The Unconventional Soldier

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: 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.

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: 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.

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: 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.

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: 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.

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: 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.

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: 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.

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: 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.

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: 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.

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: 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.

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: 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.