GRP 43- For this episode I had two different conversations with two very interesting individuals. The first conversation is with former British Army Combat Medic Chantelle Taylor. A former Combat Medic she had a remarkable career in the British Army. Renowned for being the first British female soldier in history to engage and kill an enemy combatant at close quarters, she was the lead medic supporting an infantry fighting company during prolonged combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Chantelle is the director of tactical medicine within Spectre International/FVEY Group. She is an ambassador for GBV UNCOVERED an international online think tank dedicated to improving the medical and psychological care available to the survivors of sexual gender-based violence [GBV] in the world's conflict regions. Taylor transitioned into diplomatic security and for a further four years she undertook the role of primary protection officer for the Australian Ambassador to Iraq. Currently she specializes in the provision and effective implementation of medicine in unstable or hostile regions. We discussed her career as a medic, and post military as a defense contractor working in war zones. We also discuss combat medicine, women in combat, and a variety of other topics.

The second conversation I had is with Aaron Epstein. Aaron is the president of an organization called the Global Surgical Medical Support Group. This unique organization provides medical training, and support to the Kurdish military, and Kurdish civilian population in Northern Iraq, as the continue to battle ISIS. “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”-Chinese proverb. Very popular aid organizations go into Iraq, drop some limited supplies, take some photos then leave. GSMSG is the exact opposite of that. They train the Kurds, so that they are no longer needed in the conflict zone. Enjoy.

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