Neil Sexton

Former Major General and Army Aviator, still a sailor and glider pilot. Communications and defence consultant, non-exec director and charity trustee.

[Neil Sexton @neilsexton659]

@NotesFASMil @GPRSociety @PRA_Airborne @BritishArmy @ArmyAirCorps Ron is still very much with us, as are some two dozen other GPR veterans, but sadly none was able to join the annual commemoration this morning.

[Neil Sexton @neilsexton659]

On a windswept hill on Salisbury Plain we gathered today to mark the foundation of the Glider Pilot Regiment, whose skill, courage and sacrifice had such an impact at critical moments in World War 2. Sad inevitability though - for the 1st time there were no GPR veterans with us.

[Neil Sexton @neilsexton659]

Welcome home from your world record breaking trek across Antarctica, @PreetChandi10! What a superb athlete, accomplished explorer, impressive officer and inspirational person you are. And happy birthday too.

[Ryan Fedasiuk @RyanFedasiuk]

It's been about 6 months since I started a job in government.

The learning curve can be steep at first — especially if you're unfamiliar with the parlance of bureaucrats.

For the uninitiated, here's a 🧵 with some commonly used phrases and what they mean in plain English:

[Neil Sexton @neilsexton659]

What a fabulous achievement by Capt Preet Chandi MBE, a truly impressive and inspiring individual.

@ArmyMedServices

[Team Forces @TeamForcesUK]

BREAKING NEWS – We’ve just heard that @PreetChandi10 has officially broken the record for the longest solo, unsupported, and unassisted polar expedition by any woman in history! The previous female record was 1,368 km skied by Anja Blacha from Germany in 2019. @KensingtonRoyal

[Neil Sexton @neilsexton659]

It was a pleasure to welcome the @ArmyAirCorps’ newest officers to our Army Aviation family yesterday. Congratulations on your King’s Commissions, 2Lts Michael Walsh, Jamie Rogerson, Gus Groves and James Shields and best wishes for exciting years ahead. #ServeToLead #AboveTheBest

[Neil Sexton @neilsexton659]

11 o’clock on Remembrance Sunday in an English village, a poignant scene barely changed in the last 100 years.

We will remember them.

#remembranceday2022

[Neil Sexton @neilsexton659]

@nicholadrummond A subject discussed lots by 500 officers, officials and industry at last week’s Global Defence Helicopter conf in Warsaw. Email me, I’ll share our thoughts. In brief: no nation sees a reduced need for rotary wing incl AH; don’t rush to conclusions based on poor 🇷🇺 avn employment!

[Neil Sexton @neilsexton659]

First trip to 🇵🇱 for an excellent defence helicopter conference and time afterwards to explore.Reminders of Poles fighting bravely alongside the WW2 Allies despite their country’s occupation. And I saw the real Maid of Syrena, a badge still proudly worn by two @ArmyAirCorps sqns.

[Neil Sexton @neilsexton659]

@RichardSwarbri1 @Defence_Leaders @RoyalNavy @BritishArmy It’s a huge issue that we know is turning people off military flying careers but it’s not on the #GDH22 agenda because other nations don’t seem to be suffering aircrew training hold-ups like the UK. @AscentFlight are here so I’ll ask them how and when it’s going to improve.

[Neil Sexton @neilsexton659]

600 delegates, 49 countries, 73 industry partners and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine rightly dominating the 2022 Global Defence Helicopter Conference. Two more days of lessons, aspirations, innovations and plans to be shared at this critical time for European security.

#GDH22

[Neil Sexton @neilsexton659]

Great send-off for @PreetChandi10 tonight. Having spoken to 18000 students in the 4 months after her 2021 S Pole trek she’s about to cross the Antarctic - 1100 miles in ~70 days. “I’ve no doubt it’ll be difficult but what’s 70 days in a lifetime?”

#rolemodel
#breakingboundaries

[Neil Sexton @neilsexton659]

When I’m asked what I miss about helicopter flying it’s this. Low level night flying takes regular practice so no surprise as I let the dog out just now to see one of a stream of the new @ArmyAirCorps ‘Echo’ model Apaches, making the most of the stunning moon this evening.

[Neil Sexton @neilsexton659]

“… carrying an aardvark carved out of tofu” 😂. In her inimitable style Sarah has nailed this call for an ever-improving approach to mental health in the Armed Forces and our lives more generally.

‘Make it your business to say, “Are you alright mate?”’
#MentalHealthDay2022

[mynamessarah @mynamessarah3]

#MentalHealthDay2022 @BritishArmy @HelpforHeroes @PoppyLegion @CombatStress @MichaelMihaul24 @mercer_felicity @JohnnyMercerUK @HughKeir @gavtopley @PhilipIngMBE @neilsexton659 @a1eq1 @neqs71 @__FMB_ @petronious @Steve1Sandwich @UkMilitaryMinds @sie617

[Neil Sexton @neilsexton659]

@Jamie_Harle_ @lucycthomas @BBSAirport @SEMET_Aviation You’re clearly more persuasive than I have been with Mrs S, Jamie. This is presumably the before photo? Was she still smiling afterwards?

[Neil Sexton @neilsexton659]

@mynamessarah3 Brilliant Sarah! Reminded me of an airtrooper called Gifted, who regularly forgot to think.

[Neil Sexton @neilsexton659]

New York and Manhattan, bustling, noisy and beautiful in late summer sunshine. Unexpected British iconography on 5th Avenue and @HMSQNLZ majestic in the harbour.

[Neil Sexton @neilsexton659]

In the midst of tales of the Sons of Liberty, taxation without representation, a ‘massacre’ and eventual revolution, we came across 100s of Iranians in downtown Boston protesting about the treatment of women in Iran by a tyrannical regime. A day of historical resonance, for sure.

[Neil Sexton @neilsexton659]

Rest in peace Your Majesty and thank you for your seven decades of service, duty and example as our Sovereign and Commander-in-Chief.

[Neil Sexton @neilsexton659]

@bea_rmc @spikeyspud Best of luck Bea.