The Unconventional Soldier

CONTENTOur guest on this podcast is John Tulloch who served in Vietnam with the New Zealand Army and later transferred to the British Army. John advised and instructed on the British Army’s Jungle Warfare Instructors’ Course (JWIC) in Brunei and supported major jungle exercises in Belize. Retiring from the Army in 2003 and becoming a MOD Civil Servant, John continued to instruct on JWIC until May 2015.John was honoured with the MBE in 2003 and the Royal Artillery Medal in 2011. An author of several articles about the Vietnam War and Borneo, he also gives talks on these subjects to the military, history groups and schools. Since retiring from the Civil Service in 2015, John began writing ‘The Borneo Graveyard 1941-1945’, the product of 12 years of research. This is his first book.THE BOOKBorneo, the land of the head hunters, was a World War II graveyard for POWs, internees, locals, Javanese and Japanese. John's book follows the raising of five Royal Artillery air defence regiments in 1939, their deployment in late 1942 to South East Asia, their short campaign in the Netherlands East Indies and eventual captivity as POWs in Java and North Borneo.The account describes the invasion of Borneo and the subsequent four years of Japanese occupation. It depicts the sadistic treatment of Australian, British, Dutch and Indian POWs in the various POW camps in North Borneo at Jesselton, Sandakan, Ranau, Labuan and Batu Lintang. It also describes the three Death Marches from Sandakan to Ranau.The internee account covers the men, women and children from all over Borneo interned in Batu Lintang. They experienced the unspeakable behaviour of the guards. Several internees were killed trying to escape the Japanese regime or gratuitously executed before liberation.The locals of Borneo suffered terribly. Torture, executions and massacres occurred throughout. Malnutrition, starvation and death were endemic. Tribes exacted their revenge and over 8,000 Japanese died during their withdrawals in Sabah.The secretive Z Force gathered intelligence, trained local guerrilla fighters who harassed and exacted a heavy toll on the Japanese. They also engaged in bitter fighting for the liberation of Borneo.Finally the book finishes with POW convalescence at Labuan followed by repatriation to the UK and the dreadful wall of silence experienced by so many of the returning Far East POWs and internees to the UK.You can order a copy of John's book by contacting him by email: [email protected] SOCIAL MEDIAFollow 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 other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: [email protected]. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CONTENTThis is the second part of our podcast with Vietnam veteran John Tulloch. If you have listened to the first part of this podcast (#023) you would be advised to do this first. DESERT ISLAND DITSJohns choice of book on desert island dits is The Old Man And The Sea by Ernest Hemingway and his film is The Longest Day. The team's choice this week is Delta Four: Australian Riflemen in Vietnam by Gary McKay and Britain's Treasure Islands: A Journey to the UK Overseas Territories by Stewart Mcpherson.A complete list of the books we have reviewed with our guests can be found here.SOCIAL MEDIAFollow 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 other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: [email protected]. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest on this podcast is Vietnam veteran John Tulloch. John's military career began in 1965 and he was commissioned into the Royal New Zealand Artillery (RNZA) in 1966. John developed his jungle warfare expertise whilst serving in Vietnam with 161 Battery from July 1968 to July 1969 as a Forward Observation Officer (FOO) nowadays referred to as a Fire Support Team commander.John transferred to the British Army and Royal Artillery in March 1973 and completed two tours in Northern Ireland , followed by a two year secondment to the Sultan of Oman’s Artillery in 1978. In 1994 John began as a visiting advisor and instructor for the next 21 years on the British Army’s Jungle Warfare Instructors’ Course in Brunei. He also supported major jungle exercises in Belize for 10 years.Retiring from the Army in 2003 and becoming a MOD Civil Servant, John continued to instruct on Jungle Warfare Instructors Course until May 2015. John was honoured with the MBE in 2003 and the Royal Artillery Medal in 2011.An author of several articles about the Vietnam War and Borneo, he also gives talks on these subjects to the military, history groups and schools. This is the first of two podcasts in which John discusses why he joined the Army, his pre deployment training in preparation for active duty in Vietnam and what it was like fighting in the jungles of South East Asia. Follow 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 other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: [email protected]. