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Intelligence Corps Secrets: Why You Won't Get In

The Army Bloke

43,217 views

A former Infantry soldier turned Intelligence Corps operator reveals what it really takes to make it in military intelligence - from cultural understanding on Belfast streets and Pashto training, to a midnight arrest in a Helmand mud compound, briefing commanders, and passing intelligence selection.

We go deep on what the Intelligence Corps really demands, why credibility is everything when you brief, how analysts answer 'so what', and how to prepare properly if you're aiming for Int Corps selection - current affairs, link and temporal analysis, briefing under pressure and DV vetting.

In this episode we cover:
Infantry lessons from Belfast that transfer to intel work
What the Intelligence Corps really demands from analysts
Midnight arrest in Helmand and why empathy is a capability
Selection prep: curiosity, briefing skills and DV truth
Injury, discharge, Op Courage support and rebuilding through Invictus

🎯 Want to work with us?
Officer Mentoring & Coaching: https://linktr.ee/thearmybloke

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Cold Open: Tears In The Chinook
00:42 - Guest Background And Why Intel
02:47 - Infantry Lessons On Belfast Streets
10:36 - Medical Bar And The Route Back
16:44 - What Intelligence Corps Really Demands
23:46 - Pashto Training And Helmand Reality
29:20 - Arresting Taliban With Empathy
39:56 - Selection: Curiosity And Briefing Skills
54:39 - Injury, Discharge And Fixing The Gap
59:23 - Invictus Recovery And Winning Again
01:08:43 - Veteran Identity Without The Noise
01:17:23 - Politics, Podcasts And Entrepreneurial Purpose
01:22:33 - Belief, Mentors And Serving Again
01:25:35 - Preparation Advice And Closing

#britisharmy #armyofficer #intelligencecorps #intcorps #militaryintelligence

20 Comments

@veteransinpoliticsuk 3 days ago

Thanks for having me on!

@misomiso8228 4 days ago

Great stuff! PLease put your guests names and links in the description near the top! They're often hard to find!

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@revdrjc 3 days ago

Hi Dan. Great to see what you're doing for POs. I know you've got some very interested people watching the channel, who, like me, are "old & bold" (I'm 68, having done my last jump with the Paras when I was 47). I'm very interested to observe both the changes and the continuity... And I learn something new and relevant EVERY time I watch - so crack on!

@johncairns8205 4 days ago

A great episode. I'm an intelligence corp veteran and it was great to hear that though times change the basics remain the same.
I'm 71 but love your stuff.
It keeps me engaged and I learn or relearn something every time.
It also helps me to try to be the best person I can be and be empathetic and caring to those less fortunate and in need of support.

@PilgrimSamarkand-u4s 4 days ago (edited)

Great pod cast yet again Dan, thanks for this one, it was made so clear what a veteran is and should be. Not a hero, not a shunned outcast but a guy or girl who is ordinary but has done extra ordinary things at times and has values and standards not seen as much in civvie street.

@Stanley_Hudson 1 day ago

Nice to see a fellow Aber Interpol and WUOTC alumnus! 👏

@justynasyta5598 4 days ago

Wow what a touching podcast it made me tear up, so many important topics discussed. Such a strong and inspiring person!

@kierenoxley1579 3 days ago

Andy Shaw was one of my Troop Full Screws when I went through basic in ‘98. He was definitely a character.

@magicmaruka 3 days ago

If you manage to get in and do a good few years and learn some languages either as per your job or off your own back you can land yourself quite well paying jobs in the diplomatic sphere of the world. A colleague of mine did a 3 month job for a Middle Eastern member of the Royal family. He was gifted a watch worth 100k as a thank you at the end of his contract.

@notreallydavid 3 days ago (edited)

Fascinating, enlightening, impressive.

'Tenet', not ',tenant'; 'champing'at the bit, not 'chomping'. No big deal

@timbo9200 3 days ago

Tech trades in Signals, REME, and maybe more, leave training as L/Cpl. To be fair i spent over two years in training, but very challenging to arrive at your first posting, and have to clear the NAAFI bar of old sweats at closing 😂

@MJ_Brennan 4 days ago

48 years old. I've never served, obviously won't now and was never really all that interested tbh but I certainly find your podcast super interesting. I find the general ideas of leadership and resiliance still very worthwhile to hear, being a 20 year wealth management veteran.

@ianc64 8 hours ago

RLC AMMO Tech come out as LCpl, Used to be Cpl in the 80's

@jocelynlavin 4 days ago

This is absolutely fascinating, thank you both. I have a young friend who has recently passed AOSB main board and will be going to Sandhurst soon, and she is hoping to end up in the Intelligence Corps. I've watched lots of Army-related videos while she's been going through the application process, but not many of them have been intelligence-specific, so this was great. Also, she is already fluent in several languages and definitely has the other qualities you mention (especially curiosity) so this video not only made me understand better what she might actually end up doing, it also confirmed to me that she is exactly the sort of person they are looking for - which I'd already realised, but it's good to have the confirmation!

@A_D_R_U_K 4 days ago

What a truly impressive guest ! Demonstrates all the qualities of a great leader ! What a true ambassador for our Armed Forces.

@simonrb1942 3 days ago

I spent 18 months an Chicksands with these guys and the Spec Ops Sigs. It would be good to hear some humble takes on Iraq and Afghan with hind sight. I cant say i am proud of it any longer