Chicksands to Sierra Leone: PsyOps Radio, Mess Life & Snowy Sweden | Real Military Stories

Send Tim a message about this episodeStep inside real military life with a fast-paced story that jumps from Chicksands paperwork purgatory to field innovation with RIAB (Radio in a Box), and on to a gritty five-week PsyOps stint in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Expect true military stories packed with humour, resilience, and hard-won lessons—plus the chaos and camaraderie of the Sergeants’ Mess, Remembrance, and muddy midweek rugby. We round off with a full-family Swedish Julafton at the lodge—snow, glögg, and tradition done properly.You’ll hear how small, portable PsyOps radio punched above its weight, how training went from dry slides to realistic scenarios, and why generators and jingles can make or break a mission. There’s mess dinners, Pickle Night mayhem, vets’ rugby at Thurrock, and the pride of parades—plus a candid look at post-deployment life that spans 1970s, ’80s, ’90s, ’00s and ’10s postings, including Germany.If you love:Authentic military & veterans’ storiesRugby, skiing, and travel to war zonesPsyOps, radio, and on-the-ground problem solvingWarm, funny, human moments off duty…this is for you. Subscribe for more real military and life stories—from parade square to family table.Discover The Parallel Six series, Letters from Afghanistan and The Empty Return at https://timheale.uk. Discover Tim Heale’s books—including The Parallel Six series, Letters from Afghanistan and The Empty Return—along with his films and broadcasts. Visit https://timheale.uk and join Tim’s Despatch to keep in touch.https://timheale.ukSupport the show