Military dream team assembles for Arctic adventure highlighting mental health in the military
A military 'dream team' has assembled for an epic Arctic adventure to shine a spotlight on mental health in the military.
In association with SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, military legends, adventurers and TV personalities, Jason 'Foxy' Fox, Aldo Kane, Military Cross holder Brian Wood and Karl Hinett have launched the new campaign.
Their self-supported ultra-challenge trek Project Fire and Ice will see the team take on a 500km unsupported Arctic expedition through the snow and ice of Swedish Lapland dragging sledges containing all of their equipment and supplies needed to complete the challenge.
With the extreme ultra not taking place until March 2025, they will be going through multiple training events to prepare for the physical and psychological aspects involved.
In the video above, BFBS Forces News joined the training and attempted to keep up with the military dream team.
'Monster of a challenge'
Former British Army soldier Karl Hinett enlisted the support of his fellow veterans who have all publicly highlighted their struggles with mental health.
Next year marks 20 years on from his life-changing injuries following an attack on his Warrior tank in Iraq.
The former Staffordshire Regiment soldier wanted to commemorate the anniversary "in a special way" while raising some money and awareness.
"SSAFA was the perfect fit," he told BFBS Forces News. And after telling the charity about what he wanted to do, it presented him with this "monster of a challenge".
The Army veteran added: "The fact that I have got three others, who all have three unique powerful backgrounds, that we are all doing it together, it's really comforting knowing that we are going to be enduring this pretty horrific challenge altogether.
"If any of us are struggling, I know that we've got each other's backs to get us through."
'A happy place'
"Physical fitness for me, is one of the key attributes to me staying in a good place mentally", Jason 'Foxy' Fox, a former Royal Marine Commando and SBS Sergeant, later turned TV personality, said.
He added: "I think it's been ingrained into me from an early age." His father "loved his fitness and instilled it into us as kids and then, obviously, I went on and joined the military, joined the Marines and, sort of, had it always there, drilled into me, the discipline to keep doing it".
"I've just carried it forward, and it's like a bit of a happy place for me. Even though I'm unhappy when I'm doing it, it makes me feel great afterwards."
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