Good Afternoon and thanks for your question.

I would say the simple reason for why you need to be physically prepared is because we as soldiers need to have a good level of fitness in order to do our job effectively and efficiently, and our Physical Training Instructors will ensure that you achieve this level of fitness once you've shown you have the commitment and motivation to meet the joining standard.

Mental fitness however is a much larger area to focus on. You need to be mentally fit in so many ways. One of the biggest and first hurdles you may face when joining the army is something similar to homesickness, Missing family, friends and home. Many of our soldiers, when joining, have not spent a lot of time away from these things, and so to have that suddenly be the case, it can be quite difficult. Having the mental strength and robustness to overcome this, look beyond the issue you're facing and focus on what lies ahead will be absolutely beneficial and we have many people in the army who will support you in getting to that stage.

Another area where you will need a good amount of mental fitness is to have a strong will and determination. A very good book I can recommend is "Can't Hurt me" by David Goggins, which tells about the astonishing life he has had and the techniques he has used to get there. He talks about callousing the mind, which is essentially improving that mental toughness and using it to your advantage. Reading it all from his perspective really shows what can be achieved and can be very inspiring too.

Finally, Mental fitness can come in so many ways, from having that strong will we mentioned and the determination, but it can also be shown in empathy and flexibility. Being able to analyse situations without distractions, focusing on what is important. An example of this could be in a combat situation where you are coming under fire from an enemy threat, when suddenly you notice an enemy soldier on the floor, unarmed and clearly very injured, shouting for help. You must have the mental robustness and clarity of mind to make the best decision in line with the laws of armed conflict. Providing medical aid to the wounded person where possible, despite the fact that they may have been firing at you only a short time ago. The preservation of life is absolutely essential, and following the rules and laws laid out to us is one of the things which sets us apart from other military organisations.

You can imagine that having to make this decision will be a very difficult one, but through your training and having the correct mentality will ensure the overall effectiveness of the British Army as a whole.

I hope this answers your question.

28 January, 2022 12:22