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This colonel-turned-mercenary has been battling terrorism for decades

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en-US"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, shrink-to-fit=no" /> <link rel="profile" href="http://gmpg.org/xfn/11"> <link rel="pingback" href="https://www.wearethemighty.com/xmlrpc.php"> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//s.skimresources.com' /> <!-- Preload featured images --> <link rel="preload" fetchpriority="high" as="image" href="https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17310803/origin.jpg?quality=85&#038;w=1024" imagesizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> <meta name='robots' content='index, follow, max-image-preview:large, max-snippet:-1, max-video-preview:-1' /> <link rel="preconnect" href="//fonts.googleapis.com" /> <link rel="preconnect" href="//fonts.gstatic.com" /> <!-- Chartbeat --> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//static.chartbeat.com" /> <script type="text/javascript"> (function() { /** CONFIGURATION START **/ var _sf_async_config = window._sf_async_config = (window._sf_async_config || {}); _sf_async_config.uid = '61351'; _sf_async_config.domain = 'wearethemighty.com'; _sf_async_config.useCanonical = true; _sf_async_config.useCanonicalDomain = true; _sf_async_config.sections = 'History,Mighty Heroes'; _sf_async_config.authors = 'James Elphick'; /** CONFIGURATION END **/ function loadChartbeat() { var e = document.createElement('script'); var n = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; e.type = 'text/javascript'; e.async = true; e.src = '//static.chartbeat.com/js/chartbeat.js'; n.parentNode.insertBefore(e, n); } loadChartbeat(); })(); </script> <!-- End Chartbeat --> <!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.6 (Yoast SEO v23.6) - https://yoast.com/wordpress/plugins/seo/ --> <title>This colonel-turned-mercenary has been battling terrorism for decades</title> <meta name="description" content="When most people retire from the military, they look forward to spending more time with family, relaxing, and maybe pursuing their hobbies. Neall Ellis" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/this-colonel-turned-mercenary-has-been-battling-terrorism-for-decades/" /> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:title" content="This colonel-turned-mercenary has been battling terrorism for decades" /> <meta property="og:description" content="When most people retire from the military, they look forward to spending more time with family, relaxing, and maybe pursuing their hobbies. Neall Ellis" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/this-colonel-turned-mercenary-has-been-battling-terrorism-for-decades/" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="We Are The Mighty" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17310803/origin.jpg?w=1024" /> <meta property="og:image:width" content="1024" /> <meta property="og:image:height" content="1024" /> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg" /> <meta name="author" content="James Elphick" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:label1" content="Written by" /> <meta name="twitter:data1" content="James Elphick" /> <meta name="twitter:label2" content="Est. reading time" /> <meta name="twitter:data2" content="5 minutes" /> <script type="application/ld+json" class="yoast-schema-graph">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/this-colonel-turned-mercenary-has-been-battling-terrorism-for-decades/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/this-colonel-turned-mercenary-has-been-battling-terrorism-for-decades/"},"author":[{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.wearethemighty.com#/schema/person/50f9732113bd4d2da4c985f84b369544","name":"James Elphick","description":"James Elphick is a veteran airborne infantryman of the 82nd Airborne Division having served in both Afghanistan and Iraq. He has a Masters degree in International Studies from Texas State University and currently works for Veterans Upward Bound helping veterans returning to school.","url":"https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/shelbyelphick/","image":"https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/img-114.webp?quality=85","sameAs":[]}],"headline":"This colonel-turned-mercenary has been battling terrorism for decades","datePublished":"2020-10-20T18:07:44-07:00","dateModified":"2021-07-01T13:22:54-07:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/this-colonel-turned-mercenary-has-been-battling-terrorism-for-decades/"},"wordCount":827,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.wearethemighty.com/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/this-colonel-turned-mercenary-has-been-battling-terrorism-for-decades/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17310803/origin.jpg?quality=85","keywords":["Africa"],"articleSection":["History","Mighty Heroes"],"inLanguage":"en-US","ArticleBody":"When most people retire from the military, they look forward to spending more time with family, relaxing, and maybe pursuing their hobbies. \n\n\n\nNeall Ellis isn't most people.