Once a Warrior: Life Beyond the Uniform

NI Veteran’s Commissioners Office

”Once a Warrior: Life Beyond the Uniform” is brought to you by the Northern Ireland Veteran’s Commissioner’s Office. Hear personal stories of veterans, as they share their experiences from wars and conflicts. This podcast offers an intimate look into the lives of those who served, giving first hand accounts of their experiences and the lasting impact on their lives. Join us as we honour their journeys, explore life beyond the uniform and celebrate the strength, resilience and sacrifices of our veterans, whilst preserving their legacy for future generations.

  1. Oct 13

    Jason Gillard – From Military Service to Championing the Veterans Community

    From serving in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan to becoming a passionate advocate for the Armed Forces community, Jason Gillard’s journey is one of service, family, determination and giving back. After a successful military career, Jason made the decision to leave the Armed Forces to put his family first. But while his time in uniform had come to an end, his connection to the military community remained as strong as ever. Determined to make a difference, Jason has played a key role in championing veterans across Northern Ireland. Through his involvement in establishing the Veterans Awards in Northern Ireland, he has helped create a platform that continues to celebrate the achievements, contributions and inspiring stories of our local Armed Forces community. Now, alongside a fellow veteran, Jason has taken that passion into the business world with Connect Through Service, an organisation focused on helping employers recognise the incredible skills, values and experience that veterans and the wider uniformed services community bring to the workplace. In this episode, we chat with Jason about his military career, the importance of family, his passion for supporting veterans, and why recognising the strengths of those who have served is so important. A great conversation about life after service, creating opportunities and continuing to make a difference long after the uniform comes off. Tune in and hear Jason’s story!

  2. Sep 29

    Supporting Those Who Served: Minister Gordon Lyons on the Veterans Support Line

    Minister for Communities Gordon Lyons MLA joins Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner David Johnson to discuss the Veterans Support Line and the importance of ensuring that support services are accessible, responsive and trusted by the veteran community. Their conversation explores the assistance available through the service, the Department for Communities’ commitment to supporting veterans, and the need to provide confidence and reassurance around privacy and security. This is particularly important in Northern Ireland, where the legacy of the past can make some veterans hesitant to come forward and ask for help. Veterans and their families seeking information, guidance or support can contact the Veterans Support Line on 0800 158 5556.

  3. Sep 15

    Service, Leadership and Life Beyond the Reserves: Valerie Wilson’s Story

    Former reservist Valerie Wilson reflects on her remarkable journey from cadet to military service, including her mobilisation and deployment to Iraq. She shares the challenges she faced, the leadership skills and confidence she developed, and the lasting value of her experience in the Reserves. Valerie also explores how her military background helped shape a highly successful civilian career at BT, from making difficult decisions and earning promotion to balancing reserve service with life in the corporate world. Her story demonstrates how the skills gained through military service can transform a career, strengthen personal resilience and create opportunities to lead, volunteer and give back.

  4. Sep 1

    Service to Survival: Anto Wickham’s Journey of Brotherhood, Battle & Bikes

    In this episode, we hear the powerful story of Anto Wickham, who served for 22 years with the Royal Irish Rangers and later the Royal Irish Regiment. Anto’s journey didn’t end when he left the Army. Like many veterans, he faced the difficult transition to civilian life, spending 16 years working in security overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan. Along the way, he battled PTSD, first diagnosed during his service in Bosnia, and experienced some of his darkest moments while missing the camaraderie that military life once gave him. But out of those struggles came something meaningful. Driven by a lifelong passion for motorbikes, Anto founded the Ranger Motorcycle Club in Northern Ireland, a space built on remembrance, connection, and support. It’s more than just riding; it’s about rebuilding that sense of brotherhood and helping others who’ve walked a similar path. This is a story of resilience, purpose, and finding your tribe again.

