NAAFI Break

NAAFI Break with Paul Sutton, former RAF Regiment Gunner, who following Medical Discharge, found himself unable to continue his full on Physical lifestyle. The adjustment, the isolation and the effect on his family are explained with honesty and reflection by Paul. 
However with the strength of mind and support from his wife, Paul climbed back up and now has found a new purpose and renewed positive outlook to help others, who have struggled too.

Honest, raw and still retaining the banter of his time in uniform, Paul has ‘Stood up and Served again’ and formed the Veterans Boat and Shore Angling Club.

You can fiend the group on Facebook and Instagram 

Please follow and share to anyone with a Forces connection 

Dominic OSulllivan
NAAFI Break Podcast Host
Veteran 

This week we talk to Henry and Craig, two serving Army soldiers, about the Hills & Minds group that they have set up to help Veterans avoid isolation and reconnect with their Military family.

Based in Scotland they have created a group that supports itself through organised walks, with the unique military banter, camaraderie, oh and dogs!

Talking to these guys it’s incredibly humbling to know there are good people out there doing good things because they can, not because they are told to. 

We need more of these ‘Good Apples’.

Please follow them on Facebook Hills & Minds and Instagram Hills_Minds 

Please follow and share the NAAFI Break with anyone with a Forces connection.

Dominic OSulllivan
NAAFI Break Podcast Host
Veteran 

This week we look at how lived experience translated into finding a new purpose, moving countries, setting up a business in a new country, learning new skills and giving back to the Military Community.

Charlie Ellis former submariner and now Chief at Mountains & the Sea and Hoofing Holiday, the latter specifically aimed at Military and Veterans seeking adventure, respite and recovery.

Charlie may come across as relaxed and laid back, but the is a huge amount of industry, energy and resilience in his story.

Sit back and appreciate another Veteran journey from the Military.

Please share to anyone with a Forces connection and follow the podcast.

Dominic O’Sullivan
Podcast Host

This week we discuss the transition process from the Military from the perspective of a Military Spouse.
If you want to understand the challenges of being married to someone in the Military, this will open your eyes. If you have served, you may be surprised about how it feels to be the one left behind when you went on Operations. Either way, it’s an incredibly honest and insightful conversation with Jenny.

Please follow the NAAFI Break podcast and share.

This week we meet Darren Carew National Inclusion Manager at the WRU, Chair of Special Olympics Wales, Agent for Change for Inclusion. He is a former Army Soldier, Warrior Games Athlete and after an IED incident in Afghanistan found himself standing pitch side watching his kids play rugby as a retired 30 something. The seed was planted and he set out to restart his career in coaching. 
He has applied his military training, skills and mindset along with his own lived experience to become a leading light in the Diversity and Inclusive Sports environment.
A Force Multiplyer, who has an infectious enthusiasm and articulates his passion and purpose clearly and acknowledgement of what shaped his journey.

I have met a variety of fantastic people on the NAAFI Break podcast, this time I was truly humbled to share his story with you.

Please share to anyone with a Forces connection.

On George Vlachonikolis’ 25th birthday, he was holding an SA80 assault rifle. Inside his webbing pouches were 150 rounds of ammunition, two HE grenades, two smoke grenades, a small survival kit, 20 Marlboro Lights, and a medikit that included two sticks of morphine and two tourniquets. Strapped to the left-hand side of his Osprey body armour, within easy reach, was his bayonet. George was in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

On George’s 37th birthday, he was wearing a striped cotton twill shirt and well-ironed beige chinos. A thin fabric lanyard carried his ID badge proudly. In front of him was a class of secondary school students, who were settling down and getting ready for their next lesson. George was in a school in the UK.

From Camouflage to Classroom is about everything George learned with the British Army in Afghanistan and has brought to his classroom teaching today. By reflecting on the most intense and thought-provoking experiences of his life, George aims to explore the role of the classroom teacher from an original perspective: one based on military principles and practice.

This book takes a direct, human and very honest look at the challenges faced by classroom teachers today and offers some military-inspired solutions. A share of the royalties from this book will go to support Scotty’s Little Soldiers, the charity for bereaved British Forces children. www.scottyslittlesoldiers.co.uk

About the Author

George Vlachonikolis is a teacher at a school in Oxford. At 23, he joined the British Army and served in two operational tours of Afghanistan. After a six-and-a-half-year military career, George shifted gears into a new challenge: becoming a schoolteacher. Now, as an experienced veteran of both combat and classroom, he is keen to explore the overlaps between the two fields.

George currently teaches economics at A-level and IB, and is the PGCE lead for economics at a well-known university. He lives in Oxford with his wife and two daughters.

Buy his book here:

https://www.johncattbookshop.com/from-camouflage-to-classroom 

The Christmas episode of NAAFI Break, brings a different focus to the Podcast with a remarkable, inspiring and humbling personal journey of JJ Chalmers. 
We chat about his upbringing, destined to be a Royal Marine, the life changing episode In Afghan, the recovery and media career, as well as the chance meeting Ona plane to Tokyo.

I have followed JJ on his many media assignments and always admired his professionalism for a late comer to the media and celebrity sphere. What has always struck me is his humility, authenticity and open and honest candour about his Service and Injuries.

Please share to anyone with an interest or connection in the Armed Forces Community.

Another episode of the NAAFI Break Podcast highlights the transition process from the Military into a successful second career.
It isn’t always simple, it can be a wavy path to find the right fit for you. Abbie is frank and open about how she found her WHY in life. 
Abbie is a two time author, blogger, coach and Royal Navy Veteran. 

Please share to anyone with a Forces connection or wants to understand the transition process from the Military.

This week we talk to two former RAF Physical Training Instructors, Mick Murphy, who I served with in the 90s and Phil Quirk, who have 3 Transition stories between them! That’s just greedy!

Charting the ups and downs of their own personal journeys and how they have had a reset over the past 18 months of Covid.

Another opportunity to uncover the mindset, the insights and the inspiration behind another post service success.

Imagination + Innovation =Organisational Transformation

Omnia Mind was created from a deep belief and passion that given the right conditions, everyone can fulfil their potential. However, all employees, teams, and organisations face unique challenges requiring customised solutions.

A thumbprint is synonymous with the individuality of every human on earth, and although all thumbprints may look similar, they are different. Likewise, culture is the thumbprint of your organisation, and we know that every organisation is unique. That’s why we love to design and deliver training solutions customised to your organisation’s needs.

This weeks NAAFI Break features Richard Gettings, a former Police Officer In Hong Kong and South Yorkshire and now founder of The Daparian Foundation

A non-profit, UK Veteran and Emergency Services, PTSD research organisation which has the purpose of researching UK Veteran and Emergency Services PTSD from the perspective of the diagnosed sufferer and, in so doing, provide the PTSD diagnosed Veteran and Emergency Services communities with an increased presence at the decision table in respect of their treatment, care and recuperation.

Richard was very candid and honest in his interview and I hope others will identify some drums of comfort and support in his words.
Please share to anyone with a Forces or Blue light connection!

 https://www.thedaparianfoundation.co.uk

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/592680