1 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:06,920 Speaker 1: From the newsroom and news to come to the Gooday there, 2 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: I'm Andrew bucklow. 3 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:08,039 Speaker 2: Well. 4 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:12,160 Speaker 3: Late last week, a Ukrainian sniper made history. He eliminated 5 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 3: two Russian soldiers from four kilometers away, breaking the record 6 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:17,919 Speaker 3: for the longest ever confirmed kill. 7 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:18,840 Speaker 2: Really know. 8 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:25,480 Speaker 3: In today's episode, we're going to chat to a sniper 9 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 3: who actually held that record for years. He's going to 10 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 3: open up about the first time he ever took a 11 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 3: life with his rifle and is going to share some 12 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:32,879 Speaker 3: little known secrets. 13 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 1: From the battlefield twenty meters to the building. I've got 14 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 1: her filing rating, He's down. 15 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 3: Craig Harrison was a sniper in the British Army for 16 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 3: twenty three years. For almost a decade, he held the 17 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 3: record for the longest confirmed sniper kill in combat after 18 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 3: taking out two Bean machine gunners from two point four 19 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:05,919 Speaker 3: kilometers away in Afghanistan. Towards the end of his military career, 20 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:10,840 Speaker 3: Craig developed PTSD and was eventually discharged in twenty fourteen. Now, 21 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 3: I spoke to him a couple of years ago and 22 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 3: I'm going to play some of the highlights from that chat. 23 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 1: Now, can you. 24 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:19,720 Speaker 3: Give me a quick snapshot of just how many tours 25 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 3: you did in that time in which countries he served in. 26 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 2: I've done ten tours altogether, so I've done Bosnia, Kosovo, 27 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:28,560 Speaker 2: Iraq and Afghanistan. 28 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 1: Why did you want to be a sniper? 29 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:35,080 Speaker 2: It was something that my regiment didn't really know about, 30 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 2: and I got offered to the opportunity to do it, 31 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 2: and so I've done it and it just happened to 32 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 2: be good at what I've done. 33 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:45,959 Speaker 1: What is the role of a sniper in battle? 34 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 3: Because when you watch movies, you just kind of assume 35 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 3: it's someone to take our targets from a long range 36 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:52,920 Speaker 3: to kind of clear the way for ground troops. 37 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 1: Is that accurate? 38 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, the first the first role of a sniper 39 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 2: is to gather lifetime information the battlefield. So basically you'll 40 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:05,120 Speaker 2: go forward in front of everyone else and gather as 41 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:09,360 Speaker 2: much information as possible. The shooting pays would be the 42 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 2: second phase that you would do. You know, you gather 43 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 2: as much information as possible and then you'll get to 44 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 2: tell that target out or whatever mission you have to do. 45 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 3: How snipers thought of in the military. Are you like 46 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 3: kind of top tier? Everyone looks up to you, guys. 47 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:26,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, you got to be an a one soldier to 48 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 2: be a sniper, or your skills and drills have got 49 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 2: to be crisp, slick everything. You cannot fuck up being 50 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 2: a sniper. You've got to be. You got to be 51 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 2: on your ball because you're making decisions through a scope 52 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 2: and you've got to pull that trigger and you've got 53 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 2: to be right in what you're doing when you pour 54 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 2: that trigger as well. 55 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:48,359 Speaker 3: Can we talk about your gun for a second, your 56 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 3: sniper rifle. How powerful is that scope on it? Like, 57 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:54,520 Speaker 3: if you were one kilometer away from a person, what 58 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:56,360 Speaker 3: kind of detail can you see? 59 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:00,399 Speaker 2: Well, about a thousand yards you can see pretty a lot. 60 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:03,079 Speaker 2: It's quite powerful and you can make out everything over 61 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 2: a thousand yards quite easy. 62 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 3: So you could say, like the level of detail on 63 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 3: someone's face, you could see if they're carrying a gun, 64 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:09,799 Speaker 3: things like that. 65 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 2: Oh, yes, definitely. Yeah. To be a sniper, you have 66 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:16,519 Speaker 2: to before you take any shot, you have to pid 67 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 2: that target personally identify that target. If you seek any 68 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 2: shot at all, you know, and luckily you've got the 69 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 2: scope and you've got the weapon to do it with. 70 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 3: I believe snipers work in pairs. Can you talk about 71 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 3: the role that each person plays. 