About
New episode on the 10th of each month (less April & May).
This portable podcast is hosted by Gavin Watson, a British Army veteran of 16 years. He is talking to other military veterans, allowing them to share their stories and experiences.
This podcast will give non-military personnel the chance to gain a better understanding of the military life, and understand what the transition back to being a civilian can be like. Plus learn how these strong individuals have dealt with diversity, resilience and possibly life changing injuries or illnesses.
Also, if you are a veteran who is missing the military life, this could be a good way to reminisce about ‘the good old days’.
Military Veterans Podcast is portable, letting veterans feel at ease in their own environment, or in a location they feel comfortable.
The hope is that this podcast helps educate anyone interested in learning what veterans go through - be that happy times or dark times. Also to give others hope, strength and an understanding that if they are going through something difficult, challenging or life changing….they are NOT alone. Reaching out to ask for support is NOT weakness! It IS strength!
Regardless of service, rank or time served....every veteran has an experience to share. Sometimes, they just need an opportunity to do so.
This podcast is recorded and edited in Gavin’s free time.
Gavin joined the Royal Engineers in February 2000 after three years in the Army Cadets, wanting to serve his country.
The former Sergeant said: “My 16 years in the military were very much a learning curve, due to being only 16 years old when I joined. The military taught me a lot about myself and turned me into the man I grew to be.”
Gavin toured Oman, Afghanistan, Iraq and The Falkland Islands during his service. He was also lucky enough to scuba dive around the world, seeing Gibraltar, Belize, Cyprus, The Maldives, Egypt, Malta and Germany, where he lived for nine years of his military career.
In 2007 Gavin completed the arduous week-long, Army Diver aptitude course, being 1 of 5 to finish from an initial 21. 2008 saw him take on the Army Basic Divers course, where he unfortunately suffered an injury at the end of the second week.
Whilst on his 2nd tour of Iraq, during 2009, Gavin was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in his hips and lower back, and spent the next few years fighting to stay fit enough to remain in the military and become an Army Diver.
Between 2011 and 2015 he ended up having five hip operations, two of which were replacements, and spent long periods of time at Headley Court. In the end he was medically discharged from the Army in December 2015.
After having his hips replaced in 2012, Gavin turned to sport to find new goals and challenge himself once more. In 2013 he found a new passion for Archery, learning and adapting quickly, he found himself competing most weekends and ended that year competing at the Army Indoor Championships, taking Individual Bronze.
In 2014, with the support of Help for Heroes, he made it to the first ever Invictus Games held in London, winning a Gold medal in archery for Team UK.