This small little island, with a tiny number of elite troops compared to most countries but we are number 1 in the world and for that, I’m immensely proud of you guys and grateful. Proud to be British. 🇬🇧

My Late Grandfather was one of the first volunteers of the British Army’s Commandos, he was a member of First Special Service Brigade SOE Commando they later became 1 Commando.

Army Chef's Course is more elite - no-one's ever passed it!

Tommy is the definition of a quiet professional.

excellent cinematography at the cliff, lovely fireside chat and an inspiring mindset and perspective on life

Marvellous shots on the peaks and ridges. Wouldn't want to be there myself, but have to express admiration for and gratitude to those who do - and who take the pictures.

I found this fascinating. Tommy’s calm, extremely measured discussion about the demands of his role is the kind of thing I wish there had been more of 20+ years ago. This was a beautifully presented film. More please!

Great vid guys, really apprciate you guys pulling this together. I was a lead climber in the 1St SFG, 3Rd BN for a periord of time. Great skill sets that need to be continually developed. You guys continue to take this to the next level. Keep on hammering . stay safe . and be well out there gents ......

"if you are to have, a successful life, do hard things" that simple sentence tells it all, knowledge, professionalism and a humbleness that only comes from doing what you love and never needing validation from anyone other than yourself, Bombers.

Would just like to add that Tommy's brand Jottnar really is top draw outdoor clothing. It performs so well and incorporates the very best technology and technical fabrics. It really is a standout brand to me and nothing else comes close. Mountaineering often is about being comfortable in uncomfortable situations, but Jottnar layers definitely help

Absorbed everything I could find online about MLs a few years ago when I was going through a very dark time myself. Honestly just taking them as an example of how to do things within difficult circumstances gave me a lot of courage and inspiration to keep working on myself in that period and come out the other side of it in a better situation. As an mildly interesting aside my last three initials are MLS which I thought was quite cool when I discovered it and my abbreviated initials are DS (one for the SF people).

A rare glimpse into the mind of the elite of the elite. Great insightful interview.

Great video Simon - thank you

Here I was thinking that someone from my unit had spilled their guts. Never mind, carry on as you were.

In 1969 I was lodged with the most incredible guy and his wife whilst a young policeman. He was a former senior climbing instructor with the Artic and Mountain Warfare Cadre of the Royal Marines. He fell and broke his back whilst free climbing. He recovered and returned to his role. It happened a second time (memory fading but I think it was on an undercover op in northern Russia? When I knew him he was bent double but totally unbroken - still living a full life. What a guy.

The day at Foggin with the MLs is always a great experience, such professionalism and humour. Commando qualities in abundance and great teachers... when they aren't making you wet and cold! Awesome video, worth the wait.

Simon - absolutely superb mini film/video. Production quality, editorial and narrative arc of this is fantastic. So refreshing, so not in your face. Thanks so much for digging deep on this one. Much respect to you and Tommy. 👍👍👍

Fantastic video - thanks for putting together such top quality content!

Just an incredible interview which oozed professionalism, an incredible branch within the Corps. I had a Colours Hannah take me through CTC in the late 80s, simply inspirational - he also appears as a Cpl in that BBC doc from the mid 80s. I was fortunate to spend time in both Poole and Hereford as an S3 (now SFCs) and had the time of my life though not once did I think I could pass the course, but it was an honour to be amongst all those men. Met a few guys since leaving including a WO ML plus a guy who did ML2s and then went SAS Selection now serving as a Sniper - all humble men but men you would absolutely want in your corner.

Outstanding content! Thank you!

Mega interview. Strong message. ‘The struggle itself towards the heights is enough to fill a man’s heart’ - Albert Camus

What an excellent interview. Elite performers handing out valuable, scalable (pardon the pun) advice. Love it.

Owning your path is a wonderful trait. I met an ML whilst playing cricket. He had that quiet sense of control and calmness. Huge respect.

What an incredible video. Cinematography, content, music had everything. So well put together.

A great video Simon, thank you.

Absolutely SUPERB interview/life experience of a truly ‘quiet professional’ of UK armed forces and UKSF. The personal drive to be ‘that guy’ and to push yourself for purely selfish interests yet knowing that it will make you a better person and soldier/warrior. I like that units like SRR and RM ML are more low key and really only highly recognised and respected within thier own sphere and a that bit of mystery and professional ‘pedestal’ only adds, and not detracts.

