{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/657da0f3e3e20a001702e328/6a6f1c47034f16a52e5d575b?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"The Brutal Reality Of A Private Military Contractor's War In Syria","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/657da0f3e3e20a001702e328/1785667064365-e664b6df-725f-42ec-af33-453293f2a7d1.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p><strong>CONTENT</strong></p><p><br></p><p>Listener information - On this episode we discuss the realities of life in a war zone and suicide. My guest is Graham Paul Roberts, a former Welsh Guardsman and private military contractor who served in numerous global conflict zones in the military and as a PMC. He describes his journey from a premature birth and childhood bullying to training Syrian forces during the civil war. We discuss the psychological toll of war, including his struggle with complex PTSD and the hallucinations that haunted him upon returning home. Through his memoir, Echoes in Silence, he reflects on a pivotal realisation regarding the actions of the forces he trained and his subsequent path toward recovery.</p><p><br></p><p>Today, Graham has found a new sense of purpose as a teacher in North Wales, where he uses his experiences to foster resilience and confidence in students with additional learning needs. He emphasizes the importance of seeking mental health support, crediting his recovery to professional intervention and the unwavering support of his family.</p><p><br></p><p>Graham's book choice on Desert Islands Dits is \"B20\" by Andy McNab. My choice is Graham's Book \"Echoes in The Silence - A True Story Of War, Trauma &amp; Resilience\".</p><p><br></p><p><strong>WHERE TO GET OUR DESERT ISLAND DITS BOOK CHOICES</strong></p><p><br></p><p>Most of our book recommendations can be bought via the Unconventional Soldier <a href=\"https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/UCS473\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Bookshop</a>.&nbsp;10% of each purchase supports the pod and helps independent book stores on line sales.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p><strong>\"BUY ME A COFFEE\"</strong></p><p><br></p><p>If you want to support the podcast you can buy me a coffee <a href=\"https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unconsoldierpod\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">here.</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>SOCIAL MEDIA</strong></p><p><br></p><p>Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.</p><p>Facebook @lateo82.&nbsp;</p><p>Twitter @TheUCS473.</p><p>Download these and other platforms via<a href=\"https://linktr.ee/unconventionalsoldier\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> Link Tree</a>.</p><p>Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com.&nbsp;</p><p>This episode brought to you in association with<a href=\"https://isarr.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> ISARR</a> a veteran owned company.</p><p><br></p>","author_name":"theunconventionalsoldier"}