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Mark Hertling

@markhertling.bsky.social

Former soldier. Student of leadership & national security; Professor, author (“If I Don’t Return: A Father’s Wartime Journal”), speaker. Always looking for civility & new adventures. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-hertling-dba-57987066

108,186 Followers  |  221 Following  |  1,140 Posts  |  Joined: 12.11.2024  |  1.8042

Latest posts by markhertling.bsky.social on Bluesky


Thanks. Where do we disagree?

22.02.2026 01:59 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Thanks. Good company.

19.02.2026 03:36 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Me too.

19.02.2026 03:33 — 👍 4    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Europe Is America’s Secret Weapon. And We’re Giving It Up. The principal agreement of the Munich Security Conference is that a key American relationship is severely damaged.

I swear @markhertling.bsky.social 's articles are some of the best content, if not the best content on the internet in the past 5 years. Remarkable.
www.thebulwark.com/p/europe-is-...

18.02.2026 18:37 — 👍 146    🔁 38    💬 4    📌 0

Thank you @pksjones.bsky.social

19.02.2026 03:32 — 👍 118    🔁 8    💬 2    📌 0

What, exactly, would you like me or other military to do?

19.02.2026 03:31 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 2    📌 0
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Here's what's scheduled for book signings of "If I Don't Return." This isn't an exhaustive list; more will follow!

If you want a signed copy before the release date on 10 March, attend one of these events or order from ballastbooks.com. They will ship a copy to you in a few days.

19.02.2026 03:30 — 👍 110    🔁 14    💬 8    📌 0

My latest in @thebulwark.com

18.02.2026 15:35 — 👍 513    🔁 170    💬 15    📌 2
Preview
Europe Is America’s Secret Weapon. And We’re Giving It Up. The principal agreement of the Munich Security Conference is that a key American relationship is severely damaged.

My latest in the @thebulwark.com

17.02.2026 13:06 — 👍 238    🔁 81    💬 17    📌 6

Thanks. If you order from Ballast books directly before 10 March, you’ll get a signed copy.

17.02.2026 12:01 — 👍 6    🔁 1    💬 2    📌 0
Preview
The El Paso Balloon Incident Could Have Been a Disaster Shooting experimental lasers next to a major airport without telling anyone—what could go wrong?

When organizations like CBP or ICE are equipped—and rhetorically encouraged—to behave like battlefield units, the discipline that restrains military forces is often absent, while the consequences of misuse are magnified. ICYMI @markhertling.bsky.social: lnk.thebulwark.com/4659MsH

15.02.2026 17:00 — 👍 426    🔁 120    💬 11    📌 5

Thank you. Let me know what you think.

15.02.2026 00:38 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Enjoy. Let me know your thoughts!

15.02.2026 00:36 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0
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My new favorite book! “If I Don’t Return” by my friend @markhertling.bsky.social #RealLifeHero and friend of Gabriel Allon! You will love it!

13.02.2026 01:21 — 👍 381    🔁 49    💬 4    📌 4

Let me know what you think

13.02.2026 18:18 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

My latest in @thebulwark.com

13.02.2026 15:56 — 👍 537    🔁 152    💬 26    📌 15

When you have @danielsilvabooks.bsky.social commenting on your book, it makes for a great day! Thanks Danny!

13.02.2026 02:02 — 👍 210    🔁 21    💬 6    📌 0

You two are awesome! Thanks so much for the support.

13.02.2026 02:01 — 👍 15    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Would love to! Ask your px/bx to invite me and I’ll be there!

12.02.2026 14:01 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 2    📌 0

Yup, signed pre orders from @ballastbook mailed this week.

12.02.2026 13:51 — 👍 4    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Those asking if I’ll be signing books in Orlando…yes! Join me at the great Winter Park library on 1 March at 2 PM, the Citrus Club (with the Tiger Bay Club) on 6 March during a lunch speech, and at the Colonial Barnes and Noble on 28 March at 3 PM.

I’ll be posting other events soon. #BallastBooks

12.02.2026 13:46 — 👍 178    🔁 28    💬 11    📌 1

A righteous victory.

11.02.2026 02:00 — 👍 636    🔁 95    💬 16    📌 4
Preview
JAGs Shouldn’t Be Civilian Prosecutors The mass deportation policy is a legal mess—and reassigning military lawyers to support it would only create more problems.

"The danger here is not only to the justice system, but to civil-military relations."

Read @markhertling.bsky.social on what's wrong with reassigning JAGs to serve as civilian prosecutors.

www.thebulwark.com/p/jags-shoul...

10.02.2026 18:00 — 👍 118    🔁 39    💬 4    📌 4
Preview
JAGs Shouldn’t Be Civilian Prosecutors The mass deportation policy is a legal mess—and reassigning military lawyers to support it would only create more problems.

Dragooning JAGs into immigration enforcement is "a structural reallocation of critical military personnel that will have severe consequences on the good order and discipline of service members and their families."

New from @markhertling.bsky.social:

10.02.2026 15:01 — 👍 178    🔁 52    💬 6    📌 3
Preview
JAGs Shouldn’t Be Civilian Prosecutors The mass deportation policy is a legal mess—and reassigning military lawyers to support it would only create more problems.

My latest in the @thebulwark.com

10.02.2026 13:53 — 👍 169    🔁 52    💬 3    📌 2

If you watched, I didn’t call them that, I referred to what they call themselves. Which is ridiculous.

06.02.2026 23:41 — 👍 4    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

I’m sure he had great leaders.

06.02.2026 23:40 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
If I Don't Return (1st Edition Signed Copies) by Mark Hertling | Ballast Books

www.ballastbooks.com/ballast-book...

06.02.2026 12:14 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 1
If I Don't Return (1st Edition Signed Copies) by Mark Hertling | Ballast Books

I was able to pull it up: www.ballastbooks.com/ballast-book...

06.02.2026 12:14 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 2    📌 0

If you pre order from Ballast books you’ll get a signed copy.

06.02.2026 04:05 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

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