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest on this podcast is Ali Macdonald Co-founder & CEO - Resilient Nutrition who served in the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, the HAC and the London Scottish. On this episode we discuss a short history of rations in the British Army, how modern nutrition techniques are influencing training and feeding of soldiers both in camp and in the field. Finally we look at how intelligent use of appropriate nutrients assists not only those in the military but endurance sports athletes.You can find Ali at:www.resilientnutrition.com and on Instagram @resilientnuts. We finish with Ali's book choice on Desert Island dits Team Of Teams New Rules Of Engagement For A Complex World by General Stanley McChrystal. His film choice is The Bourne Identity. The teams book choices this episode are Tunnel 29: The True Story of an Extraordinary Escape Beneath the Berlin Wall and Beyond Possible: One Soldier, Fourteen Peaks — My Life In The Death Zone.Follow 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 other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: [email protected]. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest is Army veteran Simon Vincent. On this episode we discuss the war films we rated back in the day when everything was on VHS. Some golden oldies and a few lesser known (in our eyes) classics.If you have enjoyed the podcast we would really appreciate a review especially on Spotify or ITunes.You can follow us on social media on the following platforms and don't forget to like, follow, share. Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download on other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: [email protected]. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest is Chris Harvey who served as a reserve STA patrols soldier in the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC). On this episode we discuss non-military PTSD from Chris's very personal experience.How is non-military PTSD (also known as Non-Combat post-traumatic stress disorder) different from the PTSD we most often hear about related to military combat? The reality is, it's the same disease, the same symptoms, the same debilitating condition. The precipitating traumas, specific symptoms and severity of symptoms may be different, but millions of both veterans and civilians live with PTSD. Individuals may develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder when they experience, witness or learn about an event involving actual or threatened death, sexual violation, or serious injury. Non-Combat PTSD can affect all ages, genders, income levels, ethnicities and lifestyles.We finish with Chris's book choice on Desert Island dits Among You by Jake Wood. His film choice is Resurface. The teams book choices this episode are Legionnaire by Simon Murray and The Super Cops by LH Whittemore.You can follow Chris's stand up paddle boarding charity on Instagram here https://instagram.com/servicesupport19?utm_medium=copy_linkFollow us on social media and don't forget to like, follow, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download on other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: [email protected]. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the second part of our podcast with mountaineer Andy Kirkpatrick. If you haven't already download "S2 #019 Andy Kirkpatrick Mountaineer Part 1" first. Follow us on social media and don't forget to like, follow, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download on other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: [email protected]. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our first civilian guest on the podcast is Andy Kirkpatrick. Described by John Humphreys as the Ranulph Fiennes of British climbing. He’s a professional mountaineer, award-winning writer, film maker and host of the Psychovertical podcast. Andy has climbed all over the world but is viewed as an expert in big wall climbing having summited El Capitan over 30 times including 5 solo ascents and two one day ascents. Andy was kind enough to email and tell us he enjoyed the pod and it got us thinking how much small unit, dismounted soldiering and climbing had in common. Both involve highly trained individuals capable of operating equally well on their own or as part of a team. There is also the need for focused training, the honing of skills, an obsession with gear, great photos in inaccessible parts of the world and the discomfort of wet/dry drills before getting in or out of a sleeping bag. We finish with Andy's book choice on Desert Island dits About Face by David Hackworth. His film choice is Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. The teams book choices this episode are Picking Up The Brass by Eddie Nugent and Serpico by Peter Maas.Follow us on social media and don't forget to like, follow, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download on other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: [email protected]. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest on this pod is Steve Kiely who served 20 years as a reserve soldier in the HAC rising in the ranks from Trooper to Captain. The HAC is the Army Reserve’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Regiment and exists to support the Regular Army on operations. They work closely and train with two paired regiments; 5th Regiment Royal Artillery and 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery in order to provide the reserve support to 4/73 Battery in the STA patrols role and airborne trained soldiers for 7 RHA. On this pod Steve discusses the history of the HAC, the reserve STA patrol selection process, training, the attributes required of a reserve forces soldier and deployed operations.We finish with Steve's book choice on Desert Island dits The Falklands War by The Sunday Times Insight Team. His film choice is Kajaki. The teams book choices this episode are The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer and All Quiet On The Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque.Follow us on social media and don't forget to like, follow, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download on other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: [email protected]. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest on Pod #016 is Scott the serving Officer Commanding 4/73 (Sphinx) Special OP Battery.On this episode we talk about his unique journey to head up the Army's STA patrols unit from the ranks of the Royal Military Police's Close Protection Unit where he carried out tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Being selected for commissioning as an officer and attending the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. Finally passing P Company in order to serve with Airborne Forces before he completed the STA Patrols Selection course for his first tour with 4/73 as a Troop Commander .Scott then covers the role of the unit today including operational commitments, training and selection in order to deliver surveillance, reconnaissance and joint fires in high risk environments. We then move on to discuss the future of STA patrols in a shrinking Army with increasing demands. We finish with Scott's book choice on Desert Island dits In the Service of the Sultan: A First Hand Account of the Dhofar Insurgency by Ian Gardiner. His film choice is A Bridge Too Far. The teams book choices this episode are Berlin: The Downfall 1945 by Antony Beevor and The American Civil War by JohnKeegan.Find out about the current serving unit at STA Patrols Special Observer.Follow us on social media and don't forget to like, follow, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download on other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: [email protected]. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest on Pod #015 is Jon Deninson a former Troop Commander and Battery Commander of 4/73 Bty when they deployed on multiple Operation HERRICK tours in Afghanistan. On this episode we talk about Jon's first tour of Afghanistan in command of an STA Fire Support Team as part of the 3 Para Battle Group on HERRICK 4. We also discuss the various roles the unit subsequently carried out including Brigade Recce Force, Theatre Surveillance Troop and operations conducted as a dismounted recce platoon.These roles often involved close combat with a determined enemy and a small unit of 55 men suffered 3 killed in action and 10 wounded in action, several with life changing injuries, over this period.We finish with Jon's book choice on Desert Island dits Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel's Targeted Assassinations by Ronen Bergman. His film choice is Where Eagles Dare. The teams book choices this episode are Mountain Commandos at War in the Falklands. The Royal Marines Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre in Action during the 1982 Conflict by Rod Boswell and George Cross Heroes by Michael Ashcroft.Find out about the current serving unit at STA Patrols Special Observer.Follow us on social media and don't forget to like, follow, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download on other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: [email protected]. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest on Pod #014 is John Holden. John was a Troop Commander and then OC of 4/73 Bty when they deployed on Operation TELIC in Iraq. On this episode we talk about the near disbandment of the unit due to obsolesence and how they carved a new role in the operational battle space that later helped define the STA patrols concept for the future.We finish with John's book choice on Desert Island dits Stalingrad by Anthony Beevor. His film choice is Tumbledown. The teams book choices this episode are MI9 by Helen Fry and Accidental Warrior by Geoffrey Picot.Find out about the current serving unit at STA Patrols Special Observer.Follow us on social media and don't forget to like, follow, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download on other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: [email protected]. