Resilience is a term we often hear in Defence. A soldier’s resilience measures their ability to cope with challenging situations while continuing to push through. Throughout training establishments and at the unit level, we consistently strive to enhance the resilience of individuals and teams, which typically involves subjecting them to tough and demanding training.

As we consider The State of the Army Profession through 2025, it is imperative to consider all components of fighting power – intellectual, moral, and physical. Resilience applies obviously to the physical component but also to the intellectual and moral aspects. We need to perform physically when we're most stretched, while also maintaining a sharp intellectual edge when we’re tired, and upholding sound moral principles in ethical decision-making when we might be compromised. Hence, as a corporal and chaplain at 6 RAR, we are particularly eager to foster the foundations of our own resilience, while also understanding the science and art of resilience to develop it in others.

We have eagerly embraced the inspiration and lessons from Ross Edgley’s story. Edgley is a sports scientist who lectures and coaches around the world on the psychology and science of adventure. He is also an iconic figure in the health and fitness industry, particularly as an avid ultra-marathon sea swimmer.

His most epic swim is the topic of his book The Art of Resilience. Starting in Margate England, the story sees Edgley taking on a 2884-km swim to be the first person to swim around the entirety of Great Britain in one go. He completed this feat of endurance on 4 November 2018 after 157 days of swimming an average of 18 km/day and thus broke the record for the World's Longest Staged Sea Swim! The journey is documented on Red Bull TV as Ross Edgley's Great British Swim.

What we most appreciated about The Art of Resilience is how Edgley demonstrates that there are multiple ways resilience can be nurtured. Through his optimistic outlook, he commands a joyful yet emotional read on developing it. Each chapter narrates a challenging stage of the journey in conversation with an aspect of what he describes as “stoic sports science” – an invaluable set of lessons drawing from the best of stoicism, research-based sports nutrition, and endurance.

Edgely’s physique was described as short and stocky, with the book humorously noting his “wide birthing hips” and unusually heavy head, placing him at a disadvantage from the start. Elite competitive swimmers are typically tall, narrow-waisted, and have long limbs. Undeterred by this apparent natural disability, Edgely managed to transform it into a strength, demonstrating that a change in perspective may be all that is needed to succeed. This was just the first of many examples of overcoming adversity through resilience and what he would later refer to as stoic sports science.

Confronting physical, mental, and emotional challenges throughout the book, Edgely faces almost daily turmoil that he describes overcoming one chapter at a time. From extreme fatigue and serious chafing to temporary blindness due to jellyfish stings and evading cargo ships, marine life, and Arctic storms, Edgely maintains an optimistic tone, seeking solutions from within.

“Sometimes the best athletes aren’t the strongest, fastest or fittest, but they are the best at suffering and enduring pain.”

“Resilience is not some superhuman gift that is possessed by just the brave and the bold, it is innate within all of us.”

This mentality is professed throughout the book and every challenge sees Edgely leaning on his past experiences to give him nourishment and insight into each obstacle he faces.

Tying in with the military phrase “you don’t rise to the challenge, you fall back on your training”, Edgely falls back on not just his training but his exposure to a wide array of experiences.

He articulates well the biological nature of humans, which has driven evolution through immense perseverance in survival, while also reflecting on his journeys around the world experiencing diverse cultures.

Edgely writes with a distinct conversational style that makes you feel as if you're journeying alongside him. From reflecting on Greek philosophical teachings to racing a Royal Navy battleship, and even navigating emotional family struggles, you are there, cheering for Edgely every step of the way.

This is a must-read for anyone who enjoys challenging themselves and those who want to help others grow and develop. The Art of Resilience is a book that's hard to put down, so strap in and join Edgley’s journey.

Bibliographical Notes

The book’s publisher’s details are Ross Edgley, The Art of Resilience: Strategies for an Unbreakable Mind and Body (Harper Collins, 2021). Edgley’s other bestselling books which document aspects of his training are The World's Fittest Book (Sphere, 2018), Blueprint: Build a Bulletproof Body for Extreme Adventure in 365 Days (Harper Collins, 2021) and The World’s Fittest Cookbook (Harper Collins, 2022). He wrote on strength and conditioning regularly for Men’s Fitness UK.