Squadron Corporal-Major Mick Flynn of the Household Cavalry is a highly decorated British frontline soldier who has served in Northern Ireland, the Falklands, Bosnia and Afghanistan. To his mates Mick Flynn is known as Bullet Magnet or Mad Mick because he is always in the thick of the fiercest fighting. Mick Flynn is also the author of soon-to-be-published Bullet Magnet, which tells the story of his remarkable military career. Now, at age 50 and after already completing two tours of duty in Afghanistan, Mick Flynn is returning to Afghanistan for one last mission in command of a Spartan light tank. Bravo Zulu Squadron Corporal-Major!
Major Flynn’s 22 years were up a couple of years ago but under new rules he was able to stay in the Forces for another five years. However, it is highly unusual for a 50-year-old to be commanding an armoured vehicle in combat. He says he is somewhat of a test case. “I have lots of paperwork. I’m a bit under the microscope.”
Physically he feels comfortable and prepared. “Tomorrow I’ll do an eight-mile run with 50lb on my back, with a weapon and a helmet. If I didn’t think I was up to this tour I wouldn’t be going on it.”
For him, this tour, like all the others before, will be a chance to test himself. “You don’t know how you are going to react to each ambush or bomb going off. Each is different to the one before and you don’t act the same.”
He finds going into battle “interesting”. It is a quite remarkable ethic and hard for an outsider to understand. Major Flynn says it is difficult for anyone who hasn’t spent time with the Army to comprehend the job and why he enjoys it.
For those not familiar with British ranks, Squadron Corporal-Major is equivalent to First Sergeant (U.S. Army) and Master Warrant Officer (Canadian Armed Forces).
By: Shelldrake
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