The Debrief with Big Phil Campion

A nasty injury aged 16 meant Sally Orange had to spend 9 months learning to walk again. During this time she learnt about the role of a physiotherapist, and set her goal to become one. Multiple applications & years later, Sally qualified and began her career with the NHS, before joining the TA. Eventually moving into a FTRS role, Sally deployed to Afghanistan to lead her team and develop cours...

After a brief stint in the army, Lea Vaughan pursued her interest in the ambulance service. After completing the intense training and experiencing life on the ambulance, Lea progressed into a role with the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART). This highly specialised role would lead to Lea and 2 colleagues being the only paramedics allowed into the blast-damaged Manchester Arena on the night of the...

Following a destiny in dance until the last moment, Georgie Smith joined the RAF in a HR role. Having joined to see the world, Georgie did just that, deploying on a Falklands tour & a role change in Afghanistan as a Detention Handler. Upon return from Afghanistan, Georgie noticed small changes with her health, which was eventually diagnosed as Multiple Sclerosis (M.S) in 2015. Having passed Me...

By his own admission, Neil Woods lived a sheltered life in his youth, and soon became aware of this in his early stages of police training. A rare opportunity in the form of an attachment to the drugs squad, led Neil into the covert world of undercover work. Quickly becoming an expert in his field, Neil excelled in his career, before feeling the negative effects of the work on his mental health. F...

Driven by adventure, success and achieving her goals, Araba Cole has enjoyed an incredibly varied & action packed career. Joining the OTC at university before switching to the Royal Engineers so she could get out on the ground, Araba then left the army and joined the private security circuit. Switching again to roles with NGOs in Afghanistan, Araba has climbed the ladder to hold positions like...

Adventurous from a young age, Jamie Hull travelled the world before returning to the UK to join Thames Valley Police. A career sabbatical led him to university, and it's Officer Training Corps. Having completed 2x Cambrian Patrols and achieving everything he could there, Jamie was put forward for SAS Reserve Selection, and joined 21 SAS aged 27. Jamie's passion for learning new skills led...

Joining the MET and securing an immediate transfer into Special Branch after his probation, Scott enjoyed a career in Anti-Terror units before returning to uniform heading up a specialist unit focused on preventing domestic homicides. A chance encounter led him into the high-stakes world of hostage negotiation and he has been involved in countless operations within the MET, and around the globe wi...

Enduring a scattered & abusive childhood at the hands of his step-father, Ricky was torn between joining the Royal Marines or the fire service, choosing the latter due to a poor fitness test performance at Lympstone. In 2017, Ricky, his watch, and 19 other crews, were called to the Grenfell Tower fire. Entering the burning high-rise multiple times that evening, Ricky went over & above his...

Inspired by his fathers military service & business acumen, Aaron ‘Rad’ Radl sold grilled cheeses where others sold lemonade, and started his own skateboard shop aged just 13. Theft from his store led Rad back to college & a stint in the US Airforce, before an injury returned him to civvy street. Following his passion for the military and outdoor pursuits, Rad has co-founded multiple airso...

Joining the Army aged just 16 after am abusive childhood, Amber Guymer-Hosking was quickly deployed to Afghanistan. Numerous mass casualty situations made for a difficult introduction into military life, and this high-pressure role took it's toll on both Amber & her partner, creating another difficult relationship in the process. Medically discharged with PTSD, Amber & her son were eve...

Joining the Royal Marines aged 18, and enjoying 7 overseas tours in his career, Rian Ilett turned down promotions to stay in the action. Advancing into an anti-tank & heavy weapons role, Rian and his team encountered a hijacked American anti-tank which left him requiring a medical check. The check revealed a mass on his brain, and Rian was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, and given 12-15...

Born & raised in Scotland, Lorraine Kelly pursued her passion for journalism and presenting throughout her formative years. Battling knock-backs & rejection from roles because of her accent, Lorraine eventually became a Scotland correspondent. This role would lead her to be the first news team to the site of the tragic Lockerbie Air Disaster, the deadliest terror attack in UK history... Fo...

