When veteran Ben Lambon left the military, his medical discharge meant it wasn’t by choice. Years of service had taken their toll and Ben carried scars that were easy to see. But, he says, there were ‘many more’ wounds that weren’t so visible.
‘Physically, I was broken. Mentally, I was exhausted. Financially, I was in a dark place. Every decision came with a weight; every expense felt like a step closer to the edge.’
Although the day he handed his uniform back felt like a chapter was closing Ben says he ‘didn’t realise I was stepping into a whole new battle’.
It was a battle he wasn’t prepared for. While his life in the military had given him structure, navigating the world as a civilian meant that structure was gone.
‘No more early morning briefings, no more shared mission, no OPPO watching my back,’ Ben says. ‘The silence was deafening.’
As the quicksand-like downward spiral of his life pulled him deeper, Ben says the breakdown of his marriage and subsequent divorce left him feeling like he was losing his grip on the last remnants of stability.
‘The home I returned to didn’t feel like home anymore. The days turned darker, blending into one another, and I felt like I was drifting through a world that no longer had a place for me. Every step forward seemed impossible. I would wake up in the morning already tired, wondering if I had the strength to make it through the day,’ he says.
It was a time of deep struggle that saw Ben question his self-worth, his identity and his future.
‘Looking back now, I can’t help but wonder how different things might have been if there had been an organisation like Soldier On in my corner,’ he says. ‘The support they provide, from mental health services and career guidance to helping veterans reconnect with a community that understands, could have been a lifeline. Maybe the road wouldn’t have felt so dark. Maybe I would have found my footing sooner.’
Ben says that, for those who are still walking that hard road, knowing that support is available is vital.
‘You don’t have to fight this battle on your own. Help is out there, and you deserve it.’
A personal challenge
To help amplify that important message, Ben – now the Chief Operating Officer of Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus) – will take part in Fly.Ride.Remember. on 30 October.
It’s a triathlon-inspired endurance challenge made up of flying, cycling and running legs as a symbolic way to honour the journey of resilience and transition that so many veterans face.
- Leg 1 – Fly: Taking off from Canberra Airport, Ben will fly as passenger in a recreational aircraft to Goulburn, reflecting the freedom and focus that aviation can offer veterans.
- Leg 2 – Ride: A 100km road cycling journey from Goulburn to North Canberra, testing physical resilience and echoing the often-demanding paths of transition veterans face.
- Leg 3 – Remember: A 10km run culminating at the Australian War Memorial, where the event will conclude with a solemn moment of reflection in honour of all who have served.
Beyond the uniform
‘Each stage tells part of that story: the take-off into the unknown, the grind of the long road, and the final push to find strength when it feels like you have nothing left,’ Ben says.
The initiative will not only support Soldier On’s existing veteran programs but also help establish a long-term flight training initiative, offering veterans a pathway to healing and potential careers in aviation.
‘Because every veteran deserves more than survival — they deserve the chance to fly again, in every sense of the word,’ Ben says. ‘Together, we can help ensure that veterans receive the support, opportunities, and sense of community they deserve as they rebuild their lives beyond service.’
As part of the fundraising effort, a raffle will be held featuring prizes generously donated by sponsors including Flyte, Pushys and Garmin, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to Soldier On. To help ensure the Fly. Ride. Remember. challenge achieves its $50,000 fundraising goal, donations can also be made here.
Soldier On CEO Paul Singer says Ben’s commitment to take on this gruelling challenge to support Soldier On is ‘inspirational’.
‘As a not-for-profit organisation that relies on the generosity of sponsors, corporate partners, individual donors and enthusiastic supporters like Ben and his broader team at Recreational Aviation Australia, we are always so grateful when people take the initiative to do something that will help so many,’ Paul says. ‘This is an inspiring story of overcoming hardship and giving back – we look forward to cheering Ben on during the challenge on 30 October and know that his efforts will ensure that even more veterans and their families have access to our services.’