72 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:33,919 Speaker 2: Yeah, So Basically, you work at sixteen snipers in the 73 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 2: batun and you work as a pair, so you're paired 74 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 2: offten with each other. Number one is usually the best 75 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:44,760 Speaker 2: shooter and number two he's usually one that does the 76 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 2: windeds and calculations, and he's quite mathematical like that. But luckily, 77 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 2: when I was working with my number two, we were 78 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 2: both the same standards, so we took it in turns 79 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 2: to work as a sniper itself. 80 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 1: And how close is that relationship between a number one 81 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 1: and a number two. 82 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 2: Oh, you've got to rely on him for your life. 83 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 2: Basically you're very close to each other as well. You know. 84 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 2: I'm lucky. I did four tours with my number two, 85 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 2: you know, and we got quite close. 86 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 3: Well, speaking of number two's, I believe that your number 87 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:17,159 Speaker 3: two usually has to help the number one go to 88 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:17,719 Speaker 3: the toilet. 89 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:18,479 Speaker 1: Is that right? 90 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 2: Yeah? Yeah, yeah, it is true because as a sniper, 91 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 2: you go into position and when you leave that position, 92 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 2: you're meant to leave no ground sign or anything where 93 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:31,360 Speaker 2: you were, you know, because you're like a ghost. So yeah, 94 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 2: so when you do go to toilet or number two's, 95 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 2: you know, he does help you hold that type of 96 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 2: weir tub there so you can go to a number two. 97 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 2: That's if you haven't got enough space to move around, you. 98 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:43,720 Speaker 1: Know, right, Okay, so you get to know each other 99 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 1: very bloody. 100 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 2: Well, yeah, yeah a lot. 101 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:49,599 Speaker 3: Well, Craig, do you remember the first time you took 102 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 3: a life as a sniper in battle? 103 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 2: Yes? I do, Yeah, would you. 104 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 3: Mind telling me about it? 105 00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:01,840 Speaker 2: It was in a rac and it's was a dicker 106 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 2: more scouts, So that was mortaring us. Was in the 107 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:09,719 Speaker 2: desert in a mobile unit, and every time we stopped, 108 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 2: we were getting hit by mortars, and so we couldn't 109 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:16,280 Speaker 2: figure out why they were just mortin us all the time. 110 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:19,880 Speaker 2: And then we noticed a motorbike follow us around the desert, 111 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 2: so every time we stopped, he would radio win mortars 112 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 2: to our positioned. And so what I did is I 113 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 2: told the vehicles to move off, and he left me behind. 114 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 2: And when I saw the motorbike appear and might yeah 115 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:38,279 Speaker 2: shot him. The first shot I hit the bike, the motorbike, 116 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 2: and the second shot I hit him because in the desert, 117 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 2: the heat shimmer your silhouette looks bigger, so I hit 118 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 2: quite high on the target. That's why I hit his 119 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 2: bike first. And then he stood up and I hit him, 120 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:57,719 Speaker 2: but yeah, that's my first kill. 121 00:05:57,760 --> 00:05:59,680 Speaker 1: How did that feel in that moment? 122 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 3: I mean, and you've mostly been trained to do this, 123 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 3: but taking someone's life for the first time, did you 124 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 3: feel bad? Did you feel good? Were you like just happy? 125 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 2: No, you can't be happy taking somebody's life. You know, 126 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:15,279 Speaker 2: somebody's life you've taken. So I felt like I was 127 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 2: in trouble first of all. Could you've killed someone? You know? 128 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:20,480 Speaker 2: And I felt what I'm going to get in trouble. 129 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 2: I'm going to get a tap on the shoulder any 130 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 2: minute to say, you know, can we have a quick 131 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:28,159 Speaker 2: word of you? This is what you've done. But the 132 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:30,240 Speaker 2: taps on the shoulder I was in is you know, 133 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 2: good shot admission? You know you did a good job there, 134 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:37,599 Speaker 2: So no need to worry, you know, because if I 135 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 2: didn't do that, some of you would have got hurt 136 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:42,480 Speaker 2: by mortar fire. So I had to make additions. And 137 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 2: it was IB there or us, you know. 138 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:47,160 Speaker 3: And when you're out in the field working as a sniper, 139 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 3: how long are you out there for? Are they kind 140 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 3: of like set shifts or are you just out there 141 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:52,960 Speaker 3: for ages at a time? 142 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:56,039 Speaker 2: You could sustain yourself as a sniper to forty eight 143 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 2: hours on the ground. The maximum move we've got seventy 144 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 2: two hours, but normal more time will be four hours 145 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 2: on the ground for you need to replan ammunition or 146 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:07,599 Speaker 2: food or water or something like that, you know, So 147 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 2: it's good to have a good logistics behind you as well, 148 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:15,440 Speaker 2: so you can fall back. We are replaying yourself and 149 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 2: then go back into your position again. 