NAAFI Break

The NAAFI break podcast highlights all aspects of the transition process from the Military into a successful second career. 
We talk to Veterans with real lived experience about their own personal journey and we gain insight and understanding form those connected to the transition process. We have heard from various sources including family , employers and Veteran Support Services to get as much information and insights for those trying to navigate their own transition.

This week we meet Ceri Cummings, who joined the Army at 17 and through the Army and the opportunities it gave him  is now living in Australia with a successful business and a long list of great memories.

I am grateful to those who have supported the NAAFI Break podcast by contributing and hope that by sharing the podcast to your networks, we can extend the reach and influence of the NAAFI Break.

The NAAFI break podcast highlights all aspects of the transition from the military to a successful second career. We have interviewed people with unique personal transition journeys as well as those who are involved in the support of Service leavers and Veterans.
The transition is more than just finding a job.
 Today we meet Dr Gerri Mathews-Smith, Director for Military Research, Education and Public Engagement at Edinburgh Napier University, about access to Education for Service Leavers and Veterans. Gerri was keen to bust some myths and fears around entering Education, particularly as a mature student.

I hope this insight and information helps anyone in transition from the Military or Veteranfamily to be more informed around Higher Education. 

Please share to anyone with a forces connection.

On the NAAFI break today we meet Steve Davies, who came to my attention after appearing on the Radio 4 feature called The Patch. (Thanks to my Uncle Peter O'Sullivan for sending me the link!)
This episode highlights the love affair that a person engages in when they join the Service, but also the messy divorce that can happen when they leave. It follows Steve's career and forgetting his Army career, only for it to come back following the death of a former Army colleague.

He now has rekindled his connection with the Services and now has a new purpose, one that is uplifting, inspiring and fulfilling. It's a fascinating and fantastic story.

I feel privileged to be able to bring his story to you.


The NAAFI break podcast highlights all aspects of the transition process from the Military into a successful second career. 
We talk to Veterans with real lived experience about their own personal journey and we gain insight and understanding form those connected to the transition process. We have heard from various sources including family , employers and Veteran Support Services to get as much information and insights for those trying to navigate their own transition.

I am grateful to those who have supported the NAAFI Break podcast by contributing and hope that by sharing the podcast to your networks, we can extend the reach and influence of the NAAFI Break.

Please share the podcast to anyone with a Service connection.

The NAAFI break podcast highlights all aspects of the transition from the military to a successful second career. We have interviewed people with unique personal transition journeys as well as those who are involved in the support of Service leavers and Veterans.
The transition is more than just finding a job.

Today we meet Brendan Williams, CEO of the Building Heroes charity, that provides skills training to Military Veterans and support into employment in the building trades. Their aim is to tackle unemployment amongst those who have kept us safe by offering them a seamless transition to a new career in construction.

DID YOU KNOW……APPROXIMATELY 120,000 UNEMPLOYED MILITARY VETERANS OF WORKING AGE IN BRITAIN TODAY.

THE UK CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IS FACING A 230,000 PERSON SKILLS SHORTAGE – THE HIGHEST SINCE 1998.

Brendan brings great insight into the opportunities that exist within Construction. It’s not just house building!

Please share to anyone with a forces connection.

The NAAFI break podcast highlights all aspects of the transition process from the Military into a successful second career. 
We talk to Veterans with real lived experience about their own personal journey and we gain insight and understanding form those connected to the transition process. We have heard from various sources including family , employers and Veteran Support Services to get as much information and insights for those trying to navigate their own transition.

I am grateful to those who have supported the NAAFI Break podcast by contributing and hope that by sharing the podcast to your networks, we can extend the reach and influence of the NAAFI Break.

Today we meet Ben Nickels, inspired to join the Parachute Regiment and gain his ‘Red Beret’. He had an episode during his career which changed his own awareness of mental health and helped him learn to talk about it and move forward with the rest of his life successfully.
His story is a great example of the personal transition, accepting help, learning coping mechanisms  and gaining  greater self awareness, that is crucial to moving forward. I feel privileged to be able to bring his story to you.

Please share the podcast to anyone with a Service connection.

The  NAAFI BREAK PODCAST has been a catalyst for some great connections and conversations so far.  I have been fortunate to find some inspiring guests,who have shared their personal experiences of the transition. It has become apparent that their are many angles that we can look at the transition from, even from the outside, through the eyes of those who support the transition process too, without having worn a military uniform themselves, but who are skilled in the understanding of transition. It doesn't just apply to the military, everyone experiences some form of transition process in their career at some point.
In the coming episodes I will be bring these views and experiences to the table alongside the personal journeys of those who have left the service career behind.

Today it's a timely Olympic connection with a 'bonus' episode featuring Cara Button, Senior Manager for 'Game Plan' part of the Candian Olympic Committee and delivering resources with Elite Athlete support. Cara supports athletes with goal setting, career development, education and the all important transition planning. Life beyond sports career, to develop mentally stronger athletes, who apply what they have learned to the betterment of themselves and their communities.
The parallels to the military transition are incredibly close.  The transition the process  has to be understood and learned -it is more than finding a new job!

Please share to anyone with a Armed Forces connection or to anyone interested in understanding more about the skills and experience that Service leavers have to offer.

You can find the NAAFI Break podcast on all the usual channels. Search our back episodes for different angles on the transition from the military. 

