Former Marine Corps Helicopter Pilot- Cockpit injuries, Toxic Masculinity & Post Traumatic Stress

The Lemon Grove Podcast

Rob is a friend of mine from Ohio State, and after graduating with an Engineering Degree in 2004, he spent 10 years in the United States Marine Corps as a Helicopter Pilot. He deployed to Iraq once in 2008 and Afghanistan twice in 2010 and 2012. Each combat deployment was 7 months long and during those deployments he saw many horrible things, but is also so proud of the many awesome things he and his fellow Marines did while deployed to combat. When he got out of the military, he settled in Ohio with his family, where he continues to overcome lower back and shoulder injuries, as well as diagnosed PTSD. Notably, he refers to his Post Traumatic Stress and drops the last word, disorder as he considers it another treatable injury for him to continue recovering from. Managing his service connected injuries has been difficult, but Rob has made major breakthroughs in his self care over the past 2 years through yoga and therapy.