From Combat Medic to Civilian Educator

This episode of Coffin Dodger's features Steve O, a former combat medic with extensive experience in both military and civilian medical fields. Steve shares his journey from childhood in New Zealand, through his military service in East Timor and Afghanistan, to working as a contractor in Somalia. Highlighting critical incidents like a massive 400-plus casualty event, Steve details the challenges of transitioning back to civilian life, finding new tribes and purpose in education and sports. Join Steve as he discusses the importance of team culture, mental health, and his commitment to improving emergency medical training.

01:08 Introducing Steve O

01:36 Childhood

15:27 Joining the Army

21:12 Army Medic Training

35:07 Surgical Mishaps & Smells

37:18 Field Hospital Realities

40:11 Bizarre Military Exercises

53:02 Deployment Stories: East Timor & Afghanistan

01:09:09 PDT Training and Initial Incidents

01:12:22 Leaving the Military

01:14:30 Transition to Nursing

01:22:37 First Experiences in Somalia

01:25:10 Navigating Chaos in Mogadishu

01:36:50 First Gunshot Wound and Realisations

01:41:58 IED Threats & Road Hazards

01:43:34 FOB Security Concerns

01:47:11 Mass Casualty Incident in Mogadishu

01:57:31 Combat Fatigue and Harassment Fire

01:58:37 First KIA Encounter

02:03:10 Ammo State Black: A Desperate Situation

02:18:14 Reflecting on the Mission

02:28:55 COVID & Deployment Challenges

02:31:45 Transitioning Back to Civilian Life

02:36:01 Finding New Purpose and Brotherhood

02:45:40 Final Thoughts and Shoutouts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tea with the Taliban

While coordinating security for a civilian project in Northern Afghanistan, Mark Te Hira faced one of the gravest challenges of his life—capture by the Haqqani Network, a Taliban-affiliated group notorious for its brutality. The day began as a routine survey mission but quickly unraveled into a dire situation as Taliban forces surrounded and captured his team.

The narrative of his captivity is marked by tension and an eventual miraculous release, facilitated by the quick thinking and invaluable connections of his Afghan security officers. This experience profoundly influenced Mark, both professionally and personally, underpinning his understanding of security and survival.

Mark's story didn't end with his escape; instead, it propelled him toward advocating for mental health and safety. Understanding the psychological toll of high-stress environments, he emphasises the importance of seeking help and the power of resilience. His journey is a reminder that experiencing trauma requires professional support and community connection to heal and thrive.

Contact Mark at https://www.pscglobal.co.nz/

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pscglobal-global?si=T_5-04q8vu7imnie

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/psc-global-physical-security-consultancy/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1980s Houston to the Battlefield and Beyond

Episode 2 of Coffin Dodgers follows on from E01, a deep dive into the co-hosts of Coffin Dodgers. This time it's Ed's backstory. Ed Eastham recounts his journey growing up in 1980s Houston amidst economic challenges and rising crime, his early passion for sports and music, and the pivotal moment at Olive Garden that led him to join the Army. He shares stories from his military career, including deployments to Korea and Iraq, and the impact of those experiences on his life. The episode also explores Ed's transition from the military to a career in medicine, his deployments to Afghanistan, and his eventual move to New Zealand to join PracMed NZ's mission, highlighting the challenges and growth throughout his journey.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The inaugural episode of 'Coffin Dodgers' is a dive into the background of host Simon Carkeek. In the introduction to Simon's story, we delve into his upbringing in regional New Zealand, through military service, post-service contracting and through to the present day as founder and Director of PracMed NZ.

With co-host Ed Eastham, Simon shares the motivations behind the podcast, aiming to illuminate stories of adversity and hope. Reflecting on his life, Simon discusses his foster care experiences, discovering his biological father, and his military service's rewarding yet tumultuous moments. He narrates his transition from military to civilian life, the emotional toll of losing comrades, and the decisions that led to leaving service. Simon's career shift to private contracting and founding his own training company underscores themes of adaptability, resilience, and finding the good from the bad that aided his successful transition to civilian life and business, and is a key theme of the podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.