BFBS Daily Dits

With BFBS Big Salute Day just around the corner, Lauren talk to Jess Bracey about all things Operation Summit and the huge fundraising challenges taking place across the Forces community.

🏔️ In this episode:

• Find out what Operation Summit is all about and how you can get involved
• Hear how people across the Forces community are taking on everything from mountain climbs to stair challenges to raise money for military charities
• Get a behind-the-scenes look at what to expect from BFBS Big Salute Day on Thursday 8 October

📻 Want to get involved?

Operation Summit

🎮 The Lobby

The Lobby: Season 2, GG!

BFBS Germany headed to the Netherlands to see teams take on the Mount Everest Challenge, raising money for the Armed Force Para Snowsports Team.

Jess Bracey caught up with Jade Callaway to hear all about it.

🏔️ In this episode:

• Find out how teams tackled the equivalent height of Mount Everest
• Hear how Armed Forces Para Snowsports helps wounded, injured and sick personnel and veterans through winter sports
• Discover how the charity is creating new opportunities and pathways, from newcomers to Paralympic-level competition

🎿 See the challenge

BFBS Germany

📻 Want to get involved in the Big Salute?

Operation Summit

Lauren Mitchell takes Daily Dits on the road and dons a hard hat to join the Army Adventure Training Wing in Germany's Harz Mountains. Swapping the studio for the great outdoors, she’s with soldiers of The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers from Tidworth tackling rock climbing designed to build soldiering skills.

🧗 In this episode:

Wing Sergeant Major Tom Kirby on the wide range of adventurous training opportunities on offer.

Fusiliers’ soldiers challenge themselves on the rock face, developing confidence, resilience, communication and teamwork.

Collaboration and strong bonds between the British Army and their Germany counterparts. 

📻 More stories like this on BFBS Radio

BFBS Radio

🔊 Listen on smart speaker

BFBS Radio via your Smart Speaker

The Royal Gibraltar Regiment is preparing for a busy year of operational commitments.

Jess Bracey spoke to Gini Carlin about what's ahead for the regiment and the bittersweet final chapter of Lieutenant Colonel John Pitto's time as Commanding Officer. 

☀️ In this episode:

• Find out what’s ahead for the Royal Gibraltar Regiment as its operational tempo increases
• Exercises and Operations across the globe
• Meet Colonel John Pitto as he reflects on his time with the regiment

📺Exclusive interview about The Wargame

A thrilling and timely constructed-documentary series

Hear highlights from The BFBS Pro League Grand Final at the RAF Museum in London.  Lauren Mitchell gets the esports lowdown from Richard Wyeth after the three services and a civilian team battled it out for the trophy. 
 
🎮 In this episode: 
 
A look back at a summer of esports featuring F1 25, League of Legends and Rocket League. 

Hear from the champions! 

What's coming next from the BFBS Pro League? 

📲 Watch The BFBS Pro League Final  

BFBS Pro League on YouTube 

🎉 Win with the BFBS Survey 

BFBS Survey 

Senior Met Officer Bill Shielddods from RAF Leeming has gone from forecasting the weather to appearing in the new World War II drama Pressure.

Chris Kaye spoke to Lauren about how Bill landed him the role.

🎬 In this episode:

• Find out how Bill went from the Met Office to the big screen
• Hear how his experience with hand-drawn weather charts helped him land the role

• Get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Pressure

📻 Want to see more

BFBS Catterick Facebook

🎮 The Lobby

The Big One: Grand Final Weekend Is Here!

Airtanker has been recognised with a Gold Armed Forces Covenant Award for its commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community.

Gemma-Leigh James told Lauren all about the achievement.

✈️ In this episode:

• Find out about Airtanker and how they support the RAF
• Hear how Airtanker’s sponsored reservist programme brings together civilian and military expertise
• How Airtanker are helping inspire young girls into Aviation

📻 Listen to SITREP

What will replace the main service rifle, the SA80?

The countdown to the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 is on! As part of the launch, Invictus Foundation and The Education Exchange West Midlands have teamed up to create ‘INSPIRE’ - bringing lessons of resilience and mental fitness to classrooms. Lydia Tester found out more and joins Lauren Mitchell.

🫡In this episode:

The launch saw Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, go back to school, joining former Invictus Games competitors and pupils at a school in Birmingham.

Helen Helliwell, CEO, Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, on West Midlands communities getting ready to welcome 550 competitors from 25 nations.

INSPIRE shares stories of wounded, injured and sick service personnel to teach pupils lessons in resilience and mental fitness.

