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Preparing Teens for a Changing World: Courage, Competence, and Character in Action
In today’s world of rapid change, uncertainty, and constant digital noise, one question echoes across classrooms, households, and communities: Are we truly preparing our teens for the world they are about to inherit? From global pandemics to artificial intelligence, from climate instability to rising mental health crises, the terrain facing Generation Z and Generation Alpha is unlike anything the world has seen before. Traditional education alone is not enough. Our teens need
Kirk Carlson
Oct 262 min read


How Veterans and Cadets Are Building America’s New Command Network
In an age of uncertainty, division, and digital overload, a quiet revolution is happening across America — one rooted in discipline, service, and community. Veterans and cadets, often overlooked in the civilian space, are joining forces to forge something bold: America’s New Command Network — a nationwide alliance of servant leaders, first responders, mentors, and emerging youth trained to respond to crisis, build resilience, and lead with honor. The Legacy of Service, Reima
Kirk Carlson
Oct 253 min read


The Rise of Courage-Driven Organizations: A New Era of Purpose, Principle, and People-First Leadership
In an age where transparency, accountability, and authenticity are in high demand, a powerful shift is taking place—organizations rooted in courage are rising to the forefront. These are not companies built solely on profit margins, market dominance, or flashy branding. Instead, they are movements, nonprofits, businesses, and grassroots coalitions that lead with values, confront injustice, and prioritize people over power. Welcome to the age of courage-driven organizations. ⸻
Kirk Carlson
Oct 253 min read


Building Trust in a Distrustful World
In an age of misinformation, division, and digital noise, trust has become one of the rarest and most valuable currencies. Whether in politics, media, education, or our own communities, people are skeptical—of leaders, of institutions, and sometimes even of each other. And while technology has made us more connected than ever, it has also made us more cautious, more fragmented, and often more alone. So how do we build trust in a world where it’s easier to assume the worst? St
Kirk Carlson
Oct 243 min read


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 242 min read


Group 7 Meetup Coming to Norco, California! “Shared Success is the Best Success” – Let’s Build It Together.
⸻ 🚨 Group 7 Is Going from Viral to REAL It started on TikTok. It became a movement. Now, it’s becoming a nationwide community. If you’re ready to take Group 7 beyond your screen and into real connection, leadership, and impact— we’re kicking it off in Norco, California … and we want YOU there. ⸻ 📍 What’s Happening? We’re organizing the first-ever Group 7 Meetup in Norco, CA , hosted by Covenant of Courage and JLBC Cadet Corps — two veteran-led, youth-powered organizati
Kirk Carlson
Oct 232 min read


Group 7 STEM Challenges for Student Leaders
Empowering the Next Generation of Thinkers, Builders, and Change-Makers ⸻ 🧠 What Happens When Leadership Meets Innovation? The Group 7 trend took the internet by storm—what started as a viral TikTok video became a metaphor for identity, uniqueness, and bold self-expression. But at JLBC Cadet Corps and Covenant of Courage , we saw more than just a trend. We saw a gateway to growth . We asked: What if “Group 7” didn’t just mean being chosen by an algorithm… but being chosen
Kirk Carlson
Oct 233 min read


Do It Because They Said You Couldn’t: The Fire Behind Defiance
There’s a moment in everyone’s life when they’re told “You can’t.” You’re not strong enough. Not smart enough. Not the right background. And in that moment, you’re left with two choices: • Shrink yourself to fit their expectations • Or rise up and prove them wrong The image of a weathered man, cigarette in mouth, holding a homemade sign reading “Do it because they said you couldn’t” says more than a thousand motivational posters. It doesn’t just scream rebellion—it whisper
Kirk Carlson
Oct 232 min read


What Is Group 7 and Why Is Everyone Talking About It?
— by Covenant of Courage x JLBC Cadet Corps ⸻ 📲 A TikTok Trend With a Twist If you’ve opened TikTok in the last few weeks, chances are you’ve seen something about Group 7 . From memes to motivational videos, jokes to life lessons, the phrase “Group 7” is showing up everywhere. But what does it actually mean—and why is it resonating with so many people, especially youth, veterans, and digital leaders? Let’s break it down. ⸻ 🎥 Where It Started: A Creator’s Social Experimen
Kirk Carlson
Oct 233 min read


Why Discipline Is the Best Therapy: Rebuilding from the Inside Out
In a world flooded with quick fixes, self-help trends, and instant gratification, one timeless truth remains: discipline is the foundation of transformation . While therapy, support groups, and medication have their place in healing, discipline is the internal compass that guides us through chaos toward clarity — and ultimately, toward a better version of ourselves. ⸻ 🔧 Discipline: The Framework of Stability Therapy teaches us to unpack our trauma. But discipline teaches us
Kirk Carlson
Oct 232 min read


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 212 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 202 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 201 min read


Disabled Veterans by the Numbers (2024 Snapshot)
How Many, Who They Are, and Why It Matters Every year, more veterans return home carrying injuries—both visible and invisible. Behind every statistic is a person who served, sacrificed, and now deserves lasting support. Here’s what the latest data tells us about disabled veterans in America. ⸻ 🇺🇸 The Big Picture • There are 15.8 million veterans in the United States. • About 1.7 million of them are women. • Almost 30 % of all veterans report a service-connected disab
Kirk Carlson
Oct 192 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 191 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 192 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 192 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 192 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 192 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 182 min read
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