Built for This - Brad Poulter
This honest, funny and at times heartbreaking memoir follows Brad Poulter, with his almost 20 years in the New Zealand Navy.
From small-town New Zealand to serving in Afghanistan, his own journey being comfortable with his sexuality mirrors that of the navy itself: from a time of 'don't ask, don't tell' through to being named the most inclusive defence force in the world.
But passing as straight comes at a cost. As deployments stack up, including service in Afghanistan during the War on Terror, the pressure of pretending collides with trauma, grief and the struggle for identity, and something gives way. From ship's galleys to combat zones, investigation rooms to leadership tables, Built For This charts a life shaped by discipline, loyalty and unspoken rules – and explores what happens when you stop accepting them.
Honest, sharp and often funny, this is a memoir about masculinity – how it's built, inherited and performed – and what it takes to rebuild it on your own terms.
Author bio:
Brad Poulter is a New Zealand writer, veteran and culture leader. He served nearly 20 years in the Royal New Zealand Navy before moving into professional conduct and culture work within the New Zealand Defence Force. His career has included roles as a Military Police Investigator, Flight Deck Officer and Maritime Operational Evaluator, as well as time as a Senior Instructor in NZDF Leadership Development. He currently works as Programme Lead for OP RESPECT, leading the NZDF's approach to the prevention of harmful sexual behaviour, and to culture, inclusion, and professional conduct
