Someone is not doing it tougher, if it’s tough then it’s YOU

After welcoming Rick Mann to the podcast Andy jumped straight in having met Rick previously at a Young Veterans event in Yandina at Eumundi RSL. So, gathering an update, Andy remarked that Rick has become Liaison Officer for Gympie Young Veterans Sub-branch but before exploring that further Andy wanted to talk about Ricks service experience.

Moving on to Ricks discharge experience Andy asks about the circumstances around that. Rick explains he’d like to have stayed on with with a less physical role but with his injuries that wasn’t to be. He feels that there were goals not achieved that he’d like to have.

In Ricks, civilian life as a train driver he was suffering PTSD and didn’t know what he was going to do. Gary Stone of Veterans Care Association sought him out and asked him to East Timor. It took 3 goes in the end to get Rick there so Andy asks about the negatives that prevented him saying yes to help. Rick shared those personal “road block” mindsets but also shared his positive spin once he had done it. He went on to explain how much closure it had bought to him and reflected with Andy on culture and the healing benefits of revisiting Timor

Wanting to know more about Ricks Young Veterans Liaison Officer role Rick and Andy discuss that. On the board of the Sub-branch Rick struck up a relationship with PK at Caloundra to collaborate on suicide rates. Stories are different but the injuries similar and end affect the same. Trauma is Trauma and can sometimes be worse than the event. They meet Fridays monthly and have plans for fun events such as paddle boarding. Sub-branches are a way for younger vets to represent their demographic. It’s time for young vets to step up and get represented in the workings of the RSL to make the changes necessary. The Vietnam Vets are aging, some of them untreated for PTSD

As young vets emerge with PTSD post deployment. Rick is big on “No Excuses” for your not being well and believing your alone because there is a lot out there and first place to start is your Sub-Branch. Someone else is doing it tougher is not true. If you’re doing it tough it’s you so think of the Sub-branch as your bridge to what you need. Just move your ass Rick expresses and that he should have done that the first time.

Join groups like Young Veterans, Mates for Mates, Veterans Retreats and Team Awakening to get connected to learn about your coping abilities and develop new coping skills. Andy wraps it up by thanking Rick for what he’s doing in the local area

Contact - Rick Mann
Organisation - https://www.gympiersl.com.au/sub-branch/

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S02E09 - Rick Mann (Young Veterans Gympie & RSL sub-branch) 38:08 Share

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S02E09 - Rick Mann (Young Veterans Gympie & RSL sub-branch)