Angus Hordern interviews Afghanistan veteran and artist Mike Armstrong.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Michael Armstrong joined the Australian Defence Force in 1998 as an aircraft technician. He went on to serve as a signals officer, deploying with 2 RAR to Timor and with the 2nd Commando Regiment to Afghanistan. He was on the last plane out of Afghanistan in Rotation XX. Throughout his time in the army Mike also taught as a hand-to-hand combat instructor, drawing on his martial arts background. He moved to work in Cyber before medically discharging. Today he keeps connected with the veteran community through his VOICES OF VETERANS artwork.
The episode referenced at the end of the podcast is #97 Paul Cale.
Alex Lloyd interviews former commando Craig Ball.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Craig Ball passed Commando selection in 2000 as a reservist and went full-time in 2006. He deployed to Afghanistan as a signaller in the 2nd Commando Regiment in 2010 and 2012. Today, he’s a men’s mental health speaker.
Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:
Gary Wilson was a signaller attached to the 2nd Commando Regiment. On the 21st of June, 2010, Gary and then-fiancé Renee’s lives were changed forever when Gary was severely injured in a Black Hawk helicopter crash.
In this episode of Life After Service, Thomas Kaye speaks to the now-married couple, Gary and Renee, about the accident, the challenges they overcame and how they are helping pave the way to support others, both veterans and the families of those veterans.
Want to join the Wilsons and support veterans, their families and give back? Check out The Wilson Initiative. https://thewilsoninitiative.com.au/ Looking to have more energy, manage pain and optimise your health? Gary runs Bare Coaching, his personal coaching service. Find out more at: https://www.barecoaching.com/
Watch the episode on YouTube above, or listen to the audio-only version below.
Thomas Kaye interviews 2nd Commando Regiment veteran and Black Hawk crash survivor, Gary Wilson.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Gary Wilson was a signaller attached to the 2nd Commando Regiment. Gary survived a catastrophic helicopter crash in Afghanistan, on 21 June 2010. Gary was severely injured, including a traumatic brain injury. Three Australians lost their lives in this crash: Ben Chuck, Tim Aplin and Scott Palmer; as well as a US serviceman. In this conversation with Thomas Kaye, Gary shares his story of military service, the Black Hawk crash and his recovery afterwards.
Gary’s wife, Renee Wilson, also spoke to Thomas Kaye. Gary and Renee were also featured in Life After Service - Gary & Renee Wilson.
Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Susan Coyle, currently on deployment to Afghanistan as Commander Joint Task Force 633.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Major General Susan Coyle CSC, DSM is a senior officer in the Australian Army. She is currently on deployment to Afghanistan as the commander of Joint Task Force 633, responsible for all Australian operations in the Middle East. She is the first woman to command the task force, which comprises 1200 personnel on Operation Okra. Susan spoke to Sharon Mascall-Dare about her extensive military career, including her deployments to East Timor, the Solomon Islands and Afghanistan.
Angus Hordern continues his interview with former commando and signaller Adrian Humphries.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Today's episode is the second instalment of the conversation with Adrian Humphries. Adrian is a veteran of the 2nd Commando Regiment. Adrian shares with Angus Hordern more stories from his four deployments to Afghanistan with the commandos, his medical discharge, his difficult journey afterwards and how he's found a sense of peace today.
Listen to Volume I before you listen to this episode. Adrian returned to the podcast in Christmas on the Line Vol III.
Angus Hordern interviews 2nd Commando Regiment veteran Adrian Humphries.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Adrian Humphries was a signaller in the regular army before transferring to the commandos. Adrian told Angus Hordern about his deployments to the Solomon Islands, Pakistan, training to join 4 RAR (Commando) and his first deployment to Afghanistan. This is the first instalment of a two-part episode.
Listen to Volume II after this episode. Adrian returned to the podcast in Christmas on the Line Vol III.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with two Vietnam War veterans: 'tunnel rat' national serviceman Ross Tulloh, and signals officer Ian Willoughby.
Ross Tulloh
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Vietnam veteran David Buckwalter. David served in Vietnam in 1966-1967 and was a signaller in the 6th Royal Australian Regiment.
David Buckwalter has made several return appearances on Life on the Line, including: