Transition, Dyslexia, and Leading Yourself After Service with Symon Smith

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, James sits down with Symon Smith, an Army veteran with 14 years’ service, to unpack the realities of transition — from planning your exit to navigating life on the outside.Symon shares a refreshingly honest take on his journey — not driven by a lifelong ambition to serve, but by a decision made in the moment when faced with an alternative path.But where this episode really stands out is in its exploration of dyslexia in the military — a topic rarely spoken about openly.Symon shares his own experience of navigating service with dyslexia, the lack of visibility around it, and how that led him to co-found the Defence Dyslexia Network.What becomes clear is this:dyslexia isn’t a limitation — it’s often a hidden strength.This episode is about more than transition.It’s about ownership, awareness, and building support for others coming behind you.TakeawaysTransition is smoother when you plan early and create a soft landingYou don’t need to have everything figured out — process and preparation matter moreDyslexia is far more common in the military than people realiseMany struggle in silence due to lack of awareness and supportYour strengths often sit alongside your challenges — not in spite of themSupport networks and shared experience can dramatically reduce friction in transitionOwnership doesn’t end when you leave service — it becomes even more importantSound Bites“I didn’t realise I wanted to join… until I had another option.”“Do a safe landing first — then make bigger decisions later.”“It’s a bit like a duck on water — calm on the surface, chaos underneath.”“No one talks about dyslexia — but it’s everywhere.”“If you support the bottom of the spike, you get the top.”“No one should leave feeling like they’re on their own.”Connect with SymonLinkedInWebsite#GreatGunsPodcast #VeteranTransition #DyslexiaAwareness #Leadership #LifeAfterService