\n\nAfter a successful career in both the Rhodesian and South African militaries, Ellis became bored with civilian life. Rather than sit back and relax, he decided to pursue the only hobby he knew — kicking ass. \n\nWith plenty of strife and a need for fighters throughout the African continent, Ellis decided to become a mercenary. He wasn't going to be just any mercenary though. Ellis recruited a team and procured an Mi-24 Hind helicopter gunship.\n\n\n\n Russian Mi-24 Hind.\n\nEllis' mercenary work eventually brought him to Sierra Leone, which was in the midst of a civil war in the late 1990s. The government of Sierra Leone, backed by the British, was attempting to quell a rebellion by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF).\n\nWorking for the Sierra Leone government, Ellis and his crew were seen as the most effective force against the rebels, even though they were a single gunship. As Ellis put it, \"the gunship strikes the fear of God into the rebels. They run into the bush as soon as they see it.\"\n\nLooking for more patriotic content, from sea to shining sea—and beyond? Military service members and veterans can get a FREE FOX Nation subscription until for a year! Sign up for your free subscription here!\n\nAs the rebels advanced on the capital, Freetown, the British forces remaining in Sierra Leone evacuated. Freetown looked as if it would fall to the rebels.\n\nAlso read: 5 of the most badass snipers of all time\n\nEllis saw things differently. Though the rebels were attacking at night, and he had no night vision devices, he proposed that he and his crew fly out to meet them and try to drive them off. To his crew, this sounded foolish and none would agree to fly the mission. Unperturbed, Ellis, piloting his helicopter alone, flew against the rebel onslaught.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n The city of Freetown, Sierra Leone, was a front for brutal fighting during the Sierra Leone Civil War in the 90s. (Photo via Flickr user David Hond. CC BY 2.0)\n\nIn the dead of night, with no crew and no night vision, Ellis fought off the rebel advance. When the rebels came again, Ellis once again flew alone and turned them back from Freetown. Only when his helicopter broke down and he was unable to fly did the rebels finally take the city. \n\nBut Ellis wasn't done fighting. Even though the government of Sierra Leone had lost the capital and could no longer pay him or his crew, they kept flying. \n\n\nIn an interview with the Telegraph, Ellis told them, \"I have not been paid for 20 months. I do it because I don't know what else to do. I enjoy the excitement. It's an adrenaline rush.\"\n\n\nHis staunch defense of Freetown had also drawn the ire of the RUF. His actions had so angered the RUF that they sent him a message: \"If we ever catch you, we will cut out your heart and eat it.\" \n\nEllis' response was epic. \n\nEllis loaded up his bird and flew out to deliver a message of his own. \n\n\n\n Coalition forces release informational leaflets out of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter over villages in the Logar province, Afghanistan, July 18, 2014. The leaflets are used to pass along information to the local populous regarding on going operations in the area. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Steven Hitchcock)\n\nArriving over the rebel camp they proceeded to drop thousands of leaflets, with a picture of their helicopter and the words \"RUF: this time we've dropped leaflets. Next time it will be a half-inch Gatling machine gun, or 57mm rockets, or 23mm guns, or 30mm grenades, or ALL OF THEM!\" \n\nAnd he meant it. Although heavily outnumbered, Ellis kept fighting the rebels. \n\nEventually, his efforts drew the attention of the British, who decided not only to return to Sierra Leone, but also to provide support to Ellis and work in conjunction with him. \n\nHis vast knowledge of the country made him a valuable asset to the British and he actively participated in operations. \n\nNeed more inspiration? 4 Vietnam War heroes you've never heard of\n\nIn September 2000, Ellis flew his helicopter in support of Operation Barras, a rescue mission of several soldiers from the Royal Irish Regiment who had been captured. He would also flew missions with the British SAS. \n\nEllis and his crew would stay in Sierra Leone until the defeat of the RUF in 2002. \n\nEllis' reputation earned him a trip to Iraq working with the British during the invasion in 2003. \n\nLater, he would also fly in Afghanistan \"where, he reckons, he has had more close shaves than in his entire previous four-decades put together.\" \n\nAt the age of 67, he is currently rumored to be flying against the Islamic State."},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/this-colonel-turned-mercenary-has-been-battling-terrorism-for-decades/","url":"https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/this-colonel-turned-mercenary-has-been-battling-terrorism-for-decades/","name":"This colonel-turned-mercenary has been battling terrorism for decades","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.wearethemighty.com/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/this-colonel-turned-mercenary-has-been-battling-terrorism-for-decades/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/this-colonel-turned-mercenary-has-been-battling-terrorism-for-decades/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17310803/origin.jpg?quality=85","datePublished":"2020-10-20T18:07:44-07:00","dateModified":"2021-07-01T13:22:54-07:00","description":"When most people retire from the military, they look forward to spending more time with family, relaxing, and maybe pursuing their hobbies. 