Once a Warrior: Life Beyond the Uniform

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.