Yelling at Clouds
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Yelling at Clouds
I start my day in all too familiar fashion, as an old man yelling at the clouds.
The all-too-common news in my feed, another Australian Veteran has taken their life.
Yet another fellow Veteran coming to the ultimate conclusion that they are so far from any help, the only option to them is suicide. A feeling so many Veterans experience, the overwhelming sense of hopelessness to dig themselves out of the foxhole caving in around them. I have been in that hole, looking up at the world above seemingly helpless to climb out while the "enemy" is engaging from above.
What the Veteran community needs to know is that we are not in that foxhole alone. Our brothers and sisters in arms stand by our sides and are there to help us fight through. There is a community of Veterans and those who support Veterans out there, in fact there is a huge community out there, willing and able to help.
The first step is exactly that, it is one of many, even a step in the wrong direction is not a failed step. We gain knowledge and we set off again. Not all organisations are easy to work with, but some are necessary in order to get the best outcomes.
Yelling at DVA to work faster and do better is like that classic meme of Abe Simpson yelling at the clouds, it achieves very little except make you look and feel crazy. Yelling at Defence to improve military to civilian transition is the same issue, you just waste your time shaking your fist at the sky.
It is time to stop yelling at the clouds and time to take that step and I want to help you reach out to someone in order to pull you out of that hole. The list below is by no means exhaustive, but they are people and organisations I trust to help. Some of them I know very well, some only by following the great work they do.
Open Arms - Veterans & Families Counselling - This counselling service is free to all Veterans. I use it, my close friends use it and you should use it too. Call the number and they will put you through to a real person who understands what you are going through and they will put you on the path to sitting down with someone to support you more.
I cannot yell this loud enough - "Just fucking call them today.”
Working Spirit Ltd - Veteran Employment and Transition Specialists. If you are looking to get out of Defence soon or you are a Veteran looking for a new role then reach out to them. Karyn Hinder and the team have years of experience mapping Defence skills to civilian workplaces. The new Transition Employment Portal streamlines the process of getting your profile in front of companies looking to hire a Veteran today. Use of the Portal is free to Veterans so there is no excuse not to register.
LinkedIn - I don't Facebook much and social media by design can be a huge adversary when you are vulnerable. It can take your fears and feed them, all in the name of data capture and advertising. By no means is LinkedIn any different however it does allow you to see and show career success, provide an outlet to discuss Veteran and Defence issues and to link together with others going through similar experiences. It may even help you find a job if you use its features correctly.
Some people of note to Connect with on LinkedIn if you decide to join.
Dylan Conway - The founder of BrothersNBooks, Dylan, an Australian Army Officer, has made a huge difference in the Veteran Community the past two years through encouraging Veterans to read as a form of growth, therapy and success.
Kai Eliason - Kai is a Veteran who left his civilian job and decided to travel around Australia with his family, working on his dreams and sharing his experiences. He shares the ultimate "Gap Year" he went on, the importance of family, innovation and the journey of setting up your own business.
Alice Fitzsimmons - Alice is very passionate about Veteran Issues and is a strong advocate for Veteran Women. Alice, a Navy Veteran based out of Canberra, is involved in several Veteran programs and always willing to talk to people and get them involved.
Richard W. Williamson - Rich, a close friend I served with, is the most passionate person I have ever met when it comes to Innovation in Defence. From bottom up Innovation to supporting companies to design and deliver new technologies, Rich knows the policies and procedures better than anyone else around. If you want to get into innovation and design in the Defence Industry, he's your guy.
Greg Whitehouse - ME! Well, you've made it this far so why not connect with me on LinkedIn? I am involved with a number of Veteran Organisations, some of them listed here, and I am always looking to grow that list. If nothing else, if you are Veteran starting out on LinkedIn, shoot me a connection request and I will be happy to bring you into the network.
If Social Media is not your thing, remember there are plenty of Veterans out there and I am yet to meet one that wouldn't take time out of their day to talk to someone in need. The power of shared experiences is strong. You may not have been deployed to the same AO, or served in the same units, but the underlying experiences of being in the military are the same for all and establishing a common bond with any other Veteran is easier than you may think.
If you are a Veteran, you are not alone. It may seem like it at times but you are not. Organisations like DVA are aware of their short comings, yelling at them solves no more than yelling at the clouds. Get out there and meet those undertaking the same journey, learn, listen, support and most importantly ask for help.
Again, if yourself or anyone you know is in immediate harm to themselves or others, Ring 000. If you need support call any of the numbers below immediately. Do not wait until it is too late.
If you or someone else is in crisis and needs immediate help, please call:
About the Author
Greg has been a soldier for 23 years, serving both full time and part time. After deploying to Afghanistan and Iraq, he left full-time service to manage the Australian arm of Precision Technic Defence, supplying new technology to Defence. He is heavily involved in the Defence Community leading the WA branch of Defence Industry Network, sitting on the board for Working Spirit and mentoring Veterans transitioning out of Defence and in Defence Industry. Greg was awarded the WA Ministers Award for Service to Defence Industry in 2022.?
Trade Compliance Analyst at Smith & Wesson
2 年There are so many men and women, worldwide, who could benefit from peer Veteran programs. As demonstrated by your response to a recent loss, and shown in the comments here, it can be a game changer to just have someone take initiative. I pray this endeavor saves many men and women from their demons.
Business Owner at Recovery Lab
2 年Brilliant mate, well said. Feel free to add me to that list of contacts especially in the Townsville region. I am always available to help those who want it
Excellent post Greg. It can be hard to admit you need help but when you do you have opportunities to get that help. The organisations and people you mentioned are a great place to start. I’ll keep doing my bit through my lived experience and hopefully help one or two people. In a way it helps me to have strong sense of purpose. It takes time for us to find that purpose but it can be a light bulb moment when we do.
Chairman at Australian Bibliotherapy Foundation | Ex Australian Army Officer | Multiple award winning philanthropist
2 年I couldn't agree more
I help business to simplify their systems, stop worker burnout and build high performing teams | Board Chair Tactical and Occupational Performance Australia
2 年The best thing we can do is stop breaking people in the first place. Invest in evidence-based approaches to supporting mental and physical health at every stage… stop listening to the bro science and those who are simply out of their depth and we can make a massive difference.