Leaving the military can feel like stepping into the unknown, but for former Royal Marine medic Ryan Watters, it was also the beginning of a new mission.

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, Ryan shares his journey from a young man with no military background to earning the coveted Green Beret and serving as a Royal Marine medic. He reflects on the challenges of training, the opportunities that military life provided, and the experiences that shaped him along the way.

Ryan also opens up about one of the biggest decisions many service leavers face: knowing when it's time to move on.

After nearly a decade in the Royal Marines, Ryan took the leap into civilian life and co-founded LRT Medical Solutions alongside fellow former Marines. Together they are building a business dedicated to delivering high-quality medical and first aid training while helping others develop the confidence and competence to respond when it matters most.

This is a conversation about transition, taking calculated risks, embracing uncertainty, and creating purpose beyond the uniform.

Takeaways

• Transition starts long before you hand in your ID card.
• Military service provides transferable skills that can be applied anywhere.
• Sometimes the biggest opportunities come from taking a calculated risk.
• Asking questions during transition can unlock support, funding and opportunities.
• Building a business requires the same commitment and resilience as military service.
• Confidence comes from competence and continual learning.
• Support networks make the transition journey significantly easier.
• Leaving the military is emotional, but it can also be exciting.
• There is no single right path after service.
• Creating your own mission can be one of the most rewarding parts of transition.

Sound Bites

"Ask questions. The one question you don't ask could be the difference between having a job when you leave."

"Just throw yourself in the deep end. If it works, brilliant. If it doesn't, try something else."

"The fastest year of my life was my last year in the Marines."

"We've built this company from the ground up. This is our baby now."

"It's never too late to learn something new."

"Confidence and competence save lives."

"I knew I'd made the right decision."

Connect with Ryan

LinkedIn

LRT Medical Solutions

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