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Jack Murphy and Dave Parke host former SAS operator Phil Campion on this throwback episode of The Team House to discuss his turbulent childhood, military service, and subsequent private military contracting career. Campion explains how growing up with an abusive adopted father and spending time in children's homes prepared him to stay calm under pressure, eventually leading him to escape his circumstances by joining the British Army. He details his early deployments patrolling Northern Ireland during the Troubles, his arduous journey through UK Special Forces selection, and his operational experiences with 22 SAS, including the high-stakes 2000 hostage rescue in Sierra Leone known as Operation Barras. Later, the guest describes the chaotic transition into private contracting after 9/11, working in high-risk zones from Iraq to Africa, and eventually founding Forces Radio to build an independent media community for veterans.
A dramatized emergency call and homicide detective briefing set in Nashville, interspersed with ad breaks.
Phil discusses his birth in London, adoption, and a violent upbringing that shaped his resilience.
Phil explains how his difficult childhood led him to join the army at 18, finding safety and purpose.
Phil shares how exposure to SAS and his desire for more challenging roles pushed him to pursue special forces.
Phil recounts his first operational tour in Northern Ireland, detailing patrols, incidents, and the harsh realities of conflict.
Phil describes the arduous selection process, the challenges faced, and the perseverance required to succeed.
The speaker describes the grueling first four weeks of SAS selection, known as the hills phase, where candidates endure increasing physical demands and harsh conditions to prove their suitability for jungle deployment.
A brief commercial interlude promotes the Spin Quest mobile casino app with a special offer for new players.
An advertisement for OnDeck’s line of credit up to $200,000 with quick funding and flexible terms.
After completing the hills phase, the speaker moves on to the jungle phase, detailing the intense preparation and acclimatization required before entering the jungle.
The speaker describes the informal badge ceremony, the lack of formal ceremony, and the expectations placed on new SAS members by their commanding officer.
The conversation turns to the speaker’s operational experiences in the Balkans, focusing on covert operations to capture war criminals and the challenges of undercover work.
The speaker details the high‑stakes negotiation and covert operation at Stansted Airport involving a hijacked plane and asylum seekers.
The episode opens with the hosts setting the stage for a deep dive into Phil Campion’s military and post‑military career.
A second Spinquest ad, stressing the $30 coin pack offer and game selection.
The conversation turns to Campion’s media appearances, the challenges of being portrayed in the press, and his efforts to shape his public image.
The conversation opens with Phil discussing how media from all sides exploit his statements for their agendas.
Phil recounts how the idea for an independent radio station emerged during lockdown and the partnership with Scott and Johnny.
Details about the three 24‑hour channels, the shift to podcasting, and the mission to build a community radio station.
Final remarks, upcoming guests, and a call to action for listeners to join the community.
Coping with Childhood Abuseinsight
The guest explains how enduring extreme physical violence from his adopted father taught him to remain completely calm under pressure and look for tiny wins in negative situations.
Bypassing the Chain of Commandstory
Determined to join the airborne forces, the guest bypassed his entire chain of command to call the brigade commander directly, infuriating his commanding officer.
The Brutal Hills Phasestrategy
The guest details the grueling initial four-week hills phase of selection in Wales, where candidates are tested on their physical limits without instructors caring if they fail.
After skipping a parachute training session, the guest faked his equipment check, jumped with a unfamiliar 22-foot steerable parachute, and panicked upon seeing pre-cut steering holes.
The Stansted Hijacking Standoffstory
The squadron stood ready in black tactical gear for a potential assault when an Afghan asylum seeker plane sat on the tarmac at Stansted Airport.
Operation Certain Death Planinsight
Commanders chose an insane, high-risk plan for Operation Barras in Sierra Leone, using two large Chinook helicopters to fly directly into an enemy stronghold.
Fighting with a Cup of Teastory
During the reorganisation phase of Operation Barras, the guest calmly brewed a cup of tea and continued drinking it with one hand while engaging returning enemy fighters.
“I learned some, some, some really sort of like early on in life, I learned some quite harsh lessons.”
“I just lost it a little bit with with rank. I told him to F off.”
“The first four weeks of selection is known as the hills phase. And that is extremely arduous.”
“And it's a tough week and by then you've probably got no skin left on your heels, you'll have toenails missing.”
“Operation Certain Death, because it was like, this is absolutely crazy. We're going to take two of the largest helicopters in the world.”
