Military Veterans Podcast

Full Episode: Ep 025 - Cpl Barney Gillespie from 10th June 2022. In this Viewpoint: Barney shares his journey after leaving hospital and going through rehabilitation, since his incident with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). There were darks days, but he battled through, learning how to use his new prosthetic leg. With his new mindset, he managed to set new goals and challenges, including taki...

Bob joined the United States Army (USA) in 2002 as part of Airborne Infantry, and served for 4 years, reaching the rank of Specialist (SPC). In this episode Bob talks about his journey in joining the U.S. Army, and what it was like going through Basic Training, then onto Army Airborne School. He shares what it was like being sent to the 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry Regiment (1st of the 508th - Re...

Full Episode: Ep 024 - Capt Phil Klay from 10th May 2022. In this Viewpoint: Phil talks about using the G.I. Bill to help getting a writing degree and go to teachers college, when leaving the U.S. Marine Corps. This included going into a graduate creative writing program. He also shares some of the books that he has written, which have done well enough, for him to become a writer full time. These...

Mike joined the United States Navy (USN) in 2003, as part of the Aviation branch, before becoming a Navy SEAL. He served for 10 years, reaching the rank of Petty Officer First Class (PO1). In this episode Mike talks about his ambition to become a Navy SEAL at a young age, and his journey in joining the Navy, to begin this pursuit. There were challenges to over come, including going through the Bas...

Full Episode: Ep 023 - LH(Police) Larry Roke from 10th April 2022. In this Viewpoint: Larry shares the abrupt end to his career in the Royal Navy, and how he had to cope with the realisation that he won't continue within the military, and what could he do as a civilian. He had a hobby with fixing vehicles, which he really enjoyed, and therefore looked into becoming a mechanic as a new career....

Ben joined the Parachute Regiment within the British Army in 1997, and served 23 years across multiple areas including, the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (REME), Pathfinders (PF), and finishing with the British Special Air Service (SAS), reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSgt). In this episode Ben talks about growing up and wanting to join the Royal Marines, before ending up joini...

Full Episode: Ep 022 - WO2 Joey Jordan from 10th March 2022. In this Viewpoint: Joey shares his transition back into civilian life, after achieving his big goal in his military career, to become a Warrant Officer Class 2. He talks about the courses he looked at, the difficulty with buying a house for the first time, and other steps he had to take ready to move away from his military life. During t...

Steve joined the British Army in 1986 and served for 12 years, as part of The Queen’s Regiment, which later amalgamated and became part of The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (PWRR). He reached the rank of Lance Corporal (LCpl). In this episode Steve talks about joining the British Army as a Junior Soldier at Shorncliffe, before heading to Bassingbourn Barracks. He shares being posted to Canter...

Full Episode: Ep 021 - Cpl Tony Brooks from 10th February 2022. In this Viewpoint: Tony talks about his mental health when he returns back to the USA after operational tours with Special Ops, and how he got help to deal with scenes from Operation Red Wings 2. He shares his journey in becoming a Chiropractor,  as well as writing his book 'Leave No Man Behind', plus some great advice for o...

Full Episode: Ep 020 - Sgt Richard Foster from 10th January 2022. In this Viewpoint: Richard talks about living with PTSD and coping by being busy and structuring his life around having no down time. This included becoming a lawyer and owning his own ranch. He also wrote a book about his time in the Vietnam War, to help others understand what it's like fighting a war on the ground,  called Ki...

Full Episode: Ep 019 - SSgt Gaz Crick from 10th December 2021 . In this Viewpoint: Gaz talks about his transition out of the British Army, creating his own business Northern Signs/Northern Wraps, which is still going strong and growing. He gives advice to people leaving the military and wanting to venture down the route of building their own business and following their passion. He also gives advi...

Stu initially joined the Royal Marines Commandos in 1998, then moved over to the Parachute Regiment in the British Army and served for a total of 17 years, reaching the rank of Sergeant (Sgt). He specialised as a Sniper. In this episode Stu talks about going through and completing training at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM), before choosing to move over to the British Parachute Regi...

Full Episode: Ep 018 - SCPO Thom Shea from 10th November 2021 . In this Viewpoint: Thom discusses the challenge of leaving the military and the SEAL teams after 23 years service, with steps forward in writing books and creating a leadership company to help businesses and individuals. Thom also shares some great advice for people thinking of joining the military, and advice for veterans out there,...