  5. Jun 24

    From Service to Civvy Street: Gillian Lyall’s Journey of Care, Courage and Recovery

    In this episode, we are joined by Gillian Lyall, a former British Army nurse who served for 16 years in the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, reaching the rank of Major. Raised in Northern Ireland and a member of the Queen’s University Officers’ Training Corps while studying at Queen’s University Belfast, Gillian went on to deploy on operations across several theatres, providing vital medical care in demanding operational environments. Her military career was ultimately cut short following a diagnosis of complex post-traumatic stress disorder, and the transition into civilian life brought its own challenges as she navigated life beyond the Armed Forces. Today, Gillian works as a registered nurse with Help for Heroes, supporting veterans and their families while drawing on both her professional expertise and her personal experience of service and recovery. In this conversation, Gillian shares her story of military service, transition, resilience and her continued commitment to supporting the veterans’ community.

  6. May 26

    From TELIC to Today: Rab Hunter’s Journey Through Survival and Service

    In this episode, we hear the powerful story of Irish Guards veteran Robert “Rab” Hunter, who served for 10 years, including two tours of Iraq. Rab was deployed during the initial invasion in 2003 and later returned on Operation TELIC 10, where his vehicle was struck by a devastating roadside bomb, one of the most dangerous threats faced by troops at the time. Surviving that moment marked the beginning of a lifelong emotional journey, as Rab has had to navigate survivor’s guilt and the lasting impact of that experience. Today, Rab shares his story with honesty and courage, reflecting not only on his service, but on what came after. Now driven by a new mission, he speaks about his ambition to establish a veterans hub in his hometown of Larne, a place of support, connection, and understanding for those who have served. This is a story of survival, struggle, and finding purpose beyond the battlefield.

  7. Apr 29

    Shamrocks Among the Poppies: The Story Behind the Siege

    Welcome to the NI Veteran’s Commissioner Podcast, Once a Warrior: Life Beyond the Uniform. Today, we’re joined by Lieutenant Colonel Derek Plews VR, a former Army officer whose career spans journalism in Northern Ireland, work within the UK Civil Service, and multiple operational deployments overseas. A reservist who left the civil service to deploy to Afghanistan in 2006, Derek served during a pivotal and violent period of the campaign. He later completed tours in Iraq before going on to hold a number of senior roles within the Ministry of Defence. Since retiring in 2020, he has devoted his time to historical research, writing, and supporting local museum trusts. Derek is the author of A Brilliant Little Victory, a respected history of the 48th Division in the First World War. He joins us today to raise awareness of his latest book, Shamrocks Among the Poppies, a powerful and thought-provoking account of the siege of Musa Qal’eh in 2006, examining not only the fighting on the ground, but also the wider failures and consequences surrounding it. This episode explores the realities of conflict, the burden carried by those who serve, and the importance of preserving honest military history long after the uniform is hung up.

  8. Mar 27

    From the Frontline to the House of Lords: A Conversation with Lord Dannatt

    In this episode, we are joined by General the Lord Dannatt, former Chief of the General Staff and one of the most recognisable military leaders of his generation. Commissioned into the Green Howards in 1971, Lord Dannatt served for nearly four decades in the British Army, with operational experience in Northern Ireland, Kosovo, and overseeing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. As Chief of the General Staff from 2006 to 2009, he led the Army during some of the most demanding years of modern military operations. Since retiring from the Army, he has continued his service in public life as a crossbench member of the House of Lords and remains a prominent advocate for the welfare of service personnel, veterans and their families. In this conversation, Lord Dannatt known for his strong Christian faith, reflects on his military career, the leadership challenges of commanding the Army during wartime, and his ongoing work supporting the Armed Forces community.

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About

”Once a Warrior: Life Beyond the Uniform” is brought to you by the Northern Ireland Veteran’s Commissioner’s Office. Hear personal stories of veterans, as they share their experiences from wars and conflicts. This podcast offers an intimate look into the lives of those who served, giving first hand accounts of their experiences and the lasting impact on their lives. Join us as we honour their journeys, explore life beyond the uniform and celebrate the strength, resilience and sacrifices of our veterans, whilst preserving their legacy for future generations.

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