One moment you’re pushing a team over a high pass in Nepal, the next you’re struggling to breathe and waiting on a helicopter because your lungs are filling with fluid. That’s where Major Tori Allison takes us, and it’s only one part of a bigger story about British Army leadership, resilience, and the quiet competence that keeps people safe.

We start at the beginning: choosing the Army at 14 with no military connections, failing Regular Commissions Board at 17, then rebuilding through university, the Officer Training Corps, and hands-on army experience that makes Sandhurst click. From the Royal Logistic Corps training pipeline to leading a troop in Germany and supporting operations, we talk about what the job really demands: trust, emotional intelligence, and the willingness to handle welfare problems you never see in the glossy recruiting videos.

We also tackle the realities of serving as a woman in a male-dominated organisation, what has genuinely improved, and what still needs moral courage from leaders. Then we go inside AOSB with an ex group leader’s eye: the red flags, the behaviours that show real influence, and how to recover after a bad serial instead of spiralling.

If you care about Army careers, Sandhurst, AOSB preparation, women in the military, adventure training, expedition planning, or how to lead under pressure, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.