Sally joined the British Army Reserves (previously Territorial Army) in 1998, and served for 22 years, reaching the rank of Major (Maj). Sally was a Physiotherapist within the Royal Army Medical Corps. In this episode Sally talks about joining the Officers’ Training Corps, and shares how she also joined the British Army Reserves. She did 8 years as part of the Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS), whi...

Full Episode: Ep 017 - SAC Rachel Williamson from 10th October 2021 . In this Viewpoint: Rachel talks about her journey in becoming team captain for Team UK at the Invictus Games The Hague 2020. She was the first female team captain for Team UK at any of the Invictus games. She also shares how she is coping with her injuries and gives some great advice for others either joining the military or abo...

Dinga joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1963, and served for 37 years as an Aircraft Engineer, reaching the rank of Chief Technician (Chf Tech). In this episode Dinga talks about joining the RAF through the RAF Apprenticeship Scheme, and learning the basic skills as an Aircraft Engineer, before being stationed at many different locations around the world. Which included the UK, Singapore and Ger...

Full Episode: Ep 016 - Sgt Darren Carew from 10th September 2021 . In this Viewpoint: Darren shares his journey in wanting to take control of his life by having an amputation of his left leg, after injuries from an IED incident whilst on tour in Afghanistan, caused him limitations in living his life. Plus what the rebuilding and rehabilitation steps were after his surgery. He also talks about how...

Tim joined the U.S. Navy (USN) in 1985, as part of the Naval Academy and served for 32 years, reaching the rank of 1 Star Rear Admiral (RDML). He served as a Meteorology and Oceanography officer. In this episode Tim talks about joining the U.S Navy and moving towards being stationed on a Hydrographic Survey Vessel - the USNS Harkness. He also served at Naval Station Rota in Spain, as well as USS P...

Full Episode: Ep 015 - SrA Seth Macy from 10th August 2021 . In this Viewpoint: Seth shares how he felt when he left the U.S. Air Force, and moved to a job working on the same military base where he perviously served, due to his wife still on active duty. He talks about being a veteran and going back to college, the different jobs and roles he tried before finding his place at IGN (Imagine Games N...

Marty joined the United States Navy (USN) in 1975 and served 20 years as a Navy SEAL (Sea, Air and Land). Completing 10 years as an Enlisted SEAL, and then becoming an Officer for a further 10 years, reaching the rank of Lieutenant (LT). In this episode Marty talks about joining the U.S. Navy and being talked into becoming a Navy SEAL, after his orders got mixed up during Boot Camp. He gives some...

Full Episode: Ep 014 - Pte Tristan Dover from 10th July 2021 . In this Viewpoint: Tristan talks about coming to terms with PTSD and realising that there is no shame in admitting help is needed. He also shares how he came across a charity called Mission Motorsport and how being involved at events with this charity has helped him find his spark again. Watch Full Episode on YouTube: Part 1: youtu.be/...

Jon joined the Royal Marines Commandos in 1994 and served for 13 years, reaching the rank of Lance Corporal (LCpl). In this episode Jon talks about applying for the British Army, before joining the Royal Marines Commandos, and he explains what the Commando training is like. He also discusses being part of HMS Fearless, deploying on multiple tours with 42 Commando, and then the decision to speciali...

Full Episode: Ep 013 - LCpl Chris Cocks from 10th June 2021 . In this Viewpoint: Chris talks about dealing with life with moving from Zimbabwe to South Africa, when trying to deal with Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from his service. This includes sharing how he dealt with nightmares, flashbacks, turning to drink, but ultimately how he fought back and turned it around for the better. He has...

Den joined the Royal Navy in 2008 and served for 8 years in the Fleet Air Arm (FAA), as a Aircraft Engineer, reaching the rank of Leading Hand. In this episode Den talks about joining the Royal Navy, including basic training at HMS Raleigh, and what it was like being part of ‘Roll-on/Roll-off’ travelling along the Suez Canal down to Somalia. Plus he talks about serving on HMS Ark Royal and HMS Ill...

Full Episode: Ep 012 - Tpr Jamie Hull from 10th May 2021 . In this Viewpoint: Jamie talks about his determination and new goals being set over and over, despite having ongoing surgeries, after suffering burns from a plane crash in 2007. He has written a book about his life called Life on a Thread . He also shares some great advice for people thinking of joining the military, and also some great wo...