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest on Pod #013 is Danny Kay. On this episode we talk with Danny about the contemporary STA patrols selection course and how it changed in the early 90s to accommodate the move from the Cold War "stay behind" role to meet new operational challenges. We also discuss the attachment of chief instructors from 22 SAS and how they influenced training over the years. We finish with Danny's book choice on Desert Island dits Operation Snakebite by Stephen Grey. His film choice is Saving Private Ryan. The teams book choices this episode are 18 Platoon by Sydney Jary and SAS Phantoms Of The Jungle by DM Horner.Find out about the current serving unit at STA Patrols Special Observer.Follow us:Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download on other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: [email protected]. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest on Pod #012 is Tim Miller who completed a tour as BC of 4/73 Bty. On this podcast we discuss why he joined the Army, his time with the unit and the challenges he faced in keeping STA patrols relevant in an ever changing world. The main focus of the episode is on the Long Range Desert Group. A specialist unit who pioneered long range operations in that difficult environment and were much more than a taxi service for an embryonic SAS. This episode is a precursor to a future pod on STA patrols in Afghanistan where they carried out some of the longest desert patrols since WW2. We finish with Tim's book choice on Desert Island dits Undercover War by Harry McCallion. His film choice is Where Eagles Dare. The teams book choices this episode are My Friend The Mercenary by James Brabazon and The Jungle Is Neutral by F Spencer Chapman .Find out about the current serving unit at STA Patrols Special Observer.Follow us:Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download on other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: [email protected]. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest on Pod #011 is Lee Chapman. On this episode he discusses joining the Army in the mid 1980s and deploying to his first Unit 50 Missile Regiment Royal Artillery. This specialist Regiment was capable of firing the Lance mobile tactical surface to surface missile to provide nuclear fire support to the British Army of the Rhine during the Cold War. Lee was a member of the Special Defence Group, a specialist unit unique to 50 Missile Regiment, whose role was to provide ground security for the nuclear weapon system. Its NCOs were fully qualified infantrymen trained at the School of Infantry in Brecon. The main part of the podcast discusses the deployment of STA patrols to the Balkans during the 90s and their involvement in the campaigns in Bosnia, Kosovo and Macedonia. We finish with Lee's book choice on Desert Island dits Panzer Leader by Heinz Guderian. His film choice is The Longest Day. The teams book choices this episode are My War Gone By I Miss It So by Anthony Loyd and The Forgotten Highlander by Alistair Urquhart .Find out about the current serving unit at STA Patrols Special Observer.Follow us:Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download on other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: [email protected]. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest on Pod #010 is Chris Lincoln-Jones. Chris was the Battery Commander of the then 73 (Sphinx) Special OP Battery when it deployed on Operation GRANBY, better known as the first Gulf war. He describes the deployment of the unit, the training in theatre and its role as part of Divisional recce attached to 16/5 Lancers during the 100 hour ground war. Chris also covers his time in 3 Commando Brigade in 148 (Meiktila) Battery, a specialist Naval Gunfire Support Forward Observation unit within 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery.We finish with Chris's book choice on Desert Island dits Firing Line by Richard Holmes. His film choice is Eye In The Sky. The teams book choices this episode are If I Die In A Combat Zone by Tim OBrien and Memoirs Of An Infantry Officer by Siegfried Sassoon.Find out about the current serving unit at STA Patrols Special Observer.Follow us on Instagram "the_unconventional_soldier_pod" and Facebook "The Unconventional Soldier Pod" (search for @lateo82).We are also available to download on iTunes, Spotify, Youtube and Google podcasts.Email us: [email protected] episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the