The Unconventional Soldier

CONTENTThe guest today is former Royal Marine and member of the Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre Nige Devenish. Nige was my guest back on podcast # 046 when we discussed his career in the cadre and their part on Operation CORPORATE during the Falklands war in 1982.  On this podcast we talk about his recent visit to the Falklands, his first since his deployment, with other cadre veterans to lay a memorial stone at the site of the battle for Top Malo House.  We discuss the battle in detail and his thoughts on the other battle sites he visited.  We also talk about the contribution made by Falkland islanders to the campaign and what the island is like today. I would like to thank Traighana Smith News Editor at Falklands Radio for providing extracts of interviews conducted by the station with former Cadre veterans.  DESERT ISLAND DITS BOOK CHOICESMost of our book recommendations can be bought via the Unconventional Soldier Bookshop.  10% of each purchase supports the pod and helps independent book stores on line sales.  Nige's choice on this podcast is An Unsung Hero: Tom Crean - Antarctic Survivor by Michael Smith.  My choice was Tempsford Academy: Churchill's and Roosevelt's Secret Airfield by Bernard O'Connor. "BUY ME A COFFEE"If you want to support the podcast you can buy me a coffee here.SOCIAL MEDIACheck out our blog site on Wordpress Unconventional SoldierFollow us on social media and don't forget to like, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download these and other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CONTENTThe guest today is Tony Loughran a former Royal Navy Commando medic now a global risk specialist, with over 30 years international experience as a safety and security professional. On this episode we discuss:His time in the senior service, deployments and attachments with the Royal Marines Mountain & Arctic Warfare cadre.His 14 year stint as Head of International Risk at the BBC in London where he pioneered a safety culture in the news business adapting the skills he’d acquired in the military to the needs of journalists at the sharp end.How he established his own security consultancy company business, Zero Risk International.Tony is a published author and we finish off with his book Zero Risk.DESERT ISLAND DITS BOOK CHOICESMost of our book recommendations can be bought via the Unconventional Soldier Bookshop.  10% of each purchase supports the pod and helps independent book stores on line sales.  "BUY ME A COFFEE"If you want to support the podcast you can buy me a coffee here.SOCIAL MEDIACheck out our blog site on Wordpress Unconventional SoldierFollow us on social media and don't forget to like, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download these and other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CONTENTThe guest today is Neale Smiles, a former Gunner now working in the defence industry.  Neale often posts his thoughts on military matters on LinkedIn and it was one on the future of the Royal Artillery that got my attention. In it he stated that:“when you aren’t equipped or established to fight in the traditional combined arms manner you have to change” In this episode Neale will set out the changes he feels the Army and specifically the Gunners should make and we discuss:The current state of the Army.How the army should train and the use of simulation.Future soldier concept and the shift from close to deep battle.Moving close support artillery to the infantry to be owned by the infantry and how that would look.The RA to be a missile only deep effects organisationUse of UAS on the battle space.The challenges of recruitment.Neale can be contacted at the following email address: neale@emessue.com.DESERT ISLAND DITS BOOK CHOICESMost of our book recommendations can be bought via the Unconventional Soldier Bookshop.  10% of each purchase supports the pod and helps independent book stores on line sales.  My choice was Berlin: The Downfall 1945 by Antony Beevor.  The guest's choice was Slow Horses  by Mick Herron."BUY ME A COFFEE"If you want to support the podcast you can buy me a coffee here.SOCIAL MEDIACheck out our blog site on Wordpress Unconventional SoldierFollow us on social media and don't forget to like, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download these and other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CONTENTThe guest today is David Montgomery who was born and raised in East Africa.  After graduating Exeter University he joined the Army and served for 28 years before retiring in 2000 after commanding 7th Armoured Brigade. David co founded Benchmark Search in 2002 where he is MD of a company which provides candidates for the defence, security and other markets. On this episode we discuss his army career, his time at MOD and issues with procurement, operations in Kosovo, transition to civvi street and what attributes make soldiers good and bad employees in the business world and also what he thinks the future holds for the army. DESERT ISLAND DITS BOOK CHOICESMost of our book recommendations can be bought via the Unconventional Soldier Bookshop.  10% of each purchase supports the pod and helps independent book stores on line sales.  My choice was To The Victor The Spoils by Sean Longden and David's was a biography on General Douglas Macarthur."BUY ME A COFFEE"If you want to support the podcast you can buy me a coffee here.SOCIAL MEDIACheck out our blog site on Wordpress Unconventional SoldierFollow us on social media and don't forget to like, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download these and other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CONTENTThe guest today is Kim Read a former member of the "stay behind" Special OP Troop.  This unit was tasked with conducting operations against the Soviet Army if they had crossed the inner German border during the Cold War when they would engage the enemy with the long range guns of the British Army. We covered a bit about the school on pod #005 but a few listeners have requested more detail.  So here it is.   DESERT ISLAND DITS BOOK CHOICESMost of our book recommendations can be bought via the Unconventional Soldier Bookshop.  10% of each purchase supports the pod and helps independent book stores on line sales.  My choice was Longitude  by Dava Sobel and Kim's was Mawson's Will by Lennard Bickel ."BUY ME A COFFEE"If you want to support the podcast you can buy me a coffee here.SOCIAL MEDIACheck out our blog site on Wordpress Unconventional SoldierFollow us on social media and don't forget to like, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download these and other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CONTENTOur guest today is Barrie Rice, former soldier, security contractor and author.  