Walking into the Army careers office aged just 14, Robin joined the Parachute Regiment, and enjoyed his position into the regimental shooting team before joining 2 Para in Northern Ireland. Robin undertook the arduous SAS Selection course in 1979, and joined B Squadron 22 SAS in in time to be a part of the Iranian Embassy Siege in 1980. Sent on a one-way mission to Argentina during the Falklands w...

Born in Nepal, Krishna's parents had a dream for him to join the Gurkha Regiment before he was even born. A highly prestigious career, open to only 180 recruits from the 20K+ applicants, Krishna was successful and completed junior brecon, before attempting SAS Selection. In his 17 years in the regiment, Krishna has also led the world record attempt for servicemen summiting Mount Everest. Krish...

Following in his late father's footsteps, Brian Short pursued a career in the Royal Marines from a young age, and soon enlisted to become a musician. The impending Falkland's war would lead Brian & his unit off on the Canberra to assist in their war-footing roles of prisoner guarding and guiding. Brian came back from the Falkland's with a unique piece of history, a signed thank you...

After enlisting and serving 9 years as a Grenadier Guardsman, John Richards experienced tours of Northern Ireland & The Falklands, before leaving to join the MET. After passing the Special Branch entrance exam, John found his way to the Royalty Protection unit, and enjoyed the remainder of his career travelling the world protecting ambassadors and politicians. John only lost one principle in h...

Joining the Para's after a stint in agriculture, Simon Leak went on to undertake the arduous SAS Selection process. By his own admission, he scraped through the hills phase but rallied & completed selection, joining 22 SAS' A Squadron, Boat Troop. After enjoying a busy few years with the regiment, Simon became a DS, where he would go on to be part of the training team for our very own...

From an Army family, Dan Richards had decided aged 8 that the military was his calling. Disliking school and enduring bullying for his height, Dan visited the careers office aged 15, which would lead him into the King's Troop. A steep learning curve later, Dan quickly found himself looking for some more active tasking, and he was the first member of the King's Troop to deploy to Afghanista...

Making his way through his schooling whilst battling with dyslexia, Ben first worked in a motorcycle dealership before joining the police was suggested to him by customers. Eventually going on to serve 19 years with West Yorkshire Police as a beat cop and later into the Road Traffic Unit, Ben featured on multiple seasons of Police Interceptors. Unfortunately, these years of service came at a cost...

An abusive childhood led James Elliott into problematic schooling & teenage years, and led him to join the Army to escape his past and improve his future. Enjoying multiple roles both in and out of the Army, including Strength & Conditioning coach of Colchester rugby club, and becoming an APJI, James eventually found his calling as a resiliency coach. Attending summits for the Army, delive...

Having decided the military was his destiny at a young age, Dave Coleman persevered through his schooling whilst dealing with a stammer he developed. Dave credits his time in the Royal Marines and their training methods for helping him to improve his confidence and ability to perform under pressure. After a grenade blast on tour, Dave picked up some injuries and an Afghan flesh eating disease, and...

After completing basic training and joining the King's Own Royal Border Regiment, Mark Harding went on to experience multiple tours during his time in the Infantry. Shot in the neck by a sniper, Mark was left paralysed from the neck down and told he'd never walk again. Mark has since gone on to defy this diagnosis and has completed incredible fundraising challenges for military charities,...

After experiencing childhood on both sides of the globe, Annette Laurie left school aged 16 and became an adult overnight. Joining the Royal Navy first as a reservist, and eventually as a regular, Annette served 26 years years in multiple roles across the globe, including Dubai. A keen interest in the Law took a backseat when tragedy stuck Annette's family... Follow This Podcast To Be Notified...

Former Paratrooper Nick Dunn experienced tours of Afghanistan & Iraq before joining the Private Military Circuit, leading him to his career in anti-piracy and maritime security. A routine sailing encountered incoming weather, forcing the team into Indian waters, where the problems began. A tough judicial system led to Nick and 34 other individuals being remanded in custody without trial for mo...

Tara Robertson's army career began at the age of 18, with the Royal Logistics Corps (RLC). Enjoying her tour of Germany and unit life, she was then posted to Northern Ireland. Aged just 22, Tara suffered a serious head and brain injury at the hands of an 800lb vehicle based IED on camp. Tara endured a difficult stint in hospital and rehabilitation process resulting in her being medically disch...