second part of this podcast Jimmy Morham recounts the bloody battle for Mount Longdon and the recovery back to the UK following the Argentinian surrender. He then moves on to the lessons learned from the war and how he applied them to the training environment of the STA Patrol's Selection Course.On desert island dits Jimmy's choice of book is Three Days In June by James O'Connell. His film choice is Tunes Of GloryColin's pick this week is Red And Green Life Machine: Diary Of The Falklands Field Hospital by Rick Jolly. Kev's choice is Wingate and The Chindits: Redressing The Balance by David Rooney.Find out about the current serving unit at STA Patrols Special Observer.Follow us on Instagram "@the_unconventional_soldier_pod" and Facebook "The Unconventional Soldier Pod" (search for @lateo82).We are also available to download on iTunes, Spotify, Youtube and Google podcasts.Email us: [email protected] episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode we talk with Parachute Regiment Veteran Jimmy Morham who came to the Special OP Troop from 3 PARA in the late 1980s as the chief instructor on the patrols selection course. Jimmy covers his motivation for joining the Parachute Regiment and his 22 year career as an Airborne soldier. We then move on to Op CORPORATE and discuss the invasion of the Falklands, how 3 PARA prepared for the deployment and the equipment and weapons systems they had at that time. Jimmy recounts the voyage south and how they prepared for war on board and at Ascension island where rehearsals for amphibious landings were conducted and weapons testing carried out. We then move on to the amphibious assault on the Falklands itself.Finally the move out from the beach head, conducted as an advance to contact, and the legendary tab across the island is discussed. Jimmy then describes the preparatory operations conducted around the area of Estancia House and we finish off Part 1 of this pod just prior to the Battalion receiving orders from the Commanding Officer for a silent attack on Mount Longdon on the evening of 11/12 June 82.Follow us on Instagram "@the_unconventional_soldier_pod" and Facebook "The Unconventional Soldier Pod" (search for @lateo82).We are also available to download on all major platforms including iTunes, Spotify, Youtube and Google podcasts.Email us: [email protected] episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We love a book on the podcast so if you are wondering what to do with those Amazon vouchers this is the episode for you. In a break from the normal format we talk about our books of choice with guest Simon Vincent.Along the way we discuss how the need for hunting hawks led to the Islamification of a part of Pakistan, Spike Milligan's PTSD, a bank robber's escape from Devil's Island in French Guyana, the myth of the invincible German soldier, Vulcan raids in the Falklands, an Irish woman's travels through Afghanistan, British POW in the Second World War, the pioneering plastic surgeon Archibald MacIndoe who saved the lives of Allied fliers in the war and how legendary SAS soldier and mountaineer Brummie Stokes helped Simon with a medical lesson on cold weather injuries. On desert island dits Simon's choice of film is The Great EscapeFind out about the current serving unit at STA Patrols Special Observer.Follow us on Instagram "the_unconventional_soldier_pod" and Facebook "The Unconventional Soldier Pod" (search for @lateo82).We are also available to download on iTunes, Spotify, Youtube and Google podcasts.Email us: [email protected] episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode we talk with Neil Hogg about the British Army's Operation BANNER which ran from 1969 - 2007. 300,000 British troops served in Northern Ireland during this period with more than 20,000 deployed at its peak. In the first part of the pod we cover a brief history of the troubles, the effectiveness of the Provisional IRA, how we trained for a 6 month tour and what it was like to conduct operations in Londonderry during the late 1980s.In the second half Neil discusses in public for the first time an IRA ambush in which the vehicle he was travelling was struck by a roadside IED killing two soldiers Steve Cummins and Miles Amos. He then gives a powerful and moving account of his subsequent battle with PTSD.On desert island dits Neil's choice of books are Tornado Down by John Nichol and Dirty Work by Glen McNamara. His film pick is The Odd Angry Shot about the Australian SAS in Vietnam.The team's pick this week is the SAS Survival Handbook by Lofty Wiseman and The Interrogator by Hanns Scharff.Find out about the current serving unit at STA Patrols Special Observer.Follow us on Instagram "the_unconventional_soldier_pod" and Facebook "The Unconventional Soldier Pod" (search for @lateo82).We are also available to download on iTunes, Spotify, Youtube and Google podcasts.Email us: [email