Plus, how service personnel and veterans can get early access tickets to the Games.

📻Hear more stories on BFBS Radio

BFBS Radio

🎮Win with BFBS Discord

BFBS Discord competition

More than 250 sailors from HMS Queen Elizabeth have marched through Edinburgh as the ship's company exercised its Freedom of the City.

Mark McKenzie tells Lauren all about the parade.

🥁 In this episode:

• Hear from HMS Queen Elizabeth’s Commanding Officer, Captain Claire Thompson
• Discover how the ship’s company are balancing celebrations with preparations for their next phase
• Chat of the F-35 flypast! 

📱Check out the parade

BFBS Scotland

🏷️ Fancy winning some shopping vouchers

BFBS Survey

Judo might be an individual sport, but at the UK Armed Forces Judo Championships, teamwork and inter-service spirit are just as important.

George Wedlake headed to HMS Nelson to find out more about the competition and told Lauren all about the day.

🥋 In this episode:

• What makes judo such an intricate and fast-paced sport
• Hear from Royal Marines Commando and former Team GB judoka Chris Sherrington
• Why Judo is a great sport for the Armed Forces

⛰️ Operation Summit

Take part in the big salute

Serving personnel, veterans, families and supporters were brought together to celebrate some of the incredible people and organisations making a difference across the military community at the Armed Forces Community Awards.

Lauren Mitchel spoke to Natasha Renaux who got dressed up for the event, to hear all about the night.

🏆 In this episode

• Natasha takes us behind the scenes at the Armed Forces Community Awards

• Meet Hounds for Heroes, winners of the Animal Partnership Award

• Plus, Natasha shares some of her highlights from the night — including meeting Alfie Bo!

🎶 Watch Alfie Bo

BFBS Instagram

🎮 Catch up on The Lobby

Stelios Makes Military History!

RAF Benson has given its iconic gate guardian a new lease of life. The Spitfire has been refurbished and was rededicated on the 86th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Lauren Mitchell chats to BFBS's Jacob Dyer about the special ceremony and the story behind the aircraft.

✈️ In this episode

• Find out what a gate guardian is
• Discover the story of Flight Sergeant William “Bill” Johnson
• Plus hear about the behind the scenes of the Spitfires restoration, including the many hours spent removing old layers of paint

📸 See the Spitfire

BFBS Brize Norton

🎥 Find out about Pressure

Behind the scenes of Pressure

American football is making its mark in the Armed Forces, with flag football offering a fun, non-contact way to get into the sport. 

Lauren spoke to BFBS Colchester's Ashley Paul after he headed to the Military Corrective Training Centre to find out more about Tri-Service flag football! 

🏈 In this episode 

• Find out what flag football is! 

• How American football is growing within the Armed Forces and across the UK 

• How the Army, Royal Navy and RAF are working together to grow the sport 

📱 Check out the Touchdown! 

BFBS Colchester Facebook 

🤖 Learn about how to use AI for your everyday 

AI Skills for Military Partners

What can you expect from a new posting to Joint Force Command, Brunssum - the NATO command headquarters in the Netherlands? The military community came together to welcome newly posted service families with world cuisine, culture and live music at the Newcomers & Families’ Day. BFBS Germany presenter, Jade Callaway visited the event and catches up with Lauren Mitchell.

🥳 In this episode:

How newcomers are supported when arriving in the Netherlands posting.

The role JFC Brunssum plays in NATO led Europe-wide operations.

Colonel James Cackett, the UK’s Senior National Representative, outlines the value of the day.

Culture, community and the international atmosphere that make JFC Brunssum a unique new posting.

📲 Watch more on social media

BFBS Germany on Instagram

🖥️ Win with BFBS Esports Discord

BFBS Discord competition

The first ever military team has just completed an epic adventure training expedition to Greenland. Exercise Greenland Legacy 26 saw the tri-service team replicate Fridtjof Nansen's journey to and across Greenland in 1888. BFBS presenter Lydia Tester spoke to some of the crew about their experiences, and she shares more with Gini Carlin.


🫡In this episode:

Team Leader Lieutenant Colonel Tony Lancashire on highlights of the adventure.

Lance Corporal Charley Marr’s experience as the youngest and only female member of the team.

The group battle storms, navigate crevasses and endure temperatures of -40°C.

How adventurous training builds resilience, collaboration and leadership skills.

