JJ Chalmers – Invictus Games medallist, television presenter and Strictly contestant – delivered a lecture at Faslane and visited a submarine last week.
A former Royal Marine reservist, he was in Afghanistan with 42 Commando when his life was profoundly changed by a Taliban improvised explosive device.
With vivid, and often uncomfortable, detail, he took the audience through his harrowing journey of recovery, illustrating how his and his comrades’ training came into play.
A Royal Navy spokesperson said: “JJ talked about physical and mental resilience, particularly its inherent vulnerabilities and this resonated deeply with the audience.
Their reactions and the feedback given to JJ emphasised the impact of his words.
“The term ‘inspiring’ was frequently used, reflecting JJ’s ability to emerge from the darkest of times.
“His story provided a profound insight into human performance under extreme conditions, highlighting the significance of training, well-being, and the importance of supporting each other and ourselves.”
Afterwards he went on board one of the Astute-class submarines which are based on the Clyde.
This was the first in a series of human performance lectures in the HMS Neptune Supermess which will be given by experts in various fields.
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