150 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 3: What's the longest during your career that you were on 151 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 3: the scope, so you know, lying there with your rifle 152 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 3: not moving a week? 153 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, just seven days? Yeah? 154 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:31,840 Speaker 3: Hell, so that is like not moving just looking through 155 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:34,000 Speaker 3: the scope of your rifle for almost a week, is 156 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 3: that right? 157 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's correct. Yeah. 158 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 1: How do you sleep? 159 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 2: First of all, so basically as a pair, you catnap, 160 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 2: so I'll love twenty minutes, I'd wake up, and then 161 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 2: we'd stay awake for a couple of hours, and they'll 162 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:49,440 Speaker 2: have a catnap for twenty minutes and so on, and 163 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 2: you work as that as a pair. 164 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 3: Mentally, it must be so tough to stay focused for 165 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 3: that long, especially when you are tired and you're not 166 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 3: moving much. How do you go about doing that maintaining focus? 167 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 2: I used to make stories up with the targets. I 168 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 2: was looking at little silly stories, you know, in my head, 169 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:10,520 Speaker 2: make even names and stuff like that, you know, and 170 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 2: that sort of occupied my brain in a way to 171 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 2: stop my getting bored or anything or losing focus off 172 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 2: the mission that I was on. 173 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 3: I'm sure you've had quite a few close causing battle 174 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 3: I mean, you were in the army for twenty three years. 175 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 1: You've served in some horrible parts of the world. 176 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 3: Was there a time where you thought, I just don't 177 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 3: know if I'm going to make it out here? 178 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:33,960 Speaker 2: Yes, in Iraq when I was in this building and 179 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 2: we nearly got overrun by the insurgents, and there was 180 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 2: a point where I fought I never was going to 181 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 2: get out of this situation alive. But we managed to 182 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 2: fire them off, you know, and the true great determination, Yeah, 183 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:49,600 Speaker 2: we survived to fight another day. 184 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 1: How did you get out of that place? 185 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:54,680 Speaker 2: We had to stay, We had to hold the building, 186 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 2: so we held it and basically the day because they 187 00:08:57,679 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 2: attack at night, and when it came this sort of 188 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:05,680 Speaker 2: pulled away and the sort of like the engagements sort 189 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:08,559 Speaker 2: of stopped really and so we just had to last 190 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:10,600 Speaker 2: the night out, stick around. 191 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:20,679 Speaker 1: We'll have more with Craig in just a moment. Welcome back. 192 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 3: You are listening to my interview with Craig Harrison, who 193 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 3: was a sniper in the British Army for twenty three years. 194 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:31,839 Speaker 3: Your mental health deteriorated when you were in the army. 195 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:34,440 Speaker 1: Was that a sudden process. 196 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 3: Was there an incident that made a snap or did 197 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 3: it just happen gradually over time. 198 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:42,120 Speaker 2: I think the stuff that I've seen in my army, 199 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:45,559 Speaker 2: the tours that I've done, I was just put them 200 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 2: in boxes in my brain and sort of put them 201 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 2: away and never really thought about it, because as a sniper, 202 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 2: when you're busy, you're busy and you haven't got time 203 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:55,679 Speaker 2: to think like that. You know, when I my last 204 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 2: tour in afghan I got blown up, and I think 205 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:03,760 Speaker 2: that blown up it just shattered the everything in my brain, 206 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:08,040 Speaker 2: you know, and I couldn't control thinking about things about 207 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:10,520 Speaker 2: previous tours, about previous stuff that I had done, and 208 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:13,000 Speaker 2: I couldn't control it, and that's where my mental health 209 00:10:13,040 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 2: started deteriorated. 210 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 3: You were diagnosed with PTSD and you were discharged from 211 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 3: the army in twenty fourteen. How do you feel about 212 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 3: the way that your army career ended. 