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Career Army veteran, Bill Austin, was born and raised in Delaware before enlisting in the military in 1981. His career initially began as a radio operator but his MOS eventually changed to infantry, then to becoming a light infantry scout. In 1994, Bill switched to serve as a Flight Medic in the Air National Guard. Bill served over 30 years in the military with a final rank of Master Sergeant before retiring with a medical discharge due to his diagnosis of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and PTSD.
Bill joins us today to discuss his drive to join the military and his experiences while serving his country in Grenada, Bosnia, Kosovo as well as Afghanistan and Iraq. He explains why he decided to switch from the Army to the Air National Guard, his experiences while serving in each branch, and the challenges he faced in transitioning and adapting to the Air Guard’s culture. He describes the emotional turmoil military medical personnel experience when they lose a patient, the difficulties of dividing resources in an effort to save as many lives as possible, and the struggles of shutting off your emotions to ensure you’re providing the best care possible. Bill also discusses his medical discharge from the military and his experience of permanently returning home to his wife and son.
“If you get so turned off about what’s going on – turning off your emotions – then you start losing that compassion and can really make a lot of mistakes.” – Bill Austin
This week on the Stigma Free Vet Zone Podcast:
- Bill’s childhood upbringing and his drive to enlist in the Army
- Why Bill struggled to adapt to the Air Guard’s working culture after switching from the Army
- Bill’s experiences as a Flight Medic and the difference between a Dustoff and AirEvac
- The emotional turmoil associated with being responsible for saving lives
- Blocking your personal emotions to provide the best care possible and the balancing act between controlling your emotions while maintaining compassion
- How Bill coped with the emotional struggles throughout his military career
- How they utilized civilian donations while in combat
- Why Bill never spoke with his wife about his war experiences during his enlistment
- Bill’s medical discharge from the military and the expectations and experiences he had when returning home
Resources Mentioned:
Helping Veterans & Their Families Transition to Civilian Life
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DISCLAIMER: The information and content shared in each episode of the Stigma Free Vet Zone are for informational purposes only. The Stigma Free Vet Zone hosts, Mike Orban & Bob Bach, are not, nor claim to be, medical doctors, psychologists, or psychiatrists and should not be held responsible for any claims, medical advice, or therapy/treatment recommendations mentioned on this podcast. Any advice mentioned or shared by Mike Orban, Bob Bach, or their guests is strictly for purposes of bringing awareness to the veteran community and the services available. Please speak with a medical professional before taking any advice or starting any therapy or treatment discussed or shared on this podcast.