Celebrating Veterans Day with Bill Muir

We had the pleasure of speaking with Invoice Muir about his work within the navy and as a Registered Nurse, meals entry, his e-book, and Veterans Day. We hope you get pleasure from this interview.

Thanks to your service. We’re grateful for the chance to interview you. Please inform us about your self and your background. Why did you resolve to affix the navy, and when did you enlist?

Thanks very a lot! Hello, everybody. I’m Invoice Muir, aka SGT VEGAN. I’m a fight veteran, RN, and 32-year vegan. I joined the U.S. Military after 9/11 to serve my nation in its time of want. I had been dwelling in Japan for about eight years on the time the assault occurred, and, as an expat, it affected me very deeply. I joined the navy as a result of I believed I’d be capable to make a distinction and assist save lives, each American and Afghan, if I joined throughout struggle.

What department of the navy had been you in? What was your job? The place did you serve?

I used to be a U.S. Military Paratrooper and served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade as a fight medic. I did a tour in Afghanistan from 2005 to 2006.

What was your expertise like consuming a plant-based eating regimen whereas serving? Did you expertise explicit challenges with meals entry? In that case, how did you overcome them?

Being vegan within the navy actually is determined by the place you might be and what you might be doing. Fundamental coaching was fully terrible––not as a result of coaching was exhausting, however as a result of I used to be ravenous on a regular basis. After bootcamp, issues acquired higher and I put the load again on. Being stationed in Italy with the 173rd was wonderful! I really acquired form of fats regardless of all of the operating I used to be doing, as a result of I used to be consuming vegan pasta, vegan pizza, and vegan gelato day-after-day. After I deployed, I used to be very fearful I’d return to hunger mode, however, fortunately, I discovered an internet site referred to as anysoldier.com that sends deployed service folks what they want. I’ve heard situations for folks on plant-based diets have gotten higher, however till there are designated vegan MRES (subject rations) and plant-based choices in all navy cafeterias, will probably be troublesome to be plant-based within the navy.

Why was it essential to you to stay plant-based throughout your navy profession?

To me, being vegan meant dwelling my ethics. I feel remaining true to one thing I consider in whereas within the navy, particularly whereas in a warzone, was additionally about my try to carry on to my identification.

How did your time within the navy form who you might be in the present day? Is there something particularly about your service that you just want to share?

Irrespective of who you might be, being within the navy will change you nearly right down to a mobile stage. I do know that’s a preferred trope in each film and TV present that includes the navy, however one way or the other I wasn’t anticipating that would come with me as nicely.

After your navy service, you earned a certificates in Vegan Culinary Arts from Atlantic Union School. In your opinion, how can schooling about making ready entire plant meals be a path ahead for folks to attain higher well being?

It may be enormous, however folks need to wish to change. A overwhelming majority of my sufferers have checked out and given up on making an attempt to be wholesome. I’m simply making an attempt to do the very best I can to maintain them from falling or dying on my shift. There may be nonetheless a whole lot of anti-vegan propaganda in the USA, and, sadly, a whole lot of veterans nonetheless consider that one way or the other consuming useless animals makes you extra masculine.

After you transitioned out of the navy, you turned a Registered Nurse. What has your expertise been like working within the medical subject and what space of nursing is your specialty?

Working for Veterans Affairs (VA) as an RN has been each a blessing and a curse. On one hand, I really feel fortunate to have the ability to assist my fellow veterans of their time of want, in a lot the identical approach as I joined the navy in a time of struggle. Alternatively, working with sick and dying folks takes its toll on you each bodily and mentally. All in all, I really feel fortunate to have a job doing one thing that issues, however generally I want I had chosen a better career.

Do you continue to work for a VA hospital? Have you ever seen situations that could possibly be preventable with wholesome life-style interventions, like entire meals, plant-based consuming?

I work on a VA Medical/Surgical ground that has coronary heart displays. The overwhelming majority of cardiac points are lifestyle-related, which means the sufferers’ hearts aren’t working the way in which they need to due to unhealthy diets, smoking, consuming, or medicine. Whereas we are able to’t reside ceaselessly, we are able to reside higher, longer, if we simply make easy life-style changes. The highest three? Go vegan, train each day, and don’t smoke.

Please inform us about your e-book Vegan Robust. What impressed you to jot down it?

After I went to culinary faculty, I deliberate to open a restaurant. Sadly, my timing wasn’t nice. It was 2008 and the financial system was on the rocks, so I shelved that dream and made the sensible option to change into a Registered Nurse. I didn’t know what I used to be going to do with all of my information of plant-based well being and plant-based dwelling till, at some point, I had an concept. I’d write a e-book about be wholesome and vegan, however type it like an Military Subject Guide. 

Lastly, what does Veterans Day imply to you? Is there something you want to share together with your fellow veterans?

Veterans Day is our day, in order a veteran, if you need it to be about getting some free meals, go for it. In order for you it to be about significant reflection, that’s cool, too. We’re round 6 p.c of the inhabitants, and in case you served throughout wartime, that quantity is even smaller. Eat proper, handle your self, and in case you need assistance, the VA is all the time there for you. GO VEGAN AND STAY VEGAN STRONG!

For extra details about my work and newest updates, go to my web site and observe me on social media at IG @sgt_vegan, and Fb.