Original Episode: Ep 031 - LBdr Ryan Yates from 10th December 2022.

In this Viewpoint: Ryan shares founding a not-for-profit Community Interest Company called Veteran’s Army, where they help veterans and their family.

He also gives advice for people thinking of joining the military, plus some good advice for people as a veteran.

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Part 1: youtu.be/Sg86jFIE7yg

Part 2: youtu.be/6hTzCq-ayNU

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In 2008, Gerry enlisted in the Royal Air Force (RAF) as an Aerospace Systems Operator and served for nine years, attaining the rank of Corporal (Cpl).

In this episode, Gerry discusses his decision to join the Royal Air Force (RAF) and his subsequent training to become an Aerospace Systems Operator. He provides insights into the operational locations of this trade, including RAF Boulmer, where he spent the majority of his career, and RAF Brize Norton, where he had notable encounters with the Red Arrows.

Gerry also shares his experience returning to RAF Boulmer after his tenure at RAF Brize Norton, prior to his deployment to the Falkland Islands. Subsequently, after deciding to leave the RAF, he recounts his journey and how this transition has led him to become a qualified psychologist.

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Part 1: youtu.be/2suSLGoa7nU

Part 2: youtu.be/B3vRSWJqMBc

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Original Episode: Ep 030 - Maj Alex Gardiner from 10th November 2022

In this Viewpoint, Alex discusses his aspiration to become a civilian photographer, with the intention of travelling to Afghanistan to gain a unique perspective on the world and potentially provide assistance in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, given his prior knowledge of the region’s vulnerability.

Over the years, Alex had conceived several ideas for writing books, and one of these ideas finally materialized in 2022 when he published “The Devil’s Magistrate: His Past is Always Present.” In this viewpoint, he shares his insights on the journey that led to the publication of this book.

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Part 1: youtu.be/dYbRqzrWuNU

Part 2: youtu.be/1YVphNzLdlk

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Aaron joined the United States Navy (USN) in 1999 as a Mess Management Specialist (Cook), and later transferred to the United States Army (USA) as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Specialist, serving for a combined 14 years. Aaron reached the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSG).

In this episode Aaron talks about his time joining the U.S. Navy, and graduating Navy Boot Camp, before completing the Navy “A” School for his trade. Aaron shares his first duty station out in Naples, Italy, which lead to a deployment out to Afghanistan. Seeking a new challenge, Aaron transferred over to the U.S. Army as an EOD Specialist, after 6 months out of the military, due to a direct transfer not being possible at that time.

Aaron also shares a life changing 2nd deployment to Afghanistan, where he served as an EOD team leader. During an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) clearance task, a 2nd IED pressure plate was stood on by Aaron, where the blast hit him in the head and caused him to loose his sight. He continues to share how his life has been adapted to live with 100% blindness and 100% deafness, and what new tasks and challenges he gives himself each year to stay active.

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Part 1: youtu.be/7bbke-QACVw

Part 2: youtu.be/_gg-y6_14G4

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Supporting monthly would help the show record future episodes and help with the upkeep of previous recordings. 
£5 a month will give you access to bonus recordings, where Gav and the guest chat about things that don't make it into the main recording. 
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Original Episode: Ep 029 - SSG Diana Soriano from 10th October 2022.

In this Viewpoint: Diana talks about her transition out of the U.S. Army back into civilian life, which included tackling mental health issues, after suppressing many thoughts and feelings from her time in the military.

She also speaks about how writing her book - In Loving Memory - really helped her, which ended up getting published, and was a great way of sharing her story.

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Part 1: youtu.be/HANMItZ_-WQ

Part 2: youtu.be/NWLhzkaz4pw

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Jo joined the British Army in 1995 and served for 24 years in the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC), reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSgt).

