From undercover raids to rescuing hostages and blocking enemy lines, SAS: Who Dares Wins ' Ollie and Foxy have done it all, passing extreme tests of endurance and resilience. But despite the gruelling physical requirements needed to become Special Forces Operatives, the former soldiers say it's "all in the mind".
Endurance, adaptability and persistence are all characteristics that instructors look out for, but you've got to have the mental strength as well as the physical to make it. Matthew 'Ollie' Ollerton and Jason 'Foxy' Fox spoke to the Mirror about their hardest challenges to date, as they launch a brand new project bringing mind and body together.
Speaking about the battles he faced in the field, Foxy, 44, said: "Mental strength plays a huge role - I'd say it's 70/30. You can be physically robust but it's all in the brain.
"Some of the stuff you do in the Special Forces is f***king bonkers. When you sit down and actually think about it, it's got everything to do with your mind."
Ollie, 49, added: "Your mind gives up way before your body. It's all in your head. Your brain always looks out to protect you."
The ex-Royal Marines agreed the most difficult physical challenge of their careers to date - that they could disclose - is Special Forces selection.
"It's the biggest shock to the system. It's not the hardest thing we've done but it's the hardest thing we've done by choice," Foxy explained.
During their time in the Forces, Ollie and Foxy both openly had huge battles with their mental health.
"My biggest was giving up drinking," Ollie said. "Back in 2016, I gave up drinking after SAS: Who Dares Wins Series 2."
When he returned to the UK after serving in Baghdad, Ollie took to alcohol and drugs as a way of coping with the loss of routine in his life.
"For me, that was the biggest battle because so much of my life revolved around it," Ollie said. "I drank for eight months since then, but now I don't drink at all.
"One day, I listed down all the ways alcohol was adding to my life and tried to find the benefits, but I couldn't come up with anything. Not a single positive thing.
"I had to get rid of it. So much of my life revolved around it."
Foxy explained his hardest mental battles have been struggling with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder after horrific experiences on the battlefield.
"It's been a journey with our mental health," he admitted.
The pair have overcome their lowest points by creating routines and prioritising themselves - in fact, Ollie says it's the first and most important part of every day.
"It's not about our wives, families or jobs. It's about us as we invest in ourselves and effectively build our mental robustness," he said.
"To be any good to anyone around you, you need to be selfish. Look out for yourself first."
With a drive to help others find the courage to prioritise themselves, the co-stars have launched a new fitness programme 'The Mission Series' on leading wellness and fitness app TRUCONNECT.
The eight-week programme combines basic military training with personal goals and targets to "help you become a better version of yourself".
"With our exposure from the television show, we felt we had a duty to share our knowledge and experience to help other people," Ollie said.
"It goes beyond physical capabilities and really focuses on mental health and wellbeing too."
For them both, having a clear direction and determined mindset matters - a lot.
"Having a 'why' is so important - the 'how' becomes easy after that," Ollie explained. "If you don't have a reason, you'll find an excuse not to do it.
"On the app, we focus on mental motivation and hacks to help engage your mind. Until you're mentally prepared, you're never physically ready."
Foxy added: "It's got everything to do with the mind. You've got to think about that feeling of finishing and keep it prominent in your mind.
"The app isn't going to get you fit - it's your head getting you up to do it."
Battle Ready 360: The Mission Series is available exclusively on TRUCONNECT. Download the app for a free 14-day trial.
