NAAFI Break

Welcome to the NAAFI Break podcast and this week my guest is RED SIX Founder Michael Handley. If you want to hear an honest, raw ( his descriptions are not meant to offend) and sometimes emotional story of transition and finding a new purpose Michael’s journey has it all. He wears his heart on his sleeve and he is a real powerhouse of purpose.

Please share the podcast to anyone with a forces connection who wants to explore the transition process and hear about the qualities our Service leavers bring with them.

I’m Dominic O’Sullivan, an RAF Veteran and this podcast aims to shine a light on the transition process and those who find success in a second career. We look at all aspects of the transition process and how to achieve success after a Service career. Success is not measured by the size of the salary, but in purpose and fulfilment too!
For anyone considering leaving the Military, look at the stories of those who have gone before you, they have valuable experience and insight to offer.
In this episode we meet Gerry Howson,  who has spent a career either in  uniform or working with those in uniform. He has met and dealt with historical attitudes and prejudices, but has created his own footprints and forged a successful career beyond his time in the RAF. 
I have known Gerry since 1985 as a fellow recruit and I was unaware back then, of some of the challenges he faced and overcame.  Having moved to the UK from Montserrat in the 1960’s, his example to others will be seen as one of personal growth, resilience and retaining dignity during intense pressure. 
If you want to understand the process or are about to start your transition tune in for weekly episodes.

Please share to anyone in the Forces family or anyone interested in the Military.

Welcome to the final episode of series 2 of the NAAFI Break podcast. Today we meet Olly Church. Having been injured in Afghanistan it acted as a turning point in recognising and learning to manage his own psychological recovery. He is a qualified Emotional Coach and you will hear him talk about applying physical fitness principles to your Mental Fitness. 

Another angle on the Transition process to consider.

Share and follow the NAAFI break podcast on all the usual channels (Apple, Google, Spotify, Podchaser, Tune-In)

Dominic OSullivan
RAF 

In this episode we meet Garrath Williams, who has served for a total of 17years in both the British and Australian Army. Following his Service career he has worked in Training, Leadership Development and now works in the charity sector helping Veterans reskill and find new purposeful opportunities.
He is currently the Director of Veteran Engagement & Development at JobOppo.
His own Transition was unique having left the Australian army while posted to the UK!

The NAAFI break podcast shines a light on the transition process from the Military and those who have achieved success in a second career.Success is not defined by the size of the paycheck, but by purpose and fulfilment.

Today we meet Sean Rose, a former RAF PTI who following a life changing event, catapulted himself to new heights, exceeding his own expectations.

Without doubt Sean is an ‘Above Average Joe’

Please share to anyone with a Forces connection .

Welcome to the NAAFI Break podcast, this week we are going green, with former Army Officer Mike Crofts. Mike after testing the water in Corporate world and Politics from leaving the Army, he is now Founder of the 3Pillars Project (that empowers young people to forge brighter futures) and he is CEO of Amodigo.

His vision is to create the nation’s leading sports-based mentoring programme for young people in custody and those recently released from prison. 

3 Pillars is a charity that uses sports-based mentoring programmes to support young adults and children in custody, equipping them through mentoring, training, employment and education.

Another transition story and also a thought provoking discussion about, our prison system. 

Please share to anyone with a forces connection or who wants to gain greater insight into what our forces personnel have to offer.

BONUS Episode to link with the School of Physical Training episode.

A unique insight into the specialist roles of RAF PTI’s.
Parachute Jump Instructor 
Exercise Rehabilitation Instructor 
Adventure Training Instructor 

Welcome to the NAAFI Break podcast which shines a light on the transition from the military by our Veteranfamily. We look to highlight the second career success and increase the understanding, of what our skills and value our service personnel can bring to the next step in their post service career.

Each week we take a different view of the transition, this week we turn our attention to gaining some insight into the way military training has changed over the recent decades. This week we look at a specific trade in the RAF, the role of a Physical Training Instructor through the eyes of the Staff Instructor at the School of Physical Training.

I am joined by past Staff, Graham Hughes, Robert Quantock, John Weedon, Gareth Davies, Matt Wilkinson to discuss what’s changed and what hasn’t in the past 50 years of PTI trade training.

There is a bonus episode which interviews PTIs from each of the Specialist roles that PTIs can advance to during their career in the Service.

please share the podcast to anyone with a Service connection.

Welcome to the NAAFI break podcast, where we shine a light on the transition process from the military. We speak to Veteranfamily about their experiences and the challenges they faced on leaving the Service and finding a new purpose.

We have looked at the transition through several lenses, this week we change again, to look at the end of the Service career that is thrust open the individual by injury. Lee Spencer is by my definition an Above Average Joe, who growing up wanted to be a brave person. His journey is both raw, emotional and inspiring, with total honesty as he speaks.

Following a traumatic accident which saw him lose his leg, he is now an ambassador for BLESMA and his sole purpose is to keep the injured service personnel in the public consciousness, with incredible feats of human endurance and speaking to others about his experiences. 

Please share to anyone with a Service connection or who is interspersed in understanding more about what our Services families have to offer.

There is a bonus episode linked to this in which Veteranfamily read the Rudyard Kipling poem“Tommy” discussed by Lee during his interview.

In support of The Rowing Marine Lee Spencer, I felt it was pertinent to highlight the poem Tommy, which Lee spoke about during his interview.

I am grateful to fellow Veteranfamily for reading the poem

Peter Golding 
Gary Scott
Sean Evans
Dominic OSullivan
John Adams

Please share to anyone with a forces connection or who is interested in supporting our Veteranfamily.