The Army Bloke

The first step onto the parade square feels like stepping into a myth. Then the kit list hits, the pace spikes, and you realise leadership is a team sport. Dan sits down with Robin White—infantry officer, veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, and former Sandhurst company commander—to pull back the curtain on what actually makes a good officer when the plan breaks, the radios crackle, and you’re on the clock. Robin traces his path from family legacy to scholarship board, through a battalion harden...

Across 24 years in the infantry—from Northern Ireland to Iraq, and five tours in Afghanistan—Steve Armon learned to lead where it counts: under pressure, with people who need you to get it right. Steve walks us through the real journey from private to regimental sergeant major and the gritty lessons that stick. The result is a candid guide for young officers and NCOs who want to earn trust, fight well, and care for their teams without losing their edge. We dive into the hardest promotion jum...

Former Army Commando Officer & Minister for Veterans Affairs Johnny Mercer joins me for an honest, unfiltered conversation about war, leadership, and what really shapes you as a young officer. From passing the Commando Course to surviving Taliban contact after being split from his patrol, this episode goes deep into the reality of soldiering. We discuss: Why Johnny joined the British ArmyCompleting the Commando CourseDeploying on three operational tours of AfghanistanFacing the Taliban i...

In this episode, I sit down with Sam Perrin — former Infantry Platoon Commander and later a Special Forces Officer — to break down the reality of leadership, officer training, and operating on the front line. We cover everything future officers need to understand before AOSB, Sandhurst, or stepping into a platoon for the first time: 🔹 His AOSB experience and early leadership lessons 🔹 What Sandhurst really teaches (and what it doesn’t) 🔹 Life as a new Platoon Commander 🔹 Serving on Op HERR...

🎙 Lessons in Leadership – Episode 1 In this first episode, I sit down with Harry Mackarness, a former British Army Officer who commissioned into the Paras, had to transfer to the Light Dragoons, and has since become a voice for resilience and mental health. We talk about: • Why he joined the Army • The reality of training at Sandhurst and Catterick • What it means to lead soldiers today • How injury and mental health challenges shaped his career • Why the Army still matters for young people...