213 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:27,160 Speaker 2: A bit bitter. Really, I wish it could have ended 214 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 2: a bit differently. I wish it didn't end like it did. 215 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 2: You know, twenty three years took me half an hour 216 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 2: to sort of get kicked out. And still you know, 217 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:39,200 Speaker 2: when the first year of you leaving the army, you 218 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 2: expect a bit of after care often and there was nothing, 219 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:45,600 Speaker 2: you know, So yeah, I was very much bitter about it. 220 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:47,840 Speaker 2: But if you asked me to do it again, I 221 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 2: would do. 222 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:52,240 Speaker 3: How come I can't understand that mentality when you've given 223 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:55,439 Speaker 3: your life essentially and you've done all this amazing stuff 224 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:58,479 Speaker 3: in battle, You've risked your life, you've almost lost your life. 225 00:10:58,440 --> 00:10:59,959 Speaker 1: And then to get no support. 226 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:02,080 Speaker 3: But when you leave, even though they know that you 227 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:04,840 Speaker 3: have mental health issues that you've picked up during your career, 228 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 3: what is it inside you that makes you go, I 229 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 3: do it all again in the name of my country. 230 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 2: It's because you had a purpose, you know. I joined 231 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:16,080 Speaker 2: the arm worn i sixteenth and I didn't know any different. 232 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 2: I didn't experience civilian studio or anything. So I joined 233 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:22,679 Speaker 2: straight from school. So I was a fresh person and 234 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 2: my brain was nice and clear and all I all 235 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:28,960 Speaker 2: I learned was soldiering skills and you know, and battle 236 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 2: and stuff like that. So I was institutionalized and that's 237 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:35,280 Speaker 2: all I knew and had a purpose in my life, 238 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:38,160 Speaker 2: you know. And when I left the Army, I felt 239 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:41,200 Speaker 2: like I didn't have a purpose because all I knew 240 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:43,959 Speaker 2: was the Army twenty three years of my life doing stuff, 241 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:47,800 Speaker 2: And so yeah, I would do it again because I 242 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:51,080 Speaker 2: missed the camaraderie. I missed the lads, you know, I 243 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:53,840 Speaker 2: even missed the bullshit half the time. But it's the 244 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:58,080 Speaker 2: hierarchy that ruined my career, and I'm bitter against them. 245 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 2: But I'm not bitter against the people that I've worked with, 246 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:01,600 Speaker 2: not all. 247 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:04,040 Speaker 3: I'm sure there are many people listening to this right 248 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 3: now who are battling mental health issues. You've got them 249 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:09,840 Speaker 3: as a result of what you did in battle. You're 250 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 3: working your way through them. I understand you've helped hundreds 251 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:15,360 Speaker 3: of other people since. What's your best piece of advice 252 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:18,360 Speaker 3: to those people about how they can overcome their problems. 253 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:22,240 Speaker 2: People need to talk, especially men, you know, they need 254 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:24,520 Speaker 2: to break the stigma that men can't talk about their 255 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 2: mental health. But everybody needs to talk. And mine, mine 256 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:32,600 Speaker 2: was my medication, you know. And I've said loads of 257 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:35,440 Speaker 2: times before. Medication is not the answer, but it does 258 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:38,080 Speaker 2: help you have and that even kill, you know, and 259 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:41,560 Speaker 2: it gives you enough strength to go through the day. 260 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:44,679 Speaker 2: But talking is the way forward. If you're just sitting 261 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:47,880 Speaker 2: around festering and not talking, you're going to build up 262 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:50,280 Speaker 2: so much anger and you're going to end up doing 263 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 2: something silly and you don't want that. So people need 264 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 2: to talk. And that's the only thing I can say. 265 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 2: Talk talk, talk. You know, as soon as you start talking, 266 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 2: people realize that you've got an issue or you've got 267 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 2: a problem, and they can help you in the right 268 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 2: and point you in the right direction. 269 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 1: That was Craig Harrison. 270 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 3: If you want to hear more of his story, check 271 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:11,400 Speaker 3: out his autobiography. It's called The Longest Kill and it 272 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:14,199 Speaker 3: is a cracking read. Before I go, just a reminder 273 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 3: that if you are struggling with your mental health, you 274 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:19,600 Speaker 3: can call Lifeline on thirteen eleven fourteen. All right, thank 275 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 3: you so much for listening. I'll chat to you again tomorrow. 276 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 1: Follow us Subscribe to from the Newsroom wherever you get 277 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:27,560 Speaker 1: your podcasts.