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aria-label="Article Hero"> <div class="mb-10 article-header-wrapper"> <nav class="article-breadcrumbs-wrapper mb-2"> <a class="breadcrumb-link no-underline font-tertiary font-semibold text-accent-900 text-xs uppercase tracking-wide" href="https://www.wearethemighty.com/category/history/">History</a> <div class="breadcrumb-arrow relative inline-block ml-1 mr-2 h-0 w-0 border-y-[4px] border-y-transparent border-l-[8px] border-l-accent-900 -top-[1px]"></div><a class="breadcrumb-link no-underline font-tertiary font-semibold text-accent-900 text-xs uppercase tracking-wide" href="https://www.wearethemighty.com/category/mighty-heroes/">Mighty Heroes</a> </nav> <h1 class="article-title font-primary text-secondary-900 text-4xl lg:text-15xl font-bold leading-2xl lg:leading-15xl mb-2">This colonel-turned-mercenary has been battling terrorism for decades</h1> <div class="article-dek font-secondary text-base lg:text-2xl mb-2">When most people retire from the military, they look forward to spending more time with family, relaxing, and maybe pursuing their hobbies. Neall Ellis isn't most &hellip;</div> <div class="flex"> <div class="author-avatar-wrapper basis-16 lg:hidden"> <img fetchpriority="high" class="author-avatar w-12 h-12 rounded-full object-cover border-2 border-accent-900" src="https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/img-114.webp?quality=85&#038;w=102&#038;h=102&#038;crop=1" srcset="https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/img-114.webp 210w, https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/img-114.webp?w=150&amp;h=150 150w, https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/img-114.webp?w=200&amp;h=200 200w, https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/img-114.webp?w=102&amp;h=102 102w, https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/img-114.webp?w=192&amp;h=192 192w, https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/img-114.webp?w=50&amp;h=50 50w, https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/img-114.webp?w=96&amp;h=96 96w" sizes="(max-width: 102px) 100vw, 102px" alt="James Elphick Avatar" /> </div> <div class="article-byline overflow-hidden lg:flex lg:flex-wrap lg:gap-2 w-full mb-2 "> <div class="item-wrapper--author item-wrapper flex items-center mr-3"> <div class="byline-author-wrapper flex relative"> <p class="byline-item byline-item-author font-tertiary font-normal text-sm text-primary capitalize"> <span class="recurrent-byline"><span class="byline-segment"><span class="byline-text">By </span><a class="hover-link no-underline hover:underline" href="https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/shelbyelphick/">James Elphick</a></span></span> </p> </div> </div> <div class="item-wrapper--date item-wrapper flex items-center mr-3"> <div class="byline-date-wrapper flex relative"> <p class="byline-item byline-item-timestamp font-tertiary font-normal text-sm text-primary mb-0">Updated on Jul 1, 2021</p> </div> </div> <div class="item-wrapper--openweb item-wrapper flex items-center mr-3"> <a href="#comments" 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data-name="Email"> <svg class="email-icon social-icon" viewBox="0 0 512 512" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m434.146 59.882h-389.234c-24.766 0-44.912 20.146-44.912 44.912v269.47c0 24.766 20.146 44.912 44.912 44.912h389.234c24.766 0 44.912-20.146 44.912-44.912v-269.47c0-24.766-20.146-44.912-44.912-44.912zm0 29.941c2.034 0 3.969.422 5.738 1.159l-200.355 173.649-200.356-173.649c1.769-.736 3.704-1.159 5.738-1.159zm0 299.411h-389.234c-8.26 0-14.971-6.71-14.971-14.971v-251.648l199.778 173.141c2.822 2.441 6.316 3.655 9.81 3.655s6.988-1.213 9.81-3.655l199.778-173.141v251.649c-.001 8.26-6.711 14.97-14.971 14.97z"/> </svg> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </section> <div class="content-wrapper" data-toc-container> <p class="article-paragraph skip"><span style="font-weight: 400;">When most people retire from the military, they look forward to spending more time with family, relaxing, and maybe pursuing their hobbies. </span></p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <p class="article-paragraph skip"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Neall Ellis isn&#8217;t most people.</span></p> <p class="article-paragraph skip"><span style="font-weight: 400;">After a successful career in both the Rhodesian and South African militaries, Ellis became bored with civilian life. Rather than sit back and relax, he decided to pursue the only hobby he knew — kicking ass. </span></p> <p class="article-paragraph skip"><span style="font-weight: 400;">With plenty of strife and a need for fighters throughout the African continent, Ellis decided to become a mercenary. He wasn&#8217;t going to be just any mercenary though. Ellis recruited a team and procured an Mi-24 Hind helicopter gunship.</span></p> <p class="article-paragraph skip"></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17292821/origin.jpg?strip=all&#038;quality=85" alt=""/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"> Russian Mi-24 Hind.