Aussie Olympics star Jana Pittman reveals family struggle that inspired her to join Army Reserves

Star Aussie Olympian Jana Pittman has printed her brother’s harrowing stories whilst preventing in Afghanistan inspired her to join the Army Reserves.

It’s somewhat the addition to a resume that already contains 4 Commonwealth Games gold medals, representing the rustic at each the summer season and wintry weather Olympics, showing on truth display SAS Australia and changing into a health care provider whilst citing six youngsters.

But such is the power of the relationship with her brother Ryan, she has added the Australian Defence Force to the checklist. 

With only one interview to move prior to she joins up, Pittman has printed Ryan – who used to be a captain within the Army and served for greater than seven years – suffered post-traumatic pressure dysfunction (PTSD) after leaving the military.

She taken care of her brother as he transitioned again into civilian existence, and stated the harrowing revel in he were via – and are available out the opposite aspect – had inspired her.  

Jana Pittman, pictured after successful the 400m hurdles on the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, has joined the Army Reserves after being spurred on through a non-public revel in 

Pittman (left) with sister-in-law Tara and brother Ryan, who she calls her ‘hero’

Pittman went via a tribulation of types forward of becoming a member of the Army Reserves when she gave the impression on hit truth display SAS Australia

- Advertisement -

‘He (Ryan) had a in point of fact tricky time when he got here again (from Afghanistan),’ Pittman advised 3AW.

‘He’s at all times, since he used to be a child, sought after to be a soldier, he’d play with little military males in our yard and there used to be by no means a profession he sought after to do as opposed to join the forces.

‘He dedicated to that time in another country and when he got here again it used to be a in point of fact tricky transition into civilian existence.

‘These guys see stuff that our boys and girls should not see, it is tricky being over there.

‘I’m positive our defence drive prepares them to the most efficient in their talent, however those guys see it first hand, and they are incessantly somewhat younger once they get uncovered to it.’

Pittman, 40, lives in Sydney with her husband and 6 youngsters, and stated at one level she had to take care of her brother, who she calls her ‘hero’, as he struggled together with his PTSD and psychological well being.

Ryan Pittman served within the Army for seven years, emerging to the rank of captain

Pittman posted a photograph on ANZAC Day the day gone by with 5 of her six youngsters, thanking veterans like her brother for his or her provider

In the wake of ANZAC Day, it is a sobering reminder of what our servicemen and girls undergo to offer protection to us, our nation, and other folks around the globe. 

‘He’s one in all my heroes in existence, I’ve at all times in point of fact regarded up to my stunning brother, however there used to be without a doubt a time there the place his psychological well being in point of fact struggled,’ stated Pittman.

‘He had to drop out of labor, he moved in with me for a couple of months, and we had to in point of fact knuckle down and concentrate on making an attempt to get him smartly and get him via a rehab program to pop out the opposite finish.

‘I’m no longer going to lie, it used to be bloody arduous looking at it, looking at anyone you like such a lot in point of fact struggle when he’d accomplished such a lot for his nation.’

Pittman, who went via her justifiable share of heartbreak all the way through her high-profile operating profession, used to be at pains to indicate that many tragedies she and different Aussies undergo light into insignificance when put next to probably the most issues Ryan and his comrades within the military undergo.

The four-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist stated she advised Ryan, when he used to be at his lowest, that it used to be ‘OK to damage’, however admitted that is one thing ingrained in lots of Aussies, males specifically, no longer to do. 

Jana Pittman is now a mom to six youngsters, running as a health care provider in Sydney and shortly to be a member of the Army Reserves

‘They (servicemen and girls) come again into Australia, which is a slightly certain nation, and so they see issues that we whinge about and take care of each day and that will also be somewhat arduous,’ Pittman stated. 

‘He did not really feel like he may do that (damage). I believe he felt he nearly wanted permission to achieve this, which I do know is a not unusual theme for numerous our veterans.

‘He’d at all times been there for me … previously I’ve been via some very trivial heartaches when put next, like dropping the Olympics and such things as that, and he’d at all times stood through me and been my confidante.

‘If anything else falls aside in my existence he is the person I flip to. It used to be an actual privilege to stroll the ones two years with him, that alternate and that adventure.’

As for precisely why, in the end that, she could be inspired to join the Army, Pittman stated that now Ryan had pop out the opposite aspect, he ‘talks so fondly’ about numerous his stories and the associates he made. 

Pittman went via a military audition of types when she went at the truth display, SAS Australia

‘Like my brother, I’ve at all times sought after to serve my nation and be a part of one thing particular. I just like the camaraderie of the military,’ she stated.  

‘Obviously I might move in as a scientific skilled…to lend a hand with psychological and bodily facets of serving your nation.

It obviously runs within the family.

Pittman printed her son, who’s 16, additionally sought after to apply in his uncle’s footsteps. 

‘My eldest son is thinking about both becoming a member of the military or changing into a policeman … he desires to serve his neighborhood – and gosh I’d be a proud mum if he selected to do that.’

For lend a hand in a disaster name 000. If you or someone you already know wishes fortify, you’ll touch Lifeline 13 11 14, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.