CONFLICT

Written by Tip Cullen

‘Conflict’ is a word which is both a noun and a verb but whatever way you look at it, it will always involve an element of confrontation. When you choose to become a member of the armed forces ‘conflict’ becomes a routine part of your business, alongside resolution. You play a part in seeking that positive outcome to all events. Whether on the ground during operations, in the barracks/on board ship delivering day to day duties or supporting government agencies on home shores. When I joined up, I soon realised what was the core of my job; conflict and resolution (yin and yang). 

When becoming a Royal Marine Commando, you have volunteered to take part in an intensive training regime, conditioning you to assist in dealing with a full spectrum of battle. Full bore kinetic war fighting to peace, humanitarian and hearts and minds mission’s. The real skill comes with being able to transition between the genre’s. The conditioning doesn't finish on completion of your training, you're expected to deploy to every climatic and geographical region of the world, using a full spectrum of insertion, extraction and mobility means to achieve your mission and eventually, strive for ‘resolution’. You become immersed in diverse cultures, ways of life that appear alien and unsterile to your own. Being able to act like the natives is subject to living or dieing, You have to learn to operate with every type of person in every human landscape. You quickly accept that we are all human, we all have similar passions, needs and fears. You have to discipline yourself to always deliver an optimal output, not for you, but for the men around you. I have always had the belief that you are delivering the will of the people you have left at home, the people you love.

This was my destiny.

This was all I wanted to become.

Joining at a time not long after the Falklands war, we all felt there would be nothing for us to do or there would not be an appetite for further deployments in the foreseeable future?

How wrong we were… 

Within 3 months of joining my first unit we deployed on operations. I soon specialised in reconnaissance, then trained as a Royal Marines Mountain Leader. I remained in this role as part of the lead element of 3 Commando Brigade for a number of years. Indeed, leading up to and after 9/11, I was operationally deployed every year for 5 years. A very intense period where I lost several great friends, killed in operations. This attrition to the prime of our young people continuing until the end of 3 Commando Brigade’s commitment to Operation HERRICK.

Now I am an actor… 

‘I am Andy’, the team Commander/SUNRAY of the ECHO callsign in the series ‘Sunray’. I genuinely empathise with him, his situation and condition. He is made up of a collective of tiny pieces of every person that has ever had to deal with conflict, no matter its severity or capacity. Andy wishes for resolution, it just takes some longer to find it.  

When I am Andy, I have a strong gathering of friends watching over me. 

This is for them. 

TC