protected] episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode we talk with David Jones a Troop Commander in the 1980s who came to the Special OP Troop from 148 (Meiktila) Commando Forward Observation Battery. A specialist Naval Gunfire Support Forward Observation unit within 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery of 3 Commando Brigade Royal MarinesDavid covers the Troop Commander’s perspective of the unit including how the Troops in 32 and 5 Regt were organised and tasked, the pressures to get more volunteers through selection, the widening of recruitment and the attachment of SAS Captains to the Troop. We will finish off with how two separate troops were brought together to form firstly 73 (Sphinx) Special OP Bty and finally 4/73 (Sphinx) Special OP Bty.On desert island dits David's choice of book is a two part series by Tim Cook At the Sharp End: Canadians Fighting the Great War 1914–1916, Volume One, and: Shock Troops: Canadians Fighting the Great War 1917–1918, Volume Two. His fiction choice is Three Day Road . A book by Joseph Boyden. Finally his choice of film is Das Boot.The team's pick this week is Unreasonable Behaviour the life story of the photographer Don McCullin.Find out about the current serving unit at STA Patrols Special Observer.Follow us on Instagram "the_unconventional_soldier_pod" and Facebook "The Unconventional Soldier Pod" (search for @lateo82).We are also available to download on iTunes, Spotify, Youtube and Google podcasts.Email us: [email protected] episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest on Pod #005 is Pete Walsh. We talk to Pete about joining the Army in 1978 and subsequently volunteering for the Special Observer selection course in 1982. In this episode we cover mandatory training and other courses conducted in the 1980s at the International Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol School which was the centre of excellence for the training of Special Operations Forces in Germany during the Cold War. Pete also discusses Survival/Evasion/Resistance/Escape (SERE) training which was mandatory for all STA patrol soldiers as part of their selection and looks at it's origins in the Korean war. In the final part of the podcast the team talk about BRIXMIS in the isolated city of West Berlin. We finish with Pete's book choice on Desert Island dits The Battle Of Long Tan and film The Odd Angry Shot. Recommendations from the team include Armadillo a film about a tour of Afghanistan involving Danish soldiers. And Bomber Offensive a book about the RAF campaign over Germany in WW2. Find out about the current serving unit at STA Patrols Special Observer.Follow us on Instagram "the_unconventional_soldier_pod" and Facebook "The Unconventional Soldier Pod" (search for @lateo82).We are also available to download on iTunes, Spotify, Youtube and Google podcasts.Email us: [email protected] episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest on Pod #004 is Sammy Nicholls. Kev and Colin talk to Sammy about joining the Army in 1980 and subsequently volunteering for the Special Observer selection course in 1984. In this episode we cover the challenges of siting and digging in large underground hides known as mexes and the forward deployment of two sub surface observation posts (OPs). Sammy describes the routine in the Mexes and OPs which was for a period of up to three weeks until such time Soviet forces has passed over or supplies had expired. Patrols would then conduct a long exfiltration over a number of days back to friendly lines. Also covered is the patrol equipment used at the time including optics and weapons. We finish with Sammy's book choice on Desert Island dits Battle Scars by Jason Fox. And film The Great Escape.Recommendations from the team include Worst Journey In The World by Apsley Cherry - Garrard who took part in Capt Scott’s Antarctic polar expedition over the period 1910 - 13 and described polar exploration as “at once the cleanest and most isolated way of having a bad time that has ever been devised”. Finally a book called Undercover by Patrick Howarth which is the history of the Special Operations Executive during the second world war, the volunteers and training and the very basic equipment. We also highlight The Big Walk initiative. Devised by Tim Richardson an ex Gunner officer and the founder of the Black Isle Group. Find out more on Tim’s web page at www.thebigwalk.co.uk. Find out about the current serving unit at STA Patrols Special Observer.Follow us on Instagram "the_unconventional_soldier_pod" and Facebook "The Unconventional Soldier Pod" (search for @lateo82).We are also available to download on iTunes, Spotify, Youtube and Google podcasts.Email us: [email protected] episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest on Pod #003 is Iain Strachan. Kev and Colin talk to Iain about joining the Army in 1979 and volunteering for the first stay behind