The Unconventional Soldier

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.

CONTENTOur guest today is today is Nick Dunn.  One of six former British servicemen who spent 4 years imprisoned in India for a crime they didn’t commit. Each day they lived in appalling conditions with poor food and the ever present threat of violence.  They were providing security against Somali pirates for a merchant ship off the Indian coast in October 2013 when they were falsely accused of being illegally armed in Indian waters.  In this podcast we discuss his service with the Parachute Regiment and his arrest, trial, imprisonment in Chennai jail and the battle to secure his release for a crime he didn't commit.Nick is also a published author and his book “Surviving Hell” recounts his experience imprisoned in Chennai.  You can follow him on Twitter @NickDunn1986.DESERT ISLAND DITSOn Desert Island Dits our guest's choice of book was anything by Lee Child an author whose books he read while in prison.  The teams' book choices this week was Ron Kovic's Born on The Fourth of July .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 Brian Short a former member of the Royal Marines and author of “The Band That Went To War: The Royal Marines Band In The Falklands War”.  On this episode we are going to be discussing his career in the band, their part in the Falklands campaign, the Provisional IRA bombing of Deal barracks and his book which is available on Amazon and in a number of book stores.  Follow him on Twitter @FalklandsMusic1.DESERT ISLAND DITSOn Desert Island Dits the teams choice of books were Company K by William March and Saving Justice: Truth, Transparency, and Trust by James Comey  our guest's choice of book was Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind.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 John Holden a former British Army Officer who attended the Indian Army Staff College course over the period May 2002 to May 2003.  The course is designed to prepare officers by giving them the skills they need to address future security and defence challenges at home and abroad.  We cover why John wanted to study in India, course content, mountain warfare, legacy of Empire, cultural differences and the Indian Army in WW2.DESERT ISLAND DITSOn Desert Island Dits our guest's choice of book was The Operators: Inside 14 Intelligence Company - The Army's Top Secret Elite.  The teams' book choices this week were Robert J McMahon's The Cold War: A Very Short Introduction and James Holland's Burma '44: The Battle That Turned Britain's War in the East.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.