Strength From Within Podcast

Alex Harrison was attached to the 1st Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment, during the Summer of 2007 on Operation Herrick 6. One of 8 Soldiers from the Grenadier Guards on attachment. During an early Morning Raid Alex was shot at close range in the head loosing his right eye and embarking of a journey of recovery and battles with mental health issues.

In part 2 Sam and Steve discuss, raw close combat, Bravery and Sam gives fantastic advice to new platoon Commanders.

Sam commissioned from Sandhurst in 2005 and then completed the Platoon Commanders Battle Course. He arrived at 1 Royal Anglian and took command of 10 Platoon C (Essex ) Company on day one of TESSEX which was a large test exercise conducted prior to being operationally signed off, this meant he got three weeks in the field with the blokes straight away.
Sam then moved on to a full year of Pre Deployment Training (PDT) including 6 arduous weeks in Kenya which culminated in deploying on Operation Herrick 6 in April of 2007 for 6 months. 10 Platoon deployed with 40 blokes and flew home with 24.

Sam Finished platoon command and successfully attempted UKSF selection serving in 22 SAS as a troop commander for 3 years.

Sam went on to deploy on numerous sensitive Operations and Exercises all over the globe during his time with Special Forces but ultimately Sam considers Herrick 6 to comfortably be the most enjoyable, rewarding and formative 6 months of his life.

Sam left the Army in 2013 and has had a successful transition out of the army via the University of Oxford business school and into 11 years at BT Group in various large leadership and commercial roles.

In part 1 of this 2 part episode, Sam and Steve talk in depth about Leadership in Combat and their personal journeys throughout an arduous 6 months in Afghanistan.

Dan is originally from Plymouth. After deciding against university, he spent a year living and working in Australia and Canada as a Sales Manager.
In September 2016, he joined the Army and was commissioned into 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment.

Dan commanded 10 Platoon, C Essex Company, and deployed on Operation TORAL 7 in Afghanistan.

He later trained infantry soldiers at ITC Catterick before deploying on a series of short-term training teams (STTTs) and working closely with the Defence Attaché in Ghana to facilitate British training for Ghanaian forces.

He finished his military career with the Battalion in Cyprus.

Dan was honoured with a CGS Commendation and mentioned in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2022.

Now, he runs a coaching business helping aspiring officers prepare physically and mentally for the challenges of military leadership and their selection process for RMAS.