Ian joined the British Army in 1989, serving in the Army Air Corps for 21 years. During this tenure, attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col).

In this episode, Ian discusses his journey through the University Officers’ Training Corps (UOTC) and his tenure as a member of the Territorial Army. Prior to completing the comprehensive officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, he pursued further training at the School of Army Aviation, where he acquired expertise as a helicopter pilot within the Army Air Corps. Ian shares his experiences of being stationed at Soest and Gütersloh in Germany, as well as Bristol and Netheravon in the United Kingdom. Notably, he also participated in operational flights during the Gulf War (1990-1991) and in Northern Ireland.

Ian also shares his experiences returning to Gütersloh, Germany, as second-in-command (2IC) of 1 Regiment Army Air Corps. He discusses his involvement in the second Gulf War, commonly referred to as the Invasion of Iraq. Ian concludes his career with a diverse range of roles, including Chief of Staff at Colchester Garrison, working within the Army Recruiting and Training Division (ARTD), and finally a role at MOD Main Building in London.

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Part 1 & Part 2

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Original Episode: Ep 034 - Maj Kerry Gospel from 10th March 2023.

In this Viewpoint: Kerry discusses his decision to leave the British Army, acknowledging that the opportune moment for departure had arrived. He subsequently shares his transition back to civilian life, finding his feet with different jobs before settling on a career helping veterans within the healthcare system.

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Part 1: youtu.be/F2DV6iN8ju0

Part 2: youtu.be/qJUe1gHUbac

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Ben enlisted in the British Army in 2005, joining the Royal Corps of Signals. During the course of 16 years of service, Ben attained the rank of Sergeant (Sgt).

In this episode, Ben recounts his journey into the British Army, detailing the training phases he underwent before joining his first unit. He deployed to Afghanistan soon after, which marked the beginning of his interest in joining the UK Special Forces and attempting the renowned Selection course. Despite a medical withdrawal on Selection, Ben deployed again to Afghanistan and sought more challenges, which led him to 299 Signal Squadron (Special Communications), where he performed diverse roles and responsibilities globally.

Ben sought to re-attempt UK Special Forces Selection, driven by his aspiration to join the Special Forces as an SF Communicator, supporting the Special Air Service (SAS). He recounts his journey, detailing how he successfully completed the initial phase 1 of Selection (Hills phase) prior to the Communicator phase. Subsequently, he navigated later phases, including the SF Parachute course (which encompasses HALO), ultimately achieving success in the Selection process. Regrettably, Ben’s career was abruptly terminated by an unfortunate incident that resulted in severe blast and fragment injuries to his upper torso and both arms. He shares his recovery journey, encompassing both physical and mental well-being.

Watch Episode on YouTube
Part 1: youtu.be/AQWv2bKn-GA

Part 2: youtu.be/pjFUw4SlYus

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Instagram:
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Send us a text

If you've enjoyed any episode from the show, please head over to Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and give the show a 5 star rating. It really will help the show be found by others. Many thanks!

Message at the end of the recording is from your host Gav, giving you information on how you can support the show through Patreon.
Supporting monthly would help the show record future episodes and help with the upkeep of previous recordings.
£5 a month will give you access to bonus recordings, where Gav and the guest chat about things that don't make it into the main recording.
Thank you.

Support the show