“We were going to need backup if it all went wrong on the other side of the river while we were fighting on the other side.”
“We had observation teams go in after about four or five days there, the observation teams went in.”
“You're either a good soldier, a bad soldier, or you're not a soldier, do you know what I mean?”
“As opposed to just chasing the dollar and going on your programme because you want me to say this, that or the other.”
“We've, we've built something worth having. Our radio station is superb.”
original air date 3|1|24 presented by VAER Watches go to--> https://www.vaerwatches.com/theteamhouse and get a free watch roll with your purchase & 20% off for activde duty, veteran, leo's & first responders. Phil Campion takes us from a brutal childhood and conventional infantry service in Northern Ireland through SAS selection, counterterrorism work, operations in the Balkans, and the Sierra Leone hostage rescue. We also discuss his post-military years in private security, the personal cost of that lifestyle, his transition into media, and the launch of Forces Radio. Support our show here: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheTeamHouse 00:00 – Start 01:18 – Phil Campion’s Childhood & Early Life 03:32 – Growing Up in a Children’s Home 04:20 – Joining the Army & Finally Feeling Safe 06:05 – How Phil Ended Up in the Infantry 08:35 – Joining the Royal Hampshire Regiment 10:16 – British Army Basic Training 14:33 – Arriving at His First Unit 16:01 – Phil’s First “Operation” as a Soldier 17:27 – Meeting Princess Diana 19:12 – Deploying to Northern Ireland 19:46 – Understanding the Troubles From Both Sides 22:29 – Counterinsurgency & Patrolling Northern Ireland 25:19 – Fighting, Military Jail & a Troubled Young Soldier 27:43 – Why Phil Wanted Special Forces 29:36 – What the British Army Was Actually Doing in Northern Ireland 31:11 – Deciding to Attempt SAS Selection 32:06 – Going Around His Chain of Command 34:18 – “You Should Try Special Forces Selection” 36:40 – The SAS Hills Phase 37:51 – Jungle Selection in Brunei 42:14 – SERE, Escape & Interrogation Training 44:07 – Parachute Training & Nearly Killing Himself 48:00 – SAS Counterterrorism Training 48:15 – Passing Selection 50:16 – Joining D Squadron 52:17 – Life as the New Guy in the SAS 56:08 – Hunting War Criminals in the Balkans 57:35 – The Stansted Hijacking 59:19 – Preparing to Storm the Aircraft 1:02:25 – More Stories From the Hijacking 1:05:27 – The Sierra Leone Hostage Crisis Begins 1:07:12 – Two SAS Soldiers Killed Before the Mission 1:08:49 – D Squadron Gets the Call 1:09:52 – Deploying Into Sierra Leone 1:11:02 – How the Royal Irish Soldiers Were Taken Hostage 1:14:25 – When the Rescue Mission Became Necessary 1:16:02 – Intelligence & Planning the Assault 1:17:05 – Three Plans to Rescue the Hostages 1:18:01 – The Crazy Helicopter Assault Plan 1:20:33 – Launching the Mission 1:21:12 – The SAS Hits the Village 1:22:06 – Surprise, Firepower & Securing the Hostages 1:28:50 – Weapons, Mortars & SAS Firepower 1:30:31 – Why Phil Left the SAS 1:31:02 – Losing a Close Friend 1:32:46 – Leaving the Army Days Before 9/11 1:34:45 – Entering the Private Military Contracting World 1:35:34 – The Early Afghanistan Contracting Boom 1:36:43 – When the Contractor Lifestyle Caught Up With Him 1:37:21 – Drinking, Violence & an Attempted Murder Charge 1:38:54 – Gaza, West Africa & Anti-Piracy Work 1:41:47 – Becoming a Civilian After Years at War 1:42:19 – Prison, Losing Everything & Starting Over 1:43:31 – Breaking Into Television & News Media 1:44:18 – Reporting From Syria 1:47:37 – How the Media Uses Veterans 1:49:20 – Taking Back Control of His Own Story 1:50:39 – Building Forces Radio 1:53:03 – Launching the Forces Radio Podcasts 1:58:31 – Audience Questions 2:00:06 – Phil’s Favorite SAS Story From World War II 2:01:04 – Secret Surveillance in Northern Ireland 2:02:58 – How Conventional Troops Learned Covert Surveillance 2:04:34 – Closing Thoughts Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-team-house--5960890/support https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-team-house--5960890/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss.
37,293 words · 7 speakers
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