In the penultimate episode of this season, I chat to AJ Powell. Based in Japan, he's a retired United States Army Non-Commissioned Officer who served in both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army, and he is a world-travelled American combat veteran. 

He is a fully qualified aircraft mechanic and technician, flight engineer, instructor, and pilot. He is also a professional/occupational scuba diver, exploration diver, technical diver, and certified dive instructor.

AJ is an author, published researcher, guest lecturer, and public speaker. He is a social and political advocate for the veteran’s community as a whole, men's social issues, leadership and growth mindsets, and enjoys opportunities to teach, coach, mentor, and guide others towards self-betterment and success. He is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University and is published academically in the fields of sociology and leadership.

During his career, AJ has been blessed with opportunities to work at the local, joint, and multinational levels of operations, working closely with U.S. and allied forces, teams, and organizations, in conducting operations, training, development, and relations-building. This experience has given him valuable insights into cross-cultural relationships, their common difficulties, and what it takes to build successful teams in dynamic environments. Today, AJ uses this knowledge to help and empower international teams to improve performance and achieve success.

Aside from his career, AJ has spent his entire adult life striving toward and living out every single childhood dream. He has achieved becoming a pilot, a diver, a writer and author, a scientist and researcher, a teacher and instructor, a biker, run marathons and competed in ultra-distance events, served his nation in uniform, he's a musician, a photographer, a martial artist, a snowboarder, adventure-seeker, and has travelled and lived around the world. He still has yet to make it to space... But maybe one day.

AJ believes “investing in experiences” and “investing in relationships” are keys to investing in your future. He is always seeking out new knowledge and new opportunities and believes education and self-betterment are life-long endeavours, and that combining those things with internalized motivation and an optimistic mindset, equals the secret to success.

To find out some more about AJ here are some links: https://armyveteranaj.com/ https://www.instagram.com/armyveteranaj/ https://www.instagram.com/pinnacledivingco/ https://www.amazon.co.uk/A-J-POWELL/e/B07T4T1KDK/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1

This is the 3rd series which is supported by DiveLife SCUBA Diving Centre. Use promo code "ATND10" for online purchases at https://divelife.co.uk/

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