Special Observer 22 week selection course at the height of the cold war in 1982. We cover the content of the course, the type of person required and the backgrounds of instructors from units such as the SAS, Commando and Airborne Brigades and Iain discusses SAS legend Geordie Lillico who was an instructor on course 1. Later on we find out about the Danish Jaeger Corps selection which he undertook as part of an exchange programme and digress to the legendary Rhodesian Selous Scouts.In the second half we take a look at Exercise LIONHEART which was the largest field-training exercise for the British Army since 1945 with nearly 58,000 British soldiers and airmen taking part alongside NATO allies. This exercise was the method of warfare that the Special OP Tp was created for, proved the role was needed and could be built on further.We finish with Iain's book choice on Desert Island dits Moneyball: The art of winning an unfair game and his film Apocalypse Now.Recommendations from the team include "My Journey Through The Troubles" a documentary about Northern Ireland and Behind The Lines another documentary about the selection course for the Royal Marines Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre from 1985. Other books discussed are Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy and Selous Scouts Top Secret War by Peter Stiff.Find out about the current serving unit at STA Patrols Special Observer.Follow us on Instagram "the_unconventional_soldier_pod" and Facebook "The Unconventional Soldier Pod" (search for @lateo82).We are also available to download on iTunes, Spotify, Youtube and Google podcasts.Email us: [email protected] episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest on Pod #002 is Major General Anthony Stone CB the founder of the Special Observer concept at the height of the Cold War. The "stay behind" Special OP Troop consisted of selected soldiers in 6 man patrols whose task was to dig in large underground hides known as "mexe" shelters along the inner German border. They would then allow the main Soviet forces to pass over them before deploying to two smaller OPs where they would engage the enemy with the long range guns and rockets of the British Army.General Stone talks about his time in civvi street working in a bakery, as a budding motor racer and finally a potential architect. How he decided to make a career in the Army first joining the ranks of the Royal Engineers for basic training before heading to Sandhurst and commissioning in the Royal Artillery. We discuss the legendary WO1 John Lord the first Regimental Sergeant Major of 3 Para and the first Academy Sergeant Major at Sandhurst, P Company, the Malayan/Borneo campaign and operational deployments to Northern Ireland and Op Granby (Gulf War 1991). Finally the General's part in the development of some key Army equipment including the procurement of the controversial SA80 rifle.In the second half we move on to the threat faced by the then British Army Of The Rhine from the former Soviet Union and the formation of the Special OP Troop. The idea behind the concept, how the selection process was designed and the challenges the General faced making a radical idea reality. Finally his thoughts on the future role of the Special Observer, now Surveillance and Target Acquisition (STA) Patrols in 4/73 (Sphinx) Special OP Battery, in what is likely to be turbulent period for an Army required to make significant cuts in the 21st century.We finish with his desert island dits selection of "Red Notice" a book by Bill Browder. The "Dambusters" film and his luxury item "Penderyn Myth" single malt whisky.Other recommendations from the team include "Once Upon A Time In Iraq" an outstanding documentary from the BBC and the "Irregular Warfare Podcast". Find out about the serving unit at the contemporary Special Observer.Follow us on Instagram "the_unconventional_soldier_pod" and Facebook "The Unconventional Soldier Pod" (search for @lateo82).We are also available to download on iTunes and Google podcasts.Email us: [email protected] episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet your hosts as they grapple with new technology and attempt to master the challenges of podcasting. Follow their journey to covert Surveillance & Target Acquisition (STA) patrols via the jungles of Central America, the Far East, Canada, Denmark, Northern Ireland and Germany. Along the way they will discuss the merits of 58 pattern webbing, jungle soldiering, Aussie ponchos, hammocks and Assam tea in a tin. For the cultured they will review two films "Platoon" and "Paths of Glory" and try to win you over with a couple of classic book recommendations "The Cauldron" and "Quartered Safe Out Here".Follow us on Instagram "the_unconventional_soldier_pod" and Facebook "The Unconventional Soldier Pod" (search for @lateo82).Email us: [email protected] episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.