Episode 002

MEM1 AJ Pingram

AJ joined the Royal Navy in 1996 and served for four years as a Marine Engineer Mechanic.

In this episode, AJ discusses his life prior to fully joining the military, which included a period of service with the Territorial Army (TA). He recounts his decision to join the Royal Navy and undergo the training necessary to become a Marine Engineer Mechanic. Notably, he possessed a keen aptitude for hockey and was subsequently selected to join the Royal Navy team.

Regrettably, AJ sustained an injury that precipitated the termination of his military career. AJ recounts his journey leaving the Royal Navy, detailing the adverse impact on his mental well-being. However, he also shares his determination to establish new objectives and challenges, including participating in the inaugural Invictus Games in London in 2014, where he achieved gold with the wheelchair basketball team. He was also selected to compete at the United States Air Force (USAF) Warrior Games Trails in Las Vegas in 2015.