’t know what to do with them once they get injured. The phrase “Leave no man behind” seems to vanish whe
Kirk Carlson
Oct 19, 20252 min read


The Cost of Leadership: Why True Leaders Must Be Willing to Be Misunderstood
“If you accept the call to leadership, you must be willing to be misunderstood, criticized, opposed, accused—even rejected.” Leadership isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s not a title. It’s not popularity. It’s a calling that demands courage , clarity , and conviction —even when it costs you comfort, approval, or peace. Too many want the influence of leadership without the isolation it sometimes brings. But the truth is this: To lead is to be willing to walk alone… and still k
Kirk Carlson
Oct 18, 20252 min read


Uniting Veterans, Cadets, and Communities for a New Era of Command and Readiness
By Covenant of Courage & JLBC Cadet Corps — SECTIN Command Network In a time when communities face unprecedented challenges—from natural disasters to public health crises—our nation’s greatest untapped resource is unity itself. The Special Emergency Command Training & Intelligence Network (SECTIN) was founded to do exactly that: to unify veterans, cadets, and community partners into an integrated command network for emergency readiness, leadership development, and intelligen
Kirk Carlson
Oct 18, 20252 min read


Reimagining Military Service for the Modern Era
🇺🇸 By Covenant of Courage & JLBC Cadet Corps ⸻ A New Definition of Service For generations, the word service has been synonymous with sacrifice — men and women in uniform risking their lives to defend the freedoms we hold dear. But in the 21st century, the meaning of service is expanding. It’s no longer limited to combat roles or deployment; it now includes the courage to innovate, mentor, lead, and heal. Reimagining military service means recognizing that the mission does
Kirk Carlson
Oct 18, 20252 min read


What “Reasonable Accommodation” Should Mean for the U.S. Military
Redefining How America Treats Its Injured and Disabled Service Members For decades, the phrase “reasonable accommodation” has stood as a pillar of civil rights law. It represents fairness, inclusion, and the idea that a person’s worth is not defined by their limitations but by their willingness to serve and contribute. In every workplace across the United States — from the White House to the post office — the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensures that employees with
Kirk Carlson
Oct 18, 20253 min read


Your Real Competition Isn’t Other People—It’s You
In a world that constantly compares, ranks, and measures success by how we stack up against others, it’s easy to believe that life is a race and everyone else is your rival. But here’s the truth: Your competition isn’t other people. It’s not your co-worker. It’s not your neighbor. It’s not that influencer on Instagram or the entrepreneur on YouTube. Your competition is internal. It’s the sum of your habits, your fears, your mindset. Until you confront those, you’ll always be
Kirk Carlson
Oct 18, 20252 min read


Reasonable Ranks Campaign Progress Report — October 2025
🛡️ Building Momentum for Military Discharge Reform The Reasonable Ranks Campaign , led by Kirk Carlson and Covenant of Courage , continues to gain national traction as it fights to close one of the most overlooked civil rights gaps in military law: the lack of reasonable accommodation for injured service members. As of today, the campaign has reached 627 petition signatures , reflecting growing public support for military discharge reform and fair reassignment pathways for
Kirk Carlson
Oct 17, 20253 min read


Veterans Leading the Next Generation of Change
Across America, a new kind of leadership is emerging—one forged in service, refined through sacrifice, and now directed toward building stronger communities. Veterans are stepping into roles as mentors, educators, entrepreneurs, and advocates, using their experience and resilience to lead the next generation of change. ⸻ From the Battlefield to the Classroom For many veterans, service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off—it transforms. The leadership, teamwork, and adaptabi
Kirk Carlson
Oct 17, 20252 min read


Victory Village: Habitat Riverside’s Veterans Housing Project Finally Comes to Life
After years of planning, Habitat for Humanity Riverside is launching a long-anticipated housing community for veterans and their families. The project, known as Victory Village , is accepting pre-qualification applications for new, energy-efficient, single-family homes in Jurupa Valley . Building Homes, Honoring Service In partnership with the California Department of Veteran Affairs (CalVet) , Habitat Riverside plans to build 26 homes exclusively for veterans, surviving sp
Kirk Carlson
Oct 17, 20252 min read


Working with Smart People Is Great
Working with Kind and Humble People Is Next-Level Amazing In a world where intelligence is often prized above all else, there’s something that stands out even more than raw brilliance: 👉 Character. Yes—working with smart people is great. They solve problems. They innovate. They bring big ideas to the table. But when you combine intelligence with kindness and humility — that’s when the real magic happens. Smart Gets Things Done. Humble Gets Things Built. Smart people know wh
Kirk Carlson
Oct 17, 20252 min read


Choose Your Circle: Build a Tribe That Elevates You
We’ve all heard it before: “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” But let’s take that further. You are the energy you allow into your space. You are the standard your circle sets for itself. You are the vision that your people either push you toward—or pull you away from. The Power of the Right Circle The people around you are either: • Fueling your growth , or • Feeding your fears . When you’re around people who are driven, disciplined,
Kirk Carlson
Oct 16, 20252 min read


How Law Students Can Earn Credit Through Public Service
By Covenant of Courage | In Partnership with JLBC Cadet Corps and the #ReasonableRanks Campaign ⸻ ⚖️ Bridging Education and Impact Every law student enters the field with a dream of justice — to use their education not just for a paycheck, but for purpose. Yet many don’t realize that their journey toward becoming an attorney can start right now through public service credit programs that count toward graduation. At Covenant of Courage and the JLBC Cadet Corps , law student
Kirk Carlson
Oct 16, 20253 min read


The Hidden Civil Rights Gap in Military Discharge Law
⚖️ Why Injured and Disabled Service Members Are Being Left Behind — and How We Can Fix It When Americans think of civil rights, we picture marches, courtrooms, and landmark rulings. We rarely imagine the quiet heartbreak that happens inside a military base, when a service member who’s been injured, disabled, or medically limited is told: “You’re no longer fit for duty — you’re being discharged.” Behind that single sentence lies a hidden civil rights gap that leaves thousand
Kirk Carlson
Oct 16, 20253 min read
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