The Army has always been supportive of my stammer

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Luke in uniform and presenting at a school assembly

Luke Gurung writes about joining the British Army and telling them he stammered at the outset, day-to-day speaking situations and what helps him with his speech.

Growing up with a stammer was hard. During secondary school I was subject to severe bullying because of the way I spoke, which impacted on my self-confidence and severely affected my GCSE grades.  

When I left school, finding a job with a stammer was not entirely difficult. I got the odd job here and there, but didn't hold down a secure position for long. That was until I decided to join the British Army. I joined in 2006 and my stammer didn't hinder my enrolment. I noted it down as a personal stumbling block to the recruiter at the time but the military personnel who conducted the interviews were very accommodating and understanding about it. I've found that the army has always been supportive of my stammer and they've offered support and advice if I need it. 

I made it known with everyone when I started that I stammer and that they just need to bear with me when I'm speaking. 

My career in the army has now spanned coming up to 19 years, and it has been an eventful and interesting one. I have been deployed on two operational tours of Afghanistan, my first one being just over a year after I completed basic training, which was a real eye opener. I have also been deployed to Canada, Belgium, Germany, America, Kenya, Oman, Cyprus and Austria.

Speaking situations

My current rank is Corporal and at the moment part of my day-to-day job entails booking vehicles in for servicing and maintenance. My stammer takes a hit here as I regularly have to talk on the phone to external companies which makes me stammer more. I am not too sure why talking on the phone is a trigger point, but it just makes it more annoying as the person on the other end often thinks the phone is cutting out and talks over me. I understand they aren't aware of my stammer, but it just really annoys me.

Other than on the phone, I speak with people on a daily basis. I don't stammer much in the office, as I know pretty much all the staff on site and I get on well with them, which makes it easier to speak to them and not encounter any speech issues.    

Overall my colleagues and superiors understand and treat me well with my stammer. I made it known with everyone when I started that I stammer and that they just need to bear with me when I'm speaking. 

I put myself forward to do a presentation and people listened, regardless of my stammer. That really helped with my self-confidence. 

Putting myself forward to speak

There are a few things that I have found helpful with my stammer. The first one is to try not to get wound up if I am struggling to say a word. I just try and let it go. Also, speaking up in front of people has really helped. In the past this was something I wanted to avoid, but then I thought one day, why not get up and speak in front of people? What's the worst that could happen? So I put myself forward to do a presentation and people listened, regardless of my stammer. That really helped with my self-confidence. 

I now regularly give presentations, particularly road safety talks, to military establishments along with civilian colleges, sixth forms and universities. I have found that speaking in front of others has made me stammer less and improved my confidence, as I think that is the main factor as to why I sometimes stammer more. My superiors have said that they are particularly impressed that I choose to go out of my comfort zone and give presentations, as these are normally given by those in far more senior positions. 

This year I am on course to give presentations to six colleges/universities, with the support of local agencies such as local police and ambulance agencies.

My most recent one was when I gave a presentation on mental resilience to an assembly at a boarding school, where I shared my past struggles in a positive light (see the picture above). It was well received and a few people came and spoke to me afterwards, saying that they also stammer. We had a good chat and I was able to offer my own words of advice. 

I'd say the same thing to everyone: a challenge is just a hurdle in life. A stammer may seem like a major stumbling block to your career, but support and advice is readily available from lots of employers to succeed in the career you choose to take. 

If you're in the UK Armed Forces, or if you are thinking of enrolling, and you stammer, the STAMMA Defence network can support you.

Read more Your Voice articles from people who stammer and their allies. 

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