The Army Bloke

We explore how the Army Officer Selection Board truly works, why potential beats pedigree, and how authenticity, fitness, and feedback shape success. Jim shares lessons from Sandhurst, early command, operations in Northern Ireland and Iraq, and his vantage point as an AOSB Vice President.

• selection focused on potential not polish
• myths about “classic officer” backgrounds challenged
• sandhurst shocks and adapting fast
• technical depth for young gunners at phase two
• the officer–sergeant partnership as a command pair
• operations shaping judgment, trust and decentralised command
• inside Westbury: roles of VPs and group leaders
• using feedback between briefing and main board
• common pitfalls: weak fitness, acting, overthinking
• planex basics: DST, risk and simple, reasoned plans
• how teams gel and why evidence of contribution matters
• serving soldiers and non‑traditional candidates encouraged

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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 hardened by Basra, and into the messy reality of learning in public. Two corporals asking to critique his orders. A mis‑landed helicopter forcing a river crossing on the fly. Mentoring the ANA alongside a Danish battlegroup, managing language gaps and competing priorities. A 36‑hour IED clearance cut short when a high‑threat engineer commander lost his legs and a Danish interpreter was killed. And the day a single shot hit his hand as the ANA led out—proof that what matters most is how your team responds when you need them.

Back at Sandhurst, Robin shaped future officers around four simple pillars: betterment, fellowship, sincerity, enjoyment. He explains why choosing a regiment starts with the soldiers you’ll lead and the mess you’ll live in, not a glossy posting list. He shares where cadets often go wrong—ego at the start line, switching off when not in appointment—and what separates the standouts: volunteering as runners and recce support, building models, absorbing feedback, and helping others improve. Commissioning isn’t the finish line; it’s the waypoint before real leadership begins.

If you’re eyeing AOSB, grinding through exercises, or about to take your first platoon, this conversation gives practical, hard‑won advice you can use today. Be a sponge. Ask for help. Look after your people before you need them. And find the joke in the mud—it keeps you human when it counts.

Enjoyed the show? Subscribe, share it with a mate, and leave a quick review so others can find it. What’s the one pillar you’ll work on this week?

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 jump (private to lance corporal), why teaching at Harrogate and Brecon makes you sharper, and what the Belize jungle revealed about Platoon Commanders’ Division: fit, hungry officers matched with aggressive, experienced seniors can be dynamite when aligned. Steve explains how respect for officers grew as he watched them go from interview to running a fighting organisation in 18 months, and why “nobody wants to see an officer fail” became a mantra.

Operationally, we break down HERRICK 6: robust pre-deployment training, an unapologetic return-fire policy, and the art of spotting burnout before it breaks a good soldier. Steve’s RSM years focused on output, not optics—from an “ally parade” that surfaced field-ready kit choices to quiet conversations that fixed morale faster than any memo. We talk bayonets and close combat reality, the last 100 metres belonging to infantry leaders, and the power of explaining the why so soldiers own the plan, not just the orders.

Steve closes with six distilled leadership lessons: don’t let perfect kill good; study concepts together; never turn down a beer or a brew when someone needs to talk; lead without isolation; protect, celebrate, and support your people; and remember it’s not what you’ve done, it’s what you do next. If you’re an aspiring officer, a new platoon commander, or an NCO sharpening your craft, this conversation gives you clear, field-tested ways to lead with humility, aggression, and care.

Enjoyed the conversation? Subscribe, share with a mate, and leave a rating—then tell us which lesson you’ll put into practice first.

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 Army
Completing the Commando Course
Deploying on three operational tours of Afghanistan
Facing the Taliban in close combat
The moment he was cut off from his patrol and relying on a gunship to survive
Losing soldiers, leadership pressure, and the cost of command
Why he went into politics and fought for veterans
The moral component of leadership, humility, and standards
His message for the next generation of officers and soldiers
Whether you're preparing for AOSB, heading to Sandhurst, or simply interested in military leadership, this is one of the most powerful and insightful episodes we’ve recorded.
🎙️ About the Podcast
Lessons in Leadership explores what it really takes to lead — in the military, in training, and in life. Featuring soldiers, officers, veterans, and leaders with real experience on the ground.
Connect with Dan (The Army Bloke)
Instagram: @thearmybloke
 TikTok: @thearmybloke
 YouTube: The Army Bloke
 LinkedIn: Dan Russell

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 HERRICK 6 – casualties, high-pressure leadership & fighting the Taliban
🔹 How to build trust with your soldiers
🔹 Passing Special Forces Selection
🔹 Sam’s advice to the next generation of Officers & anyone considering SF
If you’re preparing for AOSB, heading to Sandhurst, or simply want to understand what leadership really looks like in the British Army, this is a must-listen.
📌 Connect with me
Instagram: @thearmybloke
YouTube: The Army Bloke