Combat. Chaos. Survival. What does a decade of war really do to the mind and body?

In this jaw-dropping episode of Beyond the Battlefield, I sit down with Adz Lison, former Royal Marine Commando and Physical Training Instructor, to uncover the brutal, unfiltered truth behind life on the front lines of one of the longest and bloodiest campaigns in modern military history: Afghanistan.

Adz didn’t just pass through the Royal Marines - he stood out. Completing the elite Physical Training Instructors (PTI) Course, one of the most physically demanding qualifications in the entire British military, Adz went on to train Royal Marines recruits to reach levels of fitness matched only by Olympic athletes and world-class operators.

But it’s his frontline experience that will leave you speechless.

With four operational combat deployments in Afghanistan, Adz endured the kind of relentless violence and trauma that few can comprehend. He fought in daily firefights lasting up to 8 hours, came under constant threat of IEDs, and was blown up more than 20 times during a single tour - and survived. These weren’t rare moments. This was his daily life. The brutality of war, the chaos of combat, and the constant proximity to death shaped a decade of his life.

In one story that captures the insanity of it all, Adz recounts how just 72 hours after surviving a ferocious gun battle and another explosion, he found himself sat in his living room back in the UK - physically home, but mentally still at war.

We explore the critical question: Are we doing enough for the mental health of our servicemen and women - during and after their time in uniform?

This episode is a raw and powerful insight into combat trauma, survival, leadership under fire, resilience, and the psychological toll of war. Adz speaks openly about the mental health battle that follows years of intense service and the struggles and coping mechanisms that continue long after the battlefield has fallen silent.

Topics Covered:

Royal Marines life and elite military training.
The Physical Training Instructor (PTI) Course.
Afghanistan combat experience.
IEDs, firefights, and close calls.
Trauma and survival.
Post-combat mental health.
Veteran support and the transition home.
Leadership in war.
Resilience and recovery.
Physical and psychological strength.