Sunderland born and bred, Ryan faced adversity, violence & grief in his younger years, but had always had the military on his mind. Visiting the careers office aged 15, Ryan had his application submitted as soon as he was able to, desperate to get his Royal Marines Commando 'Green Lid'. Everything he ran from back home, caught up with him during training, and he withdrew himself from the course, ending up working on building sites and getting caught up in the drinking lifestyle. Eventually meeting his now wife, and after one too many run-ins with the law, Ryan rejoined the Royal Marines, and deployed on exercises and tours around the world, before transferring to Police Troop and investigating crimes for the military around the globe. A brief stint on the Close Protection Circuit before the COVID-19 shutdown, and finding out he was soon to be a father, Ryan turned his efforts to YouTube where he has gone on to achieve impressive success. Ryan is a popular content creator, and now a father to 2 daughters, which he credits as his finest achievements.

Born into a large family, and destined for a career at his fathers greengrocers, Roach decided to join the Army aged 17 and joined an infantry unit. First deployed to Gibraltar, where he first encountered members of the Special Forces, training alongside them for a hijacking response team role. Roach was unsuccessful in his attempts to pass SAS Selection, and went on to attempt 23 SAS (Reserve) Selection, before moving into the Ambulance Service. Roach was one of the first Paramedics on the streets of London, and became part of the HEMS team at Royal London Hospital. Eventually transferring to South Africa, Roach developed his trauma experience, and then lectured on his return to the UK. Roach went onto the Close Protection Circuit, and worked with clients like Sir Elton John, Saudi Royals & Russian Oligarchs. Keen on bushcraft and survival, Roach went on to launch a successful YouTube channel, amassing over 3 million views and progressing onto National Geographic's Doomsday Preppers programme.

Born into a military family, Mick attended 14 schools over his childhood. His dream of being a professional footballer came to an end after an unsuccessful trial with Lincoln City and he visited the careers office aged 16 to join the 1975 junior paras course. An ankle injury left him unable to perform any jumps, and Mick briefly left the army before rejoining 29 Commando. Passing SAS Selection on the second attempt, Mick went on to serve 14 years in B Squadron, and received his QCB for efforts in Northern Ireland. Mick was deployed to the UAE for the first Gulf War, and then posted to Bosnia, where he was taken prisoner. After leaving the regiment, Mick moved into corporate security, where he would carve out a 22 year career in locations like Kazakhstan and Nigeria. Mick and his daughter now run Hawkes And Co, and deliver security training for a number of sectors, including agriculture and rural crime prevention.

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Born in Leicester and a keen sportsman, Dilksy began to find trouble as a teenager, and realised the Army was his way out of that path. Nudged to join the Royal Engineers to ensure he learnt a trade, Ian completed his training as a bricklayer before completing his Parachute Regiment Jumps Course, and joining 9 Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers. His 24 year army career spanned 2 UN postings to Cyprus, a Kosovo deployment, 3 tours of Afghanistan & 1 Iraq tour. During his career, Dilksy made his way to MOD Chicksands and became part of the team that delivers Resistance To Interrogation training to the UK Special Forces & RAF Pilots, and developed the process by learning from previously captured hostages and personnel. Dilksy has appeared on 5 seasons of Channel 4's 'Who Dares Wins' programme as a key part of the interrogation team, and is also a serving Firefighter.

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Born in Lincolnshire & spending his younger years finding trouble, Alex knew the Army was the way out of his hometown and bad habits. Knuckling down and joining his local Army Cadet Force, Alex went to the Army Careers Centre aged just 15 and a half. Joining the Grenadier Guards and completing the additional ceremonial taskings, Alex joined his battalion and began pre-deployment training for Iraq in 2006. His subsequent deployment to Afghanistan, attached to the Royal Anglians, is where Alex was injured in a Taliban ambush. Resulting in a .762 round through his temple, a grenade blast and a close call with another round, Alex managed to draw a map in the dirt for his unit to gain the advantage and eliminate the enemy fighters. Alex received a mention in Dispatches for his efforts, and made it back to the UK where he was rehabilitated, later losing his eye due to the damage sustained in the ambush. Alex is now a popular TikToker, is a host of The Bottom Third Podcast and is active in the veteran community.

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A turbulent & abusive childhood led Pasha to find his own tribe in the form of the Sea Cadets. This passion for brotherhood & activity led him to try to join the Navy aged 16, but he faced a knock-back and instead joined the Royal Marines. Completing several uneventful tours of Northern Ireland, Pasha decided to attempt the arduous Selection Course in January 1997, the same course as Big Phil. Pasha failed his first attempt on test week, and rejoined the summer course, where he was also unsuccessful. A tough period followed, with Pasha finding trouble more frequently, and ending up in Detention Quarters and then Colchester prison. After getting himself back on the straight and narrow, Pasha went on to complete the Mountain Leaders (ML) course, widely regarded as one of the toughest courses the military offers, and soon began to rise up the ranks.

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Born & raised in Edinburgh, with a stint in the Army cadets fuelling his ambition to join the military, Finlay joined the Army after completing the RMA Sandhurst programme. Originally commissioned into 4 SCOTS, and then sent on the Platoon Commanders Battle Course in Brecon, Finlay deployed onto Op Herrick 14, followed by Op HERRICK 19 & Op SHADER 6 in Iraq. Continuing his passion for fitness as he gained rank, Finlay applied for the 2024 season of The Gladiators. Pitted against elite athletes and former international rugby players, Finlay returned from a broken rib to be crowned the Male Champion.

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A tough childhood in Stoke in the 1960/70's meant Melvyn would have to stand up against bullies from a very young age, even alternating his routes home from school to avoid altercations. Finding his passion for the Armed Forces when he was a small child kept him motivated and out of trouble in his teenage years, rising up the ranks in the Army Cadets before joining junior leaders aged 16. Multiple tours of Northern Ireland & a deployment to the Gulf War later, Melvyn passed SAS Selection in 1994 and served 12 years in D Squadron, alongside our host Phil Campion. Melvyn went on to train UAE Special Forces in the middle east for a number of years, before appearing on Channel 4's 'SAS Who Dares Wins' as a DS. Melvyn is passionate about his hometown of Stoke, and now delivers motivational talks and arranges charitable events with Stoke City FC, to help those that need it.

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Born in New Zealand, and with aspirations to join the Air Force, Damian then discovered a passion for fitness & bodybuilding. A stint as a personal trainer led him to a the Todd school of combat, and he trained extensively in hand to hand combat, a skillset that has continued to prove useful for him. Originally joining the Territorial Army in 1997, and deploying to East Timor, Damian transitioned into the regular army, and then onto the NZSAS Selection course. Passing selection for NZSAS Counter Terrorist Team, now known as Commandos and serving 4 years in the NZSAS undertaking counter terror operations, Damian left New Zealand for a new challenge in Australia. 2 years in the police followed, and then another uniform change to the fire service. Damian is the host of The Straight Talk Mind & Muscle Podcast

A family steeped in military history, and a childhood desire to join the armed forces, Chris knew he wanted to be a PTI before he joined. Undertaking the weekend selection for the Royal Marines first however, led him to a chance encounter with a member of the Devonshire & Dorsets Regiment, who convinced him to join his county regiment instead. Deploying to Bosnia and Northern Ireland, before being promoted and sent to AFC Harrogate, Chris rebadged into the RAPTC and became a PTI. Chris deployed to Afghanistan, experienced some close calls, and created a makeshift training aid from a sandbag and some webbing. This idea progressed into Chris further improving the concept, launching a business and working hard to get it in front of the right people for the next 15 years.

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