Radio Garmsir: British PsyOps in Helmand (2008–09) | Royal Welsh, RIAB, Sangin, MBEs & a Shock Twist

Send us a text

Real British military & life stories from the 1970s–2010s: Germany postings, Afghanistan/Helmand, PsyOps & Intelligence, rugby, skiing, Mess life and family—told with humour, honesty, and hard-won lessons. Subscribe for true operations, training insights, and veterans’ stories.

From frostbitten Garmsir to the tense alleys of Sangin, this episode shows how a tiny PsyOps team turned RIAB (Radio in a Box) into a force-multiplier across Helmand. We set up Radio Garmsir inside the FOB (too risky in the District Centre), raised an antenna over HESCO, and—within 48 hours—song requests flooded in. The Royal Welsh pushed south and our broadcasts carried with them, families gathering at PBs to listen. We fixed Sangin’s fried 4kW set, trained local presenters, and stood up stations at Kajaki, Girishk (with our superb Danish hosts), and beyond.

Expect real British Army ops: dusty convoys, interpreters on the mic, near-misses, a Christmas sing-along cut short by incoming, a life-saving flight change at PB Gibraltar, and a rare Brigade “bloody impressive.” Back home came doctrine changes, training the next wave—and a double-shock finale: MBEs on the 2009 Queen’s Birthday Honoursand a £12.5m syndicate win.

If you love authentic military & life stories, Afghanistan operations, PsyOps/Int, plus the thread of rugby, skiing, Mess life, and family, you’re in the right place.

Support the show