The Unconventional Soldier

CONTENTThe guest today is Chris Lincoln Jones. Chris is a retired Army Officer and worked for 17 years in the Defence Industry where he was an Intelligence Surveillance and Target Acquisition Specialist with a particular knowledge of Uncrewed Air Systems. He has been a visiting lecturer at the University of South Wales on an MSc course in Global Governance and  has contributed to the Birmingham University Advisory Group at the Institute for Conflict Cooperation and Security on their project: ‘Towards a global restraining consensus on the use of armed drones’.In 2017 he collaborated on the Ares Report for the ICRC: A Technical Analysis of the Employment, Accuracy and Effects of Indirect Artillery Weapons. His section dealt with the lawful use of lethal force and targeting procedures. Chris has also advised on two films, Eye in the Sky and Official Secrets and has just published  a book, Doctor Moore's Automaton, that looks at what could be achieved with current technology and AI if given enough money and will.On this pod we discuss his book, the military application of AI in targeting and on autonomous platforms, the morality of AI in warfare and use of drones in Ukraine.Chris's book choice on Desert Islands Dits is "The Alignment Problem - Machine Learning & Human Values" by Brian Christian. My choice is Chris's Book "Dr Moore's Automaton".WHERE TO GET OUR 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.  "BUY ME A COFFEE"If you want to support the podcast you can buy me a coffee here.SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram @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.

CONTENTThe guest today is Laurence Moore, known as Loz, who served in the Cheshire regiment and on this episode we discuss his time at Sandhurst and what it was like to deploy on operations as a young officer in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.  Loz also discusses the effect combat had on him personally and why he helped set up Cockleshell 22 with a group of serving and former service people from across the Royal Marines, Royal Air Force and British Army to provide funded expeditions based on historical military raids and ground-breaking mentoring programme to the military community in order to improve overall health of its beneficiaries. Loz's book choice on Desert Islands Dits is "Dien Bien Phu " by Howard R Simpson. My choice is "Killing Thatcher" by Rory Carroll.You can contact Loz by email: cockleshell22@gmail.com. Cockleshell 22 website is at: https://cockleshell22.com and Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Cockleshell22/WHERE TO GET OUR 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.  "BUY ME A COFFEE"If you want to support the podcast you can buy me a coffee here.SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram @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.

CONTENTThe guest today for our conversation on NATO Cold War "stay behind" operations is Tamir Sinai a political scientist and exercise professional. Tamir teaches Security Policy and develops Simulation Exercises for International Organisations, Governments, Private Industry and Universities with a focus on Security and Crisis Management. His customers have included US DoD, German MoD, Swedish MoD, Frontex, NATO, EU and the OSCE.Tamir's paper "Eyes On Target: 'Stay Behind' Forces During the Cold War" can be found here here - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0968344520914345"BUY ME A COFFEE"If you want to support the podcast you can buy me a coffee here.SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram @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.

CONTENTThe guest today is author Henry Hemming and on this podcast we will be discussing his book “4 Shots In The Night" a  true story of espionage, murder and justice during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.  It centres round the brutal killing on 26th May, 1986 of British agent Frank Hegarty who infiltrated PIRA and also involves Martin McGuinness, terrorist turned politician and the notorious IRA member and British agent  Freddie Scappaticci who, over a decade after the murder, decided to talk to the media about what happened that night. This started a search for truth which revealed how a handful of British agents were able to infiltrate the Provisional IRA, at great personal cost. It is a  period described by Henry as “... by a country mile, the least understood conflict in recent British history, as well as the bloodiest and longest.”  Henry's book choice on Desert Islands Dits is "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote. My choice is Henry's book "Four Shots In The Night".WHERE TO GET OUR 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.  "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 SoldierInstagram @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.

CONTENTThe guest today is former Commando Gunner and member of 22 Special Air Service Mick Hawkes. On this podcast we discuss his army career including the Falklands war, volunteering for SAS selection, life and training in the Regiment, his deployment to Bosnia where he was captured by Serb forces alongside his mate Billy Billingham, the pace of operations for UKSF in Iraq and Afghanistan, sustaining SF manpower in a smaller army and finally his post military professional life in private security.  As usual we finish off with Desert Island Dits which is the guests choice of book, film and luxury item if they were marooned on a desert island.You can find Mick's website at www.hawkesandco.ukWHERE TO GET OUR 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.  "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 SoldierInstagram @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.

CONTENTThe guest today is former soldier Kev Brain who joined the Royal Artillery in 1975 completing 22 years service with the colours. He deployed on multiple operational tours to Northern Ireland and also on Operation GRANBY better known as the first Gulf War in 1991 as a Sergeant Gun number 1 in charge of a M110 203mm howitzer specifically built for general support and counter battery fire. He describes his career in the lead up to the deployment and what it was like to take part on the gun raids so effective at depleting the Iraqi artillery assets. In these raids, a battery would move forward to preselected positions near the enemy, fire a predetermined amount of rounds at selected targets, and move quickly back to avoid counterfire. These raids not only kept pressure on the enemy, but also afforded great live fire training, particularly gunnery and movement, which would be needed later to support the ground attack and the rapid advance into Iraq and Kuwait.WHERE TO GET OUR 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.  "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 SoldierInstagram @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.NOTE: I would like to acknowledge the following sources for quotes and information used in my opening narrative "The Army Historical Foundation - The Gulf War & European Artillery" & RA Museum "Gunners In The Gulf War 1991".

CONTENTThis is a mini series covering parts of the Cold War we find interesting and will run in tandem with the Unconventional Soldier podcast. So why the title Seven Minutes to Midnight? The Doomsday Clock was a symbolic measurement that represented the likelihood of a human made global catastrophe in the form of a nuclear exchange between the global superpowers.  In 1947 at the start of the Cold War it was deemed to be at 7 minutes to midnight, this naturally changed as the world lurched from one potential disaster to another.  In 1953 it went to 2 minutes to midnight when tests were carried out on hydrogen bombs and 3 minutes to midnight in 1984 as the US and Soviet relations reached its lowest point. The Cold War eventually led to the collapse of the USSR but events of and from that time still dominate the global stage today. WHERE TO GET OUR 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.  "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.

CONTENTThe guest today is award winning author Mary Cronk Farrell. On this pod we will be discussing her book "Close Up On War" about the life of Catherine Leroy a French photographer who travelled to Vietnam at the height of the war where she made a name for herself in a male dominated environment. Bold, determined and cool under fire Catherine accompanied marines and soldiers into the dense jungle, waded through rice paddies and parachuted with them into combat despite being told she didn’t belong in a man’s world. A world in which shared the discomfort and dangers of the soldiers she photographed and where she was wounded and captured by the NVA. Catherine saw more combat in Vietnam than any news photographer of any gender. Her photos captured the human face of war and she was published in Americas leading newspapers and magazines forcing Americans to confront the human cost of war. Based on Catherine’s personal correspondence Mary’s book Close Up On War also showcases her most powerful photos by an extraordinary woman who deserves to be better known.Mary's book choice on Desert island Dits is War And Peace by Leo Tolstoy. My book choice is Mary's book "Close Up On War The Story of Pioneering Photojournalist Catherine Leroy in Vietnam".WHERE TO GET OUR 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.  "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.