 

📻Listen to more stories like this

Totally Connected

🧗‍♂️Sign up to the BFBS Big Salute

The Big Salute Operation Summit  

To mark the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in the United States, firefighters in the Falkland Islands took part in a memorial stair climb at Longdon Gym. The team took to Stair Masters, climbing the equivalent of 110 flights of stairs - matching each of the height of the World Trade Centre towers – to remember the 343 firefighters who lost their lives. Supporting their counterparts worldwide, the challenge supports vital emergency service charities. 

Tom Paine visited the gym and joins Gini Carlin to chat about the event.   
 
‍🚒In this episode: 
 
Corporal Matt Hyland on the challenge’s physical demands, the importance of remembering 9/11, and why supporting emergency service charities is important. 

The Fire Section don full PPE and breathing apparatus to climb the equivalent of 110 flights of stairs on Stair Masters.  

Firefighters worldwide stand with their counterparts to honour the 343 members of the New York Fire Department who lost their lives in the attacks. 

Plus, there’s more on the vital work of Firefighters across the armed forces. 

📲 Watch more on the story on social media 
 
BFBS Falkland Islands on Facebook 

🎧 Listen to BFBS Pro League: The Lobby 
 
Jonah’s War Dogs Weekend 

Today is National Day, the biggest day of the year for Gibraltar. On the Rock it’s a national holiday and sees people dress in red and white and throw a party. But behind the celebrations, music, food and good times, the day holds a great deal of significance for proud Gibraltarians. Gini Carlin heads to Casemates Square to experience the day’s celebrations.

🥳 In this episode

Lieutenant Colonel John Pitto, Commanding Officer of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, on what the day means to him and fellow Gibraltarians.

Learn of the significance of the day, Gibraltar's unique identity and why National Day remains such a powerful expression of community spirit and self-determination.

Gibraltarians party across the Rock with live music shows, traditional food, Tinto de Verano and everyone dressed in red and white.  

📻 Listen to more stories on radio

BFBS Radio

⚽ Watch the 2026 Falklands Cup

Marines v Paras: How to watch 2026 Falklands Cup football clash live

At RAF Cosford the very first Royal Air Force Functional Fitness Championships were held. The phys activities incorporate strength, mobility, balance, and coordination – to train aviators’ bodies for real-world combat demands. BFBS Forces News reporter Joe Hearne attended the championships and joins Lauren Mitchell for the lowdown.

🏋️ In this episode:

Squadron Leader Abi Bagshaw, Chair of the RAF's Functional Fitness Association shares how the competition first came about.

Corporal Chris Mowlam-Jones describes the competitive side of the phys challenges.

From sprinting into cover across uneven terrain to rescuing casualties, learn how the physical activities upskill aviators.

How the sport draws on the popularity of CrossFit and Hyrox. 

Plus, the future of Functional Fitness as a recognised sport within the military. 

💻 Read more on this story online

BFBS Forces News

📺Discover Forces Shorts on BFBS TV Player App 

BFBS TV Player 

The Royal Regiment of Scotland was honoured with the first-ever Freedom of Inverclyde, marking a significant moment in the regiment's 20th anniversary year. Serving soldiers and veterans proudly paraded through Gourock, Greenock and Port Glasgow. Lauren Mitchell catches up with BFBS Scotland's Jim Gellatly, who attended the ceremony and parade.

🫡 In this episode

Lt Col (Retd) Jonathan Tink, Regimental Secretary reflects on the significance of the day.

An emotional homecoming for Cpl Paul McEntee, Pipes, Drums and Bugles of 2 SCOTS proudly marches through his hometown.

The importance of the strong, historic connections between the Regiment and the local community.    

🎥 See more on the story on social media

BFBS Scotland

🧗 Join the BFBS Big Salute Op Summit

Op Summit

At Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe – SHAPE in Belgium, the community of 32 NATO nations came together for SHAPE Fest - one of the year’s biggest events. From international food to live music and military traditions to cultural displays, SHAPE Fest brings together all allied nations at this annual event. BFBS Germany presenters, Curtis Tyler and Lauren Mitchell attended and look back on a big weekend of celebrations

🎉In this episode

Squadron Leader Ree Rafael describes the scale of SHAPE Fest

The Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General Alexus G. Grynkewich, United States Air Force, welcomes military personnel and families to the event

What goes into the planning this huge multicultural international event

Plus, Finnish rock bands, Dutch clog-making and classic British garden party cuisine!


📲See more on SHAPE Fest on social media

BFBS Germany on Instagram

⚽Listen to BFBS Radio specials

Looking ahead to the new Champions League season