The NAAFI Break podcast shines a light on the transition from the Military to a successful second career. It is not just about the job hunt, the transition is about finding purpose and fulfilment as well as security.

This episode(in conjunction with the bonus episode featuring Cara Button) highlights the life with Elite sport and in this instance the simultaneous existence within a Military career.
Tom De La Hunty is a member of the RAF Physical Education ‘Wall of Fame’. He epitomises the striving for excellence and achievement, his story balances the needs of being an Olympic athlete, an RAF PTI and later a Physical Education Officer.

He highlights the opportunity he was given in the RAF, but crucially acknowledges the role of his wife in support of his goals. Here is another angle and consideration for those looking at their own transition journey.

Share to anyone with a Service connection. NAAFI break podcast is available on all the usual channels.

Veteranfamily 

The  NAAFI BREAK PODCAST has reached 1500 downloads since it started. It has been a catalyst for some great connections and conversations so far. Why?

Transition actually means more than leaving the service  - for some it alludes to a period of mourning, stepping away from a ingrained vocabulary  and relationships. At it’s best, this served as an all embracing culture that made service personnel secure , valued and gave them a purpose.  
The transition the process  has to be understood and learned -it is more than finding a new job!  

There are recurring themes, at times our guests are scarily frank and there have been sensitive discussions with veterans, who have experienced the darker side of ‘transitioning’. 
There are those who have experienced overwhelming hurt and disappointment dealing with remnants of culturalisation, that will hit a chord with many.

We explore and discover how Veterans achieve personal growth, find a new purpose . This is often translated into support to other veterans, which we celebrate. Success in transition is not judged merely by the size of the salary, it is about fulfillment and purpose.

The subject matter visits both ends of the spectrum - those who the military support and nurture, who go on to achieve some semblance of normality and can look back on their time with a smile, but also those who have have had to negotiate, (eventually successful) the barriers which are on the path. 

It is not uncommon to find that, you are no longer a big shot and no one understands or cares what you did or what you were in the Service, it can be sobering, for some a source of anger and frustration - this can be a call to action for those considering leaving, to prepare and soften the blow!

Today we smash the myth around Inter Service rivalry and talk to former RAF PTI Grant Richards and Army Parachute Regiment Jason Thompson, who have forged a successful business in partnership after leaving their Service career behind. 

Please share to anyone with a Armed Forces connection or to anyone interested in understanding more about the skills and experience that Service leavers have to offer.

You can find the NAAFI Break podcast on all the usual channels.

The  NAAFI BREAK PODCAST has reached 1500 downloads with over 25 episodes since I started. It has been a catalyst for some great connections and conversations so far. Why?

Transition actually means more than 
leaving the service  - for some it alludes to a period of mourning, stepping away from a ingrained vocabulary  and relationships. At the best, this served as an all embracing culture that made service personnel secure and valued and gave a purpose.  
The transition the process  has to be understood and learned -it is more than finding a new job!  

There are recurring themes, at times our guests are scarily frank and there are sensitive discussions with veterans who have experienced the darker side of ‘transitioning’. 
There are those who have experienced overwhelming hurt and disappointment dealing with remnants of culturalisation, that will hit a chord with many.

We explore and discover how Veterans achieve personal growth, find a purpose and often this is seen in support to other veterans, which we celebrate. Success in transition is not judged merely by the size of the salary, it is about fulfillment and purpose.

The subject matter visits both ends of the spectrum - those who the military support and nurture and go on to achieve some semblance of normality and look back on their time with a smile and those who have have had to negotiate, (eventually successful) the barriers which are on the path. 
It is not uncommon to find that, you are no longer a big shot and no one understands or cares what you did or what you were and it is sobering, for some a source of anger and frustration - this can be a call to action for those considering leaving, to prepare and soften the blow!

In this episode we meet Bernie De Souza, Author, Keynote Speaker and Business Coach with over 20 years experience. A former RAF PTI, Bernie took the initiative and invested in his own future to create his own opportunities and footprints. A slice of luck, hard work and seeing an opportunity combined to create a successful second career. 

I hope you continue to follow and share the transition stories and the messages from the guests, so that they reach those leaving or Veterans who are considering their next stage. #military #podcast #veterans #suicideprevention #support #community #culture #connections #share #people #resilience #growth #success #employeeengagement 

The NAAFI break podcast highlights all aspects of the transition process from the Military into a successful second career. 
We talk to Veterans with real lived experience about their own personal journey and we gain insight and understanding form those connected to the transition process. We have heard from family,employers, Veteran Support Services to get as much information and insights for those trying to navigate their own transition.

As we move into the third series of the podcast, we cast our sights across the pond to the US. With close similarities between the transition process from the Military in the United States and the United Kingdom. Not just a special relationship!

I am grateful to those who have supported the NAAFI Break podcast by contributing and hope that by sharing the podcast to your networks, we can extend the reach and influence of the NAAFI Break.

Today we meet Alfredo Torres, a US Navy Veteran,  who has been a radio disc jockey, public speaking teacher, blogger, University Support Advisor, Career Advisor and now works in  the Virginia Veteran Transition Program. His journey is a great example of the personal transition, the search for purpose and gaining  greater self awareness, that is crucial to moving forward. Alfredo was honest, raw in part, but willing to use his own experience to help other Veterans. I feel privileged to have connected to him and be able to bring his story to you.

Please share the podcast to anyone with a Service connection.