Julian Thompson had already served thirty years in the Royal Marines when a phone call, in the dead of night, would come to define his career.

It brought news of an imminent invasion, and orders to lead 3 Commando Brigade more than seven-thousand miles across the Atlantic, in just a matter of days, to liberate the Falkland Islands.

He tells Kate Gerbeau how his first reaction to the call was horror at being so unprepared, but that chaos always reigns and victory goes to whoever sorts out the chaos quickest.

Julian Thompson had already served thirty years in the Royal Marines when a phone call, in the dead of night, would come to define his career.

It brought news of an imminent invasion, and orders to lead 3 Commando Brigade more than seven-thousand miles across the Atlantic, in just a matter of days, to liberate the Falkland Islands.

He tells Kate Gerbeau how his first reaction to the call was horror at being so unprepared, but that chaos always reigns and victory goes to whoever sorts out the chaos quickest.

Andy McNab faced the IRA in Northern Ireland, served on numerous SAS covert operations around the world, and was captured behind enemy lines in Iraq.

But he tells Kate Gerbeau the real moment that made him was reading a Janet & John children’s book at the age of 16.

It unlocked the Army career which took him away from a life of teenage crime, and eventually led him to becoming a bestselling author of more than 50 books, all thanks to a Sergeant Major who he thought was “the world’s oldest soldier”.

Andy McNab faced the IRA in Northern Ireland, served on numerous SAS covert operations around the world, and was captured behind enemy lines in Iraq.

But he tells Kate Gerbeau the real moment that made him was reading a Janet & John children’s book at the age of 16.

It unlocked the Army career which took him away from a life of teenage crime, and eventually led him to becoming a bestselling author of more than 50 books, all thanks to a Sergeant Major who he thought was “the world’s oldest soldier”.

Rosie Stone was recording an audio diary at the moment she came under fire on a patrol in Southern Afghanistan.

This was her first experience of a combat situation after more than eight years service in the Army.

But it became a very different learning experience as she was given shelter and tea by local Afghan women while a gun battle raged behind their compound wall.

Rosie shares her recording of that moment with Kate Gerbeau, and explains how that moment shaped her new life as an expert in human security and gender in conflict.

Rosie Stone was recording an audio diary at the moment she came under fire on a patrol in Southern Afghanistan.

This was her first experience of a combat situation after more than eight years service in the Army.

But it became a very different learning experience as she was given shelter and tea by local Afghan women while a gun battle raged behind their compound wall.

Rosie shares her recording of that moment with Kate Gerbeau, and explains how that moment shaped her new life as an expert in human security and gender in conflict.

On the 16th of December 2008 HMS Endurance suffered a very sudden and catastrophic flood in the South Atlantic.

Tom Sharpe was in temporary command of the Royal Navy ice breaker as her engine room filled in less than half an hour, and she lost power in turbulent seas.

Tom tells Kate Gerbeau why he ignored advice from the UK to abandon ship, how he led his crew to save the ship from sinking, and how it gave him confidence to lead without being risk averse.

On the 16th of December 2008 HMS Endurance suffered a very sudden and catastrophic flood in the South Atlantic.

Tom Sharpe was in temporary command of the Royal Navy ice breaker as her engine room filled in less than half an hour, and she lost power in turbulent seas.

Tom tells Kate Gerbeau why he ignored advice from the UK to abandon ship, how he led his crew to save the ship from sinking, and how it gave him confidence to lead without being risk averse.

“Please don’t look back, more dangerous times lie ahead which means you need to look forward… so that we are ready if war chooses us”. 

So says the head of the Army, General Sir Roly Walker, in this special edition of Sitrep explaining what 2025 may bring.

Kate Gerbeau and Professor Michael Clarke tackle some of the biggest questions for our defence. Could fighting in Ukraine end, and might British troops be sent as peacekeepers or trainers? Would Russia make a military move against another European country? And will the Defence Review be a revolution or evolution for our Armed Forces

The Chief of Defence Staff, the heads of the Royal Navy and RAF, and a team of top experts also share their assessments of what’s most likely to lie ahead, right around the world.

“Please don’t look back, more dangerous times lie ahead which means you need to look forward… so that we are ready if war chooses us”. 

So says the head of the Army, General Sir Roly Walker, in this special edition of Sitrep explaining what 2025 may bring.

Kate Gerbeau and Professor Michael Clarke tackle some of the biggest questions for our defence. Could fighting in Ukraine end, and might British troops be sent as peacekeepers or trainers? Would Russia make a military move against another European country? And will the Defence Review be a revolution or evolution for our Armed Forces

The Chief of Defence Staff, the heads of the Royal Navy and RAF, and a team of top experts also share their assessments of what’s most likely to lie ahead, right around the world.