In this episode, Jo talks about joining up and going through training, which was during the terrible times at Deepcut, but after getting through this part of training, she moved onto the famous driver training school, being the Defence School of Transport (DST) Leconfield. She shares being part of multiple regiments, which included tours of Northern Ireland. Jo gets chosen to be the driver for the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, where she had many encounters with the Queen and the wider Royal Family.

Jo moves away from the driver duties for the Royal Family and goes back to regiment life, where she completes a deployment to Afghanistan. Upon her return from the tour, she battles an ongoing knee injury and her mental health. Jo finds new ambition through sport and trialled out for the Invictus Games, being selected for London 2014 and Toronto 2017. She was also selected for the U.S. Air Force Warrior Games Trials 2015, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Across these games, Jo saw success with medalling in multiple sports and events.

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Part 1: youtu.be/p6YXTALiZeY

Part 2: youtu.be/OvTj5eU9sWE

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Original Episode: Ep 028 - Sgt Joe O'Connor from 10th September 2022.

In this Viewpoint: Joe talks about wanting to challenge himself, away from the Royal Engineers, and in 1999 went on Special Forces Selection. During training with the SF team, late at night with bad weather and visibility, Joe gets taken to hospital after being blown off the side of a cliff, which ended up breaking his neck.

He shares the challenges he faced to rebuild his life after this life changing incident, before leaving the military and becoming a veteran in civilian life, where he has managed to continue his success in the financial industry.

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Part 2: youtu.be/dv6Skhyhfcs

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Ian joined the Royal Navy in 1975, and served for 16 years as part of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA), reaching the rank of Leading Aircraft Engineering Mechanic (Weapons Electrical) (LAEM(WL)).

In this episode Ian talks about his journey in joining the Royal Navy, and what it was like being one of the last courses to go through basic training, at HMS Ganges. He also shares some insights into life at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), and deploying on HMS Sirius (F40).

Ian also discusses what it was like preparing some of the Navy’s aircraft for the Falklands War, prior to being stood down himself, and not deploying. He moves to RNAS Portland (HMS Osprey), before being deployed on HMS Glasgow (D88). After this deployment and attending career courses, he spends some time as part of an Aircraft Maintenance Group (AMG), before seeing out his last 6 months within Edinburgh's Careers Office.

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Part 1: youtu.be/ROIBj3zsmFk

Part 2: youtu.be/KgEbaiYKVbE

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Original Episode: Ep 027 - Lt Tom Moore from 10th August 2022.

In this Viewpoint: Tom talks how the end of his career came to be, and how this was difficult for him to come to terms with, causing him to be depressed. However, through help, he came to terms with it all and tackled his thoughts to move back to civilian life...which included leave without pay.

This was a challenge to get a new job, away from the military, but he pursued in these next steps in life and took on jobs he didn't enjoy, but these were the stepping stones to co-founding a company called With You With Me. This company helps others find the right job, which includes the veteran community.

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Part 2: youtu.be/VlbMmzaoJT0

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Tony joined the British Army in 1995, as a Probationary 2nd Lieutenant on a Short Service Limited Commission, and later joined both the Regular and Reserve services. He served a total of 19 years, reaching the rank of Major (Maj).

In this episode Tony talks about growing up and his ambition to join the British Army, sharing his journey with courses at Sandhurst on multiple occasions, and being part of Regular Army units as an officer. This included over seeing tasks for the 2001 country wide epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease, before seeing the impact of 9/11, and as a result deploying to Iraq.

Tony shares his deployment to Iraq and the return home, which included his transfer to the Army Reserves. Whilst carrying out his duties as part of the Army Reserves at home in the UK, he moved to the Philippines and worked with the British Embassy, and then later worked alongside the British Army in Afghanistan as the chief of operations in a civilian contractor capacity. After leaving the British Army he found a role with the charity Walking With The Wounded.

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Part 1: youtu.be/99wbqzVWC9M

Part 2: youtu.be/5elzVly52vA

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Message at the end of the recording is from your host Gav, giving you information on how you can support the show through Patreon.
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