Pete Siddle

Donate to help me raise much-needed funds for #menshealth this #Movember – for all the dads, brothers, sons and mates in our lives. Stop men dying too young. movember.com/m/15491055?mc=6

You can help raise money for Western Beacons Mountain Rescue Team by donating online #JustGiving justgiving.com/campaign/10yfa…

Amazing to see @16AirAssltBde getting to grips with the latest #4GD #SmartFacility. It is great to have been a part of delivering such an innovative project!

Cracking afternoon/evening spent in Copehill Down, teaching on the Urban Ops Instructor Course. Tackling myths of urban ops and then an overview of recent urban ops. A room full of keen soldiers, from across all cap badges/trades, tackling difficult topics. 🤜💥🤛 @IBSBrecon

Good to see my Honorary Colonel colleague Col Andrew Wallis talking about the @ArmyCadetsUK earlier today.

#Teamwork #Fitness ADX allowed our OCdts to practice firing live. Practicing complete the OCdts had their 1st competitive event, the March & Shoot - An assault course, a 2km march & the falling plates shoot! Amazing effort by all those taking part 💪 #BeMoreThanYourDegree

I was deployed on combat ops in Afghanistan in 2007 straight from training (punchy but straightforward), 2008 (Buckshee) and 2009 into 2010 (with US Special Forces, very punchy indeed). Got a bit angry when I got back from that last one; some very violent memories. Had a bit of treatment, all good. Then scroll forward some years and my company and I got blown up in Kenya in 2017 when the training team made a massive cock up and negligently set off a load of battle simulation explosives in the area we were advancing through. 3 of my lads were permanently downgraded with hearing loss. Turns out it was all a horrendous trigger for me: the combination of chain of command negligence, explosions, and seeing my lads in harm’s way… it fully sent my brain over the edge after what I’d done in Afghanistan. I spent two years as a company commander getting mentally worse and worse. Isolating myself, drinking too much, getting myself into all sorts of trouble, stupid life choices. All to try and make the screaming in my head stop. And chuck in the pressure of an ITV film crew the whole time. In 2019, I was at the Indy 500 race and an A10 flew over. I had a full flashback. Could feel the dirt of the Afghan Dasht under my fingertips; the sweat on my helmet headband; the same panic and fear; the works. Burst into tears on the spot. Was posted right after so fell through the Army’s mental health gaps. Was based in N Ireland. Threat indicators for a paratrooper OFF THE CHARTS, so fell apart completely. Disassociation, nightmares of blood every night; the works. Medically retired. Had more treatment, rumbled along, still wounded but not beaten. Kabul fell in 2021. Huge trigger. Ended up helping over 370 Afghans reach safety, as part of a wider team that rescued 3000. Proud times. The pressure was too much though. Fell apart again. Reported sick to Op Courage. Amazing treatment. On the mend. But every December to January is filled with endless triggers that always spin me out. Awful anniversaries and memories. Coping better than ever this year, but still fighting a raging gunfight with my own head. The depression is so real. It feels like an endless weight pressing down on you. Why am I sharing this with 40,000 people? Well, the point is, we all go through shit and it’s really awful, but it’s bearable. Keep going. It’ll work itself through if you get the right help. I’m in a horrible anxiety/depression cycle right now but I know if I keep following the stuff I’ve been taught and trust the process, it’ll be ok. If you ever feel like this, my DMs are always open. You’ve got this and if you ever need a place to vent, just go for it with me. I’ve got this too. We’re all good. For me, Utrinque Paratus. For you, hold on to that similar stuff that made you who you are today. There’s always hope. “Though here at journey’s end I lie in darkness buried deep, beyond all towers strong and high, beyond all mountains steep, above all shadows rides the Sun and Stars forever dwell: I will not say the Day is done, nor bid the Stars farewell.”

What a voice #michaelmcintyresbigshow

@OrkneyUncovered @buffalosystems What’s the sizing like ?????

Afternoon walk in the rain to try out my new Buffalo Explorer Shirt. Some amazing piece of kit. @buffalosystems #muddisdale

@KellyTheVet What’s in this?????

What I’m feeding them while I’m ‘abusing’ them 👀👩‍🍳

Waiting patiently for me to finish cooking their dinner so they can eat it in 10 seconds flat - while being ‘abused’ wearing their snoods 😂

Watch as Ukrainian troops learn battlefield trauma care skills in the UK. Forty-nine Ukrainians are currently undergoing the first of three combat medical training programmes. Find out more 👉 fal.cn/3zpn2

.@TheParachuteReg hone close-quarter battle skills 🪖 The Urban Training Facility at Colchester’s Merville Barracks boasts moveable walls, interactive smoke, light, and sound effects and a video monitoring system. Get the latest military news 👉 fal.cn/3zhSP

#Readyforanything @16AirAssltBCT Paratroopers being put through their paces in the Urban Training Facility in Colchester. Doing the basics well 🇬🇧🆎️@BritishArmy @LWC_UK #theparas #warfighter

Joint Cpl ALDP Teamwork is the key to getting things done cooperatively! Sharing ideas and listening too; Working together to see…….✅💂🏼‍♀️🎇@chamlingAmeer @sherchans374 @pete_siddle @Baker4860 ….Have a great weekend.

This was the first drone I saw when I was at school 👍🏻😱😱🤣🤣🤣

A wonderful and fitting day, superbly planned and executed by a small home team.

As the week comes to an end, so have the latest Sgt and Cpl ALDPs. 31 Sgts and 29 Cpls were successful. The Sqns focus now switches to celebrating the Royal Logistic Corps 30th anniversary next week. #RLC30 @UKArmyLogistics @DSLAWorthy_Down @ComdWing_DSLA @AGCALDP

All Set for RLC30 30KM DOKO CHALLENGE. See you tomorrow in the RLC30 Worthy Down. Please donate for the good cause: Spread this message far and wide. Thank you Cpl C 🙏🏼 justgiving.com/crowdfunding/r… @RLCCorpsSM