</figcaption></figure> <p class="article-paragraph skip"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ellis&#8217; mercenary work eventually brought him to Sierra Leone, which was in the midst of a civil war in the late 1990s. The government of Sierra Leone, backed by the British, was attempting to quell a rebellion by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF).</span></p> <p class="article-paragraph skip"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Working for the Sierra Leone government, </span><a rel="nofollow noreferrer" href="https://bit.ly/2rQWjPF" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ellis and his crew were seen as the most effective force</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> against the rebels, even though they were a single gunship. As Ellis put it, &#8220;the gunship strikes the fear of God into the rebels. They run into the bush as soon as they see it.&#8221;</span></p> <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large"><a rel="nofollow noreferrer" href="https://nation.foxnews.com/" target="_blank"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://static-media.fox.com/foxnation/web/img/nation-logo-color.png" alt=""/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Looking for more patriotic content, from sea to shining sea—and beyond? Military service members and veterans can get a <strong>FREE</strong> FOX Nation subscription until for a year! <a rel="nofollow noreferrer" href="https://foxnation.com/" target="_blank">Sign up for your free subscription here</a>!</figcaption></figure> <p class="article-paragraph skip"><span style="font-weight: 400;">As the rebels advanced on the capital, Freetown, the British forces remaining in Sierra Leone evacuated. Freetown looked as if it would fall to the rebels.</span></p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Also read: <a href="https://www.wearethemighty.com/watch/5-of-the-most-badass-snipers-of-all-time/">5 of the most badass snipers of all time</a></h3> <p class="article-paragraph skip"><a rel="nofollow noreferrer" href="https://www.amazon.com/Gunship-Ace-Neall-Ellis-Mercenary-ebook/dp/B006K14RDY" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ellis saw things differently</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Though the rebels were attacking at night, and he had no night vision devices, he proposed that he and his crew fly out to meet them and try to drive them off. To his crew, this sounded foolish and none would agree to fly the mission. Unperturbed, Ellis, piloting his helicopter alone, flew against the rebel onslaught.</span></p> <p class="article-paragraph skip">&nbsp;</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17310804/origin.jpg?strip=all&#038;quality=85" alt=""/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"> The city of Freetown, Sierra Leone, was a front for brutal fighting during the Sierra Leone Civil War in the 90s. (Photo via Flickr user David Hond. CC BY 2.0)</figcaption></figure> <p class="article-paragraph skip"><span style="font-weight: 400">In the dead of night, with no crew and no night vision, Ellis fought off the rebel advance. When the rebels came again, Ellis once again flew alone and turned them back from Freetown. Only when his helicopter broke down and he was unable to fly did the rebels finally take the city.</span> </p> <p class="article-paragraph skip"><span style="font-weight: 400">But Ellis wasn&#8217;t done fighting. Even though the government of Sierra Leone had lost the capital and could no longer pay him or his crew, they kept flying.</span> </p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"> <p class="article-paragraph skip"><span style="font-weight: 400">In an interview with the Telegraph, </span><a rel="nofollow noreferrer" href="https://bit.ly/2rQWjPF" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ellis told them</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">, &#8220;I have not been paid for 20 months. I do it because I don&#8217;t know what else to do. I enjoy the excitement. It&#8217;s an adrenaline rush.&#8221;</span></p> </blockquote> <p class="article-paragraph skip"><span style="font-weight: 400">His staunch defense of Freetown had also drawn the ire of the RUF. His actions had so angered the RUF that they sent him a message: &#8220;If we ever catch you, we will cut out your heart and eat it.&#8221;</span> </p> <p class="article-paragraph skip"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ellis&#8217; response was epic. </span> </p> <p class="article-paragraph skip"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ellis loaded up his bird and flew out to deliver a message of his own.</span> </p> <p class="article-paragraph skip"></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17310805/origin.png?strip=all&#038;quality=85" alt=""/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"> Coalition forces release informational leaflets out of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter over villages in the Logar province, Afghanistan, July 18, 2014. The leaflets are used to pass along information to the local populous regarding on going operations in the area. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Steven Hitchcock)</figcaption></figure> <p class="article-paragraph skip"><span style="font-weight: 400">Arriving over the rebel camp they proceeded to drop thousands of leaflets, </span><a rel="nofollow noreferrer" href="https://bit.ly/2rQWjPF" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400">with a picture of their helicopter and the words</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> &#8220;RUF: this time we&#8217;ve dropped leaflets. Next time it will be a half-inch Gatling machine gun, or 57mm rockets, or 23mm guns, or 30mm grenades, or ALL OF THEM!&#8221;</span> </p> <p class="article-paragraph skip"><span style="font-weight: 400">And he meant it. Although heavily outnumbered, Ellis kept fighting the rebels. </span> </p> <p class="article-paragraph skip"><span style="font-weight: 400">Eventually, his efforts drew the attention of the British, who decided not only to return to Sierra Leone, but also to provide support to Ellis and work in conjunction with him.</span> </p> <p class="article-paragraph skip"><span style="font-weight: 400">His vast knowledge of the country made him a valuable asset to the British and he actively participated in operations.</span> </p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Need more inspiration? <a href="https://www.wearethemighty.com/veterans/4-vietnam-war-heroes-youve-never-heard-of/">4 Vietnam War heroes you&#8217;ve never heard of</a></h3> <p class="article-paragraph skip"><span style="font-weight: 400">In September 2000, Ellis flew his helicopter in support of Operation Barras, a rescue mission of several soldiers from the Royal Irish Regiment who had been captured. He would also flew missions with the British SAS.</span> </p> <p class="article-paragraph skip"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ellis and his crew would stay in Sierra Leone until the defeat of the RUF in 2002. </span> </p> <p class="article-paragraph skip"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ellis&#8217; reputation earned him a trip to Iraq working with the British during the invasion in 2003. </span> </p> <p class="article-paragraph skip"><span style="font-weight: 400">Later, </span><a rel="nofollow noreferrer" href="https://www.amazon.com/Gunship-Ace-Neall-Ellis-Mercenary-ebook/dp/B006K14RDY" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400">he would also fly in Afghanistan</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> &#8220;where, he reckons, he has had more close shaves than in his entire previous four-decades put together.&#8221;</span> </p> <p class="article-paragraph skip"><span style="font-weight: 400">At the age of 67, he is currently rumored to be flying against the Islamic State.</span></p> </div> </section> <footer class="article-content-footer lg:max-w-[730px] lg:mx-auto"> </footer> <section id="comments"> <script async src="https://launcher.spot.im/spot/sp_dmVhtu5J" data-spotim-module="spotim-launcher" data-spotim-autorun="false" data-post-url="https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/this-colonel-turned-mercenary-has-been-battling-terrorism-for-decades/" data-post-id="12205" data-messages-count="5" ></script> <div data-spotim-module="conversation" data-post-url="https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/this-colonel-turned-mercenary-has-been-battling-terrorism-for-decades/" data-post-id="12205" data-messages-count="5"></div> </section> </article> <div class="article-sidebar-wrapper w-full lg:w-[300px] lg:flex-shrink-0"> <aside id="article-sidebar" class="article-sidebar lg:basis-[25%] py-5"> <section class="recurrent-article-summary hidden lg:block mb-5 border-secondary-light border-b lg:pb-5 px-5 xl:px-7"> <p class="font-primary font-bold text-secondary-900 text-sm leading-tighter mb-5 uppercase">Summary</p> <div class="font-secondary font-normal text-tertiary-darker text-sm leading-xl mb-2"> When most people retire from the military, they look forward to spending more time with family, relaxing, and maybe pursuing their hobbies. Neall Ellis isn&#8217;t most people. After a successful career in both the Rhodesian and South African militaries, Ellis became bored with civilian life. Rather than sit back and relax, he decided to pursue [&hellip;] </div> </section> <section id="author-widgets"> <section class="recurrent-primary-author-widget border-2 rounded border-accent-900 p-6 mb-7 bg-accent-2-700"> <div class="author-widget-header flex gap-3 mb-2"> <a class="block w-[51px] h-[51px]" href="https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/shelbyelphick/"> <img class="author-avatar min-w-[51px] w-full h-auto rounded-full aspect-square object-cover border-2 border-accent-900" src="https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/img-114.webp?quality=85&#038;w=102&#038;h=102&#038;crop=1" srcset="https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/img-114.webp 210w, https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/img-114.webp?w=150&amp;h=150 150w, https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/img-114.webp?w=200&amp;h=200 200w, https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/img-114.webp?w=102&amp;h=102 102w, https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/img-