Team Kili – The Royal Marines
Danny
Danny joined the Royal Marines in 2003. He was drafted to 42 Commando and became a member of 5 Troop Lima Company. Danny spent only 9 months with Lima Company before being selected for 42 CDO RM’s Reconnaissance troop. He undertook pre deployment training and deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Herrick 5. After this particularly busy tour Danny was awarded the Military Cross.
He later deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Herrick 9. During this tour two of his close friends were killed and Danny was flown home as a casualty to be later diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety and depression.
Danny is now a civilian and manages the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for a school in Plymouth as well as developing his own small business working with young people using the outdoors as a vehicle to personal development.
James (Flo)
Cpl James Nightingale joined the Royal Marines in September 1997. Through his time in the military he has been awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery and completed two tours of Afghanistan where he was unfortunately injured by a gunshot wound to the face in 2009. He continues to work hard on his rehabilitation and was recently a member of the British Military team at the inaugural Invictus Games. In April 2015 he was a member of a team that completed the last degree to the North Pole, raising over £100,000 for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.
Mark
Mark was born in Gloucester. After 5 years working as an aerospace engineer he decided that this was not what he wanted as a career and subsequently joined the Royal Marines in October 1988.
He served at 40 Commando, 30 Commando IX Group, 539 Assault Squadron RM, Commando Helicopter Force, Commando Logistics Regt, 1st Battalion RNLMC (Netherlands Exchange) and CTCRM. Mark is currently working as a Careers Advisor.
Operational tours included Desert Storm (1st Gulf War), Kurdistan (Op Haven), Bosnia, Kosovo, and numerous tours of Afghanistan and Iraq.
Mark was diagnosed with PTSD after serving in Bosnia in 1993 where his team drove into a village that was being ethnically cleansed. In 2011 he was again diagnosed with PTSD after witnessing a helicopter carrying 8 men from his Unit, including friends, crash, killing all on board in Iraq in 2003.
Scott
Scott, from West Yorkshire, joined the Royal Marines in 2008. After passing out he then went to 42 commando where he deployed on several training packages such as mountain training and an America training package.
Scott also completed a LRR course whilst he was a 42 Commando.
In 2011 Scott deployed to Afghanistan with Lima company 42 on Operation Herrick 14.
Whilst on tour Scott was involved in an IED blast which left him blind in his right eye. He left the marines in 2013.
In 2015 Scott successfully completed the Walk of Britain with Walking With The Wounded, a 1000 mile walk through Scotland, England and Wales in 72 days.
Tom
Tom joined the Army in 2002 and left in 2005 in order to join the Royal Marines. Unfortunately this took a little longer than planned due to travelling and generally having a good time!
He joined the Royal Marines in 2007 and was based at 40 Commando, Charlie Company. Shortly after joining Charlie Company Tom passed selection for Recce Troop. He experienced a Mediterranean passage, which included several training exercises in various countries, and jungle training in Malaysia and Brunei.
In 2010 Tom deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Herrick 12. Along with his troop, he was first on the scene of a fatal helicopter crash which killed several pilots and crew. The debris from the crash caused injury to Tom’s eyes, leaving him with an undiagnosed condition, and led to him being medically downgraded.
Tom left the Royal Marines in 2012 and pursued a career in film. He now runs his own aerial filming company.