Immensely proud of all the quiet and professional effort from these very few. ML are the absolute best of the best, no one else can compare. Great video to highlight the immense amount of training and effort these lads go through. Proud is not the word.....

Known Tommy for many years from when he wore the maroon machine! Very good lad, was always going to do epic shit in life and be successful. Now he’s smashing it with his business Jottnar. All the best mucker. Dave M 🍻

Behind the lines is a great great watch.

Brilliant insights and a really nicely produced video Simon

Glad to see the content coming out again mate. 6 months was to long, keep it coming. Quality stuff.

I served as an infantryman for a few year's. I thought I was tough as nails, meat eating grunt. And for the most part we all were. But my last unit was a Pathfinder, Airborne Ranger unit. And I learned very quickly that I wasn't tough. And I knew fck all.

Really liked the interview, we all need to be challenged to grow and find some degree of greatness. Thanks

A fascinating insight into what makes these guys tick. Fantastic upload. Oh and Jottnar is top drawer.

Quality video as always. I got my CPC on the 23rd just praying I have no problems with the medical!

Great video-as with anything regarding the Natural Edge-something always resonates with me

Stumbled across this. Absolutely amazing

Great interview - MLs, tough breed - 'Behind the Lines' is probably my favourite British Military docu.

Enjoyed this ☺️

Total respect, and thank you for your service to us and our country.

My dad passed this course in the 1950s-60s, back then it was called CL, Cliff Leader, now-a-days it's called ML Mountain Leader. He said he was trained to climb 90% of cliffs around the world on a quarter moon light.

Climbed Commando Ridge, awesome climb 👍

Know Tommy well. Genuine, and incredibly modest. He and Steve Howarth have done great things with Jottnar.

A truly wonderful watch

Great interview, as a woman watching this, I could tell instantly by his demeanour that this chap is a different breed. This video is a great inspiration and reminds me that with the 1% mindset anything is achievable.. I fully agree and have lived a life doing "hard things" and I plan on doing so for as long as my mind will let me, the body follows the mind. I should like to visit the 'Star Inn pub' one day. What a place to sip a pint!

I travelled from Baghdad to Q West in 2005 with an ML as the TL. We were a low profile C/S, great comms from him, calling ERV’s, PRV’s all the way up. We had a cheeky vehicle break down which on Tampa in 06 wasn’t what anyone wanted. Dealt with no dramas. Once we were safely in the FOB, I remarked ‘Good job, Jim, how many times have you been here, mate?’ He replied ‘first time, bud’ 😮 fair play. Total professionals.

Great video, really inspirational guys! Missed your YT content the last few months but if this is what your working on then 👍🏼💪🏼 Top work!!

What a great 22 mins that was to provide the public with a small snippet of the ML World. I remember one in particular, Taff Hunter ML2 - 42 commando. What a legend!

Fantastic insight into motivation. 10:46 “If it feeds into the sense of who you are, or who you want to be, that will pull you through.” So well said. Great video.

Absolutely loved the video 👌🏼

Awesome and inspiring interview. Thanks 🦾

Great video. 👍🏻

Brilliant ma8 thanks for sharing your story and life all I can say is thank you special people

So much useful mindset in this

Great interview. Can i ask what the name of that Jottnar jacket is? Thanks.

If you can shed some light on if SRR have a similar selection process as 22 & SB, that would be great. Please & thank you. Love watching your content.

My Late Grandfather was one of the first volunteers of the British Army’s Commandos, he was a member of First Special Service Brigade SOE Commando they later became 1 Commando. We as a family have been trying to get his service record but to no avail, a contact from the WW2 Commando Association has informed me in late 1944 he was temporarily transferred to 2nd Regiment SAS on there European Front for there raids in certain parts still occupied France 🇫🇷, Holland 🇳🇱 and Belgium 🇧🇪 and obviously Nazi Germany .

Awesome interview, what legends these guys are, the BBC documentary is brilliant and highly recommend.

Great video very inspiring ❤

Nothing better than a pint after a hard slog lads😃 Great to see you again Simon 🫡

I was expecting a flash bang noddy show but these guys are proper! CR is a great route

The MAWC is not secret and has been around for over 40 years, recruiting from the RMs. A long training course which produces outstanding soldiers.

