Designed to Lead

In this episode Captain Ash Bhardwaj speaks to Lieutenant Colonel Liz Kagoda of the Queen Alexandra Royal Army Nursing Corps. Lt Col Kagoda trained and qualified as an emergency nurse in the National Health Service, prior to commissioning in 2005 and has since worked at roles 1-4 across the medical support spectrum. She has delivered everything from immediate life-saving measures in the field, through to long term care at military hospitals back in the UK, as well as deploying twice on Op TELIC in Iraq and three times on Op HERRICK in Afghanistan. Her experience spans from roles such as team leader to officer in charge of the emergency department. She was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 2020, and has since focused on governance and assurance for both firm-based and deploying unit personnel. She is currently SO1 Clinical Operations at 2 Medical Brigade, in Yorkshire. This episode outlines how individuals switch between leadership and followership dependent on context, and how leaders require trust and communication to occasionally step back and allow their teams to deliver a task. 

In this episode, we speak to Major Chris Duncalfe and WO2 Adam Croucher about their experience during the Non-combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) of Kabul - Operation PITTING, while in their respective roles of Officer Commanding (OC) and Company Sergeant Major (CSM) of A Company, 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment.

Op PITTING marked the end of 20 years of British military involvement in Afghanistan, fighting against the Taliban following the Al Qaeda attacks in the United States in September 2001. We explore how they prepared their Company in the lead up to likely operations, and speak about their insertion into the country and how the operation progressed. We explore the challenges of the operation from a junior leadership perspective, as well as how intent based leadership (or Mission Command) plays a major factor in fostering responsibility, judgement, adaptability and empowerment of others within the team. Finally, we explore the notion of leading by example, particularly when difficult moral decisions must be made, and the utility of responsible challenge and intelligent disobedience in the face of a dynamic and rapidly changing operational situation.

In this episode, our host Captain Ash Bhwardwaj speaks to Sergeant Mo Faye about the importance of ownership over outputs and how soft skills in leaders are hugely valued by followers during periods of training and change. Sergeant Mo Faye was born and raised in Gambia and joined the British Army's Staff and Personnel Support Branch, the Adjutant Generals Corps (AGC, SPS) in 2001. He was then attached to the rifle companies of infantry regiments as a junior HR specialist and admin junior Non Commissioned Officer. As a corporal he administered Officer Cadets at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, before working with the Irish Guards and NATO in the Middle East. As a Sergeant Mo is now the systems coordinator at the Army Medical Service's support unit. Mo has deployed across the world on exercise and on operations and has been awarded the Queen's Commendation for value of service and the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe's Coin. He is also the founder of the Juwara Charity.

In this episode, our host Captain Ash Bhardwaj speaks to Sergeant Dorian John about the importance of empathy and rapport in getting things done. Sergeant Dorian John was born in the Commonwealth of Dominica and enlisted into the Royal Signals in 2003 and served on OP TELIC 5 in Iraq and OP HERRICK 6 in Afghanistan as a Lance Corporal Dorian transferred to the Adjutant General Corps, Staff and Personnel Support Branch (AGC SPS). He was attached to 5 Rifles and served on OP HERRICK 15 as a linguist with one of the seven languages he speaks. As a Sergeant, Dorian served in the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre in Headquarters British Forces Germany before moving to NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps' support battalion. He's now at Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARC) and has been recently selected for promotion to Staff Sergeant.

 

In this episode, our host, Captain Ash Bhardwaj, speaks to Captain John Werrett, known as 'Wez,' about moral courage, respectful challenge, and finding teachable moments from examples of unconscious bias.

 

CONTENT WARNING: In this episode, we cover the topics of the deaths of soldiers on operations, improvised explosive devices, and dealing with the trauma of those tragedies. If these topics are difficult for you to hear about, you may want to skip this episode. It is totally natural that the examples given in this episode may affect you, and you may find it useful to speak with someone about how you feel. You can find a range of support resources at the Army's Ask for Help page linked at the bottom of these show notes.

 

Joining the army in 2001, Wez joined 1st Battalion the Staffordshire Regiment, which later became 3 MERCIAN and then 1 MERCIAN. He has served in regimental duty at all ranks, including time in the reconnaissance platoon. He was the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Support Weapons School as it became the Combined Arms Manoeuvre School. He has instructed at AFC Harrogate, ITC Catterick, and on loan service to Brunei's Officer Academy. Wes has served on tours of the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan and, after a Late Entry commission, is now the company second in command of Dragon Support Company.

 

The British Army's Ask for Help Page: https://www.army.mod.uk/people/health-wellbeing-welfare-support/health-performance-and-wellbeing-in-the-army/managing-stress/ask-for-help/

In this episode, our host Captain Ash Bhardwaj speaks to WO1 David Hird, the Command Sergeant Major of the Land Warfare Centre (LWC). He enlisted into the Royal Engineers in 1997, joining 35 Engineer Regiment before moving on to Engineer Search Teams, completing his trade training at 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment in Chatham, and passing All Arms Parachute selection. He has served on Op BANNER in Northern Ireland, Op HERRICK 5 and 11 in Afghanistan, Op TELLICK 9 in Iraq, as well as Op OLYMPIC and exercises all over the world. He instructed at 3 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment at Minley as a Section Commander, and as a Quartermaster Sergeant Instructor in Combat Engineering Recognisance. He was Squadron Sergeant Major of 17 Field Squadron Explosive Ordinance Disposal and Search (EOD), and Regimental Sergeant Major at 23 Parachute Engineer Regiment. He assumed the role of Command Sergeant Major at the Land Warfare Centre (LWC) in Warminster in April 2021. In this conversation, WO1 David Hird reflects on how his leadership style has needed to evolve in order to keep pace with the changing requirements of a more professional Army, and how good Mentorship helped him build more productive relationships with those in positions of command.

In this episode, our host Captain Ash Bhardwaj speaks to WO2 Colin Russell who enlisted into the Royal Scots Dragon Guards (SCOTS DG) and trained on the British Army's Main Battle Tank the Challenger 2. He served on 2 tours of OP TELLICK In Iraq before moving to the Queen's Royal Hussars (QRH) as a corporal. AS a Sergeant he commanded a QRH multiple in the light infantry role in Afghanistan on OP HERRICK 15. He has been a sergeant instructor at the Heavy Armour Wing, a Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant and was a lethality survivability subject matter expert on the development of the British Army's new armoured vehicle, Ajax. In this conversation, WO2 Colin Russell reflects on the power and proffesional competence of leadership, acknowledging your mistakes and some unexpected benefits of the discipline procedures.

In this episode, our host Captain Ash Bhardwaj speaks to Major Charlie Lee, who was commissioned into the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment (PWRR) in 2006. After Rifle Platoon Command, he deployed on HERRICK 15 in Afghanistan in 2011 as part of the Police Advisory Team. He returned to Battalion as Officer Commanding of the Mortar Platoon, then Battalion Operations Officer. After Staff College and various Staff Officer roles, he took on Sub Unit command of the Second Battalion PWRR, operating in the Specialised Infantry role with operational tours in East Africa. He is currently the Chief Instructor for the Senior Term at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. In this conversation, Major Lee reveals how his early mistakes made him explore the balance between being liked and respected and the application of loyalty and integrity to others and the chain of command.