Barrie joined the New Zealand infantry in 1985 aged 22 where he spent 3 years before passing selection for the New Zealand SAS.  He went on to serve 7 years with the unit specialising in one of the squadron's boat troops.  On this episode we are going to be discussing his military career and time as a security contractor in Iraq with Blackwater Commercial, a subsidiary of the US private security company Blackwater, that he helped set up.  DESERT ISLAND DITS BOOK CHOICESYou can buy this week's book recommendations via the Unconventional Soldier Bookshop.  10% of each purchase supports the pod and helps independent book stores on line sales.  The teams choices were The Greatest Raid St Nazaire, 1942: The Heroic Story of Operation Chariot by Giles Whittell and We Were Blackwater by Barrie Rice.  Our guest's choice of book was Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts.SOCIAL MEDIACheck out our blog site on Wordpress Unconventional SoldierFollow us on social media and don't forget to like, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download these and other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CONTENTOur guest today is Ryan Yates a former soldier from 4/73 (Sphinx) Special OP Battery the British Army's Long Range surveillance and patrols unit.  On this pod we discuss Ryan's time in the military from passing the STA patrol's selection course in time for his 18th birthday to completing two tours of Afghanistan and his post military career as a security contractor working in hostile environments.  Ryan also talks about how his own struggles with PTSD led him to create Veterans' Army to assist former service people by providing a resource for veterans all over the UK.  It is also place where they can learn about life after service and how to navigate through it in a positive manner.  Ryan also tells us how he provides much-needed aid to war-torn Ukraine. From delivering vital body armour and medical supplies to navigating the complexities of a conflict zone. The Veterans' Army website is here. DESERT ISLAND DITS BOOK CHOICESYou can buy this week's book recommendations via the Unconventional Soldier Bookshop.  10% of each purchase supports the pod and helps independent book stores on line sales.  The teams choices were Concord by Mike Bannister and Jungle Soldier by Brian Moynihan.  Our guest's choice of book was Beau Geste by PC Wren.SOCIAL MEDIACheck out our blog site on Wordpress Unconventional SoldierFollow us on social media and don't forget to like, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download these and other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CONTENTOur guest today is Nige Devenish, a former Royal Marine and member of the Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre. Nige served 22 years with the Marines, 8 of those in the Cadre and its successor the Brigade Patrol Troop.  He was also the last Cadre Sergeant Major and the first CSM when it became the Brigade Patrol Troop (BPT) in the early 90s.  On this episode we are going to be discussing the history of the cadre from their creation in WW2, their role as the Brigade Recce Troop in the Falklands and how the unit developed into the BPT then the Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron. DESERT ISLAND DITSOn Desert Island Dits the teams choice of books were Mission France: The True History of the Women of SOE by Kate Vigurs and Mountain Commandos at War in the Falklands: The Royal Marines Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre in Action During the 1982 Conflict by Rod Boswell.  Our guest's choice of book was The 12th Man: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance by Astrid Karlsen Scott.SOCIAL MEDIACheck out our blog site on word press Unconventional SoldierFollow us on social media and don't forget to like, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download on these and other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CONTENTDue to the train strikes we were unable to attend the Army v Navy rugby match at Twickenham so decided to record this episode instead.  No guest this month just Colin and Kev discussing the possibility of using Cold War "stay behind" OPs prior to the Russian invasion in the current war in Ukraine.  We also talk about the possible use of STA patrols in future peer on peer conflicts.  For this episode we used two articles published on the Wavell Room website as part of the discussion, and also as a source of quotes, to illustrate our points.  Both were written by a serving Gunner officer Captain Simon Middleton and can be found here Rise of the rocket launcher: The end of the armoured division and here Rise of the rocket launcher 2: Lessons from Ukraine.  SOCIAL MEDIACheck out our blog site on word press Unconventional SoldierFollow us on social media and don't forget to like, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download on these and other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CONTENTOur guest today is today is Andy who served in the British Army and the RUC as a uniformed officer then, after passing an intensive selection course, with E4A the RUC unit tasked with covert surveillance operations during The Troubles. On this podcast we discuss his Army and police careers, the operational life of a police officer in Northern Ireland and the surveillance and intelligence war against terrorism.  The RUC paid a heavy price with over 300 officers killed both on and off duty and four killed in friendly fire incidents.  In addition in 1999 it was reported that 70 had taken their own lives.  Many of the 9,000 officers who have been injured live with a legacy of handicap and suffering.This duty was recognised in 1999 when the force was awarded the GC to honour the courage and dedication of police officers and their families.  This is the highest honour  conferred on civilians taking precedence over all medals except the VC.Over the years, individual members of the RUC have been awarded: 16 George medals; 100 Queen's Gallantry Medals; 150 Queen's Commendations for brave conduct; 120 Queen's Police Medals; and 150 British Empire Medals.DESERT ISLAND DITSOn Desert Island Dits our guest's choice of book was How Can Man Die Better: The Secrets of Isandlwana Revealed by Mike Snook.  The team's choice this week was First In: An Insider's Account of How the CIA Spearheaded the War on Terror in Afghanistan by Gary Schroen and Secret Victory: The Intelligence War that beat the IRA by Dr William Matchett.SOCIAL MEDIACheck out our blog site on word press Unconventional SoldierFollow us on social media and don't forget to like, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download on these and other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.