I think a TNE podcast would probably be one of the best.

My father in law’s brother was a royal marine commando during WW2 he was dropped behind enemy lines many times to destroy German radar stations and ammunition dumps he survived the war and emigrated to New Zealand 🇳🇿 and never came back to Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 again

Great video! I'm looking at doing ML as my PSQ.

Absolutely the best of the best, The MLs are the ultimate commandos and off course SB and SAS but the ML course seems to be the most demanding military course ever. Great video Simon, big fan of yours and huge respect to you Royal 🙌

I’m in total admiration of the people who do this work. One question: when watching and listening, I was particularly interested in the unspoken aspect - the ‘need’ for extreme haste (get up there alive, undetected, with your full crew, and arms and munitions 10 minutes ago’. How does this imperative affect skills of these total professionals? Ie, adding the combat aspect to nice hard climb on the coast at night?

Superb, ML’s were supremely fit and proffesional in my experience and really kept standards in the Corps high.

For The King💪

Thanks,i enjoyed that, dont suppose you could do a few vlogs on the Medic/Doctor and SC stuff,lets forget the other ones ,it might wreck your recording equipment 😁👍

I missed your content buddy❤❤

Great watch guys

Nice to hear a deeper analysis of the roots of discipline other than the simple white knuckle it approach.

A RSM of 22 SAS. walked into a bar in Chamonix, French alps, inhabited by British alpinists. He turned to his staff sergeant and said "if there is trouble, this is the place to come, they are already trained, just need to know how to handle a weapon ".

Truly great and inspiring content guys, some in a very British way (down the pub) not drawing attention to yourselves. I do really enjoy the YT world of USSF with all the production values razzmatazz that’s comes with it, and I don’t detract from what they and how they achieve - but why have way bigger budgets, pools of resources and facilities to call upon - the way it has always been, and I think that is very telling how UKSF etc and even regulars operate a bit differently, less diss and bluster and ‘crack on’. Falklands and WWII are great examples of this, lack of kit and incorrect kit for the environment but the job still needs to get done - so TAB/Yomp a marathon in south Atlantic weather with as much ammo and water as you can, then get stuck into a firefighter against established fortifications, no real CAS and minimal large IDF support, job down and then time for inter service banter about who actually got to Stanley first :-)

I was VC Special Infiltration Squad. I thought we were tough!

There was a great tv series made in 1985 about the Artic warfare cadre called Behind the Lines

I've seen a doc where a edit: Aussie sf soldier was the only one on course binned for 'poor attitude' and many rm backing out certain climbs. The instructor was not even roped in showing absolute max confidence around death drops like it was nothing. Theres even a movie called Hummingbird by Jason Statham where he plays a former ML double hard man. Massive balls right there regardless even if sf that must be mentally challenging you deserve the respect and inspire many. Really good watch and also very humble and honest about the truth.

I think that's a pretty insightful and accurate statement about the idea that if something is part of your identity, the pain, suffering and sacrifice is both bearable and worth it. I know from less extreme challenges I take on myself well into my 30s, when many ppl are getting fat and boring it's deeper than just motivated. It goes right to core of what will be on my gravestone and what my grandkids will say about me. It's my art form. Furthermore , when people talk about art, this dudes art form will never be seen or witnessed by anyone who wasn't there. it's incredibly fleeting and finite. I dedicated my life to an art form no-one will ever see or witness apart from a few birds in the woods and God.

Cool demeanour

Really glad we've got these people in the forces...obviously hard as fuck but humble too. Softly spoken etc but you'd not want to be facing that type of person as an enemy soldier.

Great video. 👍 BBC did a good 7 part Documentary on MLs called Behind the Lines.

ML? In the Dutch army there are ML too, mostly in the marines. But they're trained by real military mountain guides, which are mostly from the commando force, which is SF. Former colleague of mine started his own outdoor shop. That's when I became his colleague. In his 'military life' he was a coms specialist (had to teach Delta Force how to use antennas etc.), then went on to become SF and there he became a military mountain guide. One of the courses he had to make was the German course. One assignment was in the middle of the woods. Thin ropes strung between trees at around 1 meter from the ground. They had to lay down their backpacks and make a fire. With the fire they had to burn through the thin rope. The assignment was 1 minute. Good luck! Didn't make it? Then you didn't make the course and had to start all over... In my life he made an important part of my life. Taught me many things about camping and outdoor activities. And some of his stories were fun to listen to as well!

Watching from Mangupura 🇮🇩

This ain't sh*t until you've earned your Humvee drivers license.

My old mate Joe Burnett was a commando dropped into Arnhem … he’s gone now but never forgotten … only found out he was in the commando’s when we found a book with a photo of him … he was presented a medal from the French sorry can’t remember the name. 🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Seen them train down in Sennen for the MLC, bunch of hard hard men, fittest of the fit, fine blokes that you'd want on your side and be stuck on a mountain with!

Feared this might be clickbait. But RM 45 Cdo ML. Different gravy. Glad they’re getting some credit. Few know of them. In the combat arms we often speak of ‘hard routine’. These men lead ‘hard lives’. To them ‘hard routine’ is a bit of time off. Remarkable men.

Sea cliffs among my favourite things to climb

Each to their own in the UK special forces , and with their own unique set of skills , however the SAS still rank as the bunch with the largest skill set spread across four Squadrons where their troops rotate through different specialist roles and of course their infamous Counter Revolutionary Warfare (CRW) Wing and Revolutionary Warfare Wing (RWW)

I’m ex Army but if I could do it again I’d go RM, not sure I’d have it in me to be an ML1 though. Just ridiculous courage and resilience

Incredible individuals, no way I could do it, glad I chose to fly aircraft!

Just humble he evaluated an a applied,,,an new why he was their ,,,no trophies,,no Medal,, no fear ,,an I thought SEALS were tough ,,,,

Inspiring

Like the comment on the ACC 😂👍 the SAS never really bothered with the marine climbing course as the did the German mountain guide's course which was a far superior course with over a year of extreme mountaineering and the bonus of learning the German language....the marine's are decent bloke's and most would not BS about the SAS or the SBS..

My CSM was ML and a hard hard man, but a lovely man. I was 16/17 and I was talking to him in a room, and he was telling me he joined at 16 and it was his 22nd anniversary. He was quiet upset(down) as he was saying it was lonely the 8 years or so as all he oppos had gone, and he hated being behind a desk. He says they (RM) were pushing him out unless he went RSM. For me at 16 he looked old as hell, but only 38, younger hsn I am now. Anyway if you see this, I wish you all the best CSM Barny Barnacle. You made a big impression on a 16/17 yo me. All the best from the Scouse car thief 😂 10 uears later i moved to a small village and there was one ex booty already here. we got tslking andthr colours that took him througjh SNCO course was my same CSM. He went one to say he sounded liek a totally different person, and he was hsrd as nails and wouldn't give yo usn inch. Thry was terrified of him. I dont why he took to me, given thr first tiem we met i was reporting bsck to camp after borrowing and crashing a friends car wheile on leave drink at 16/17. The head officer on duty in thr poice station thst nigjt was an ex RM cpt, and OMG did he rip me a new one snd beasted me all night. Im sire not legal in a uk police station! Between thr teo of them they made it sll go away, and they saif they was doing this for me, as this should of hsd me out and destroy my life. (I was in basic, they must of thougjt id ne thr next jsson norn lol). Ejst the did was probably a better way to deal with a dunb kids fuck up, than jsiling me, kigging me out and dumping me on the dole with no direction. I never did remember that ex officers name, bit if this rings a bell 1996/7. Thsnk you. You are bith good men. Anyhow, me an barny clicked, and was on speaking terms while st lympstone. Which was rather funny as even the cpl and sgt wouslnt tslk to him. He did say he hated trainer ranks. I never delved into that one with him. He told some great tale, tales, and told me not to bother eith being sn ML as im to scrawny. He was build like a barrel. Thid has brought back some memories form over 25 years past. Oh i fance a chicken snd cheese burgure from dutchies. I wonder if je is still about. And if he still takes post dated cheques. I eonder who he was bunging to get his pitch.

Former slime here. All the specialist branches are true warriors.. But also let's not forget the guards and the rifles in general. They win you wars. Bless em all

As a Royal Green Jacket I had the honor to be trained by these guys up in Fort William ( Kinlochlaven). Best and hardest thing I ever done. The ML instructors where tterly processional and humble with it also.

I have two uncles that served, WWII. One in OSS, the other in SOE. I've attended courses on both sides of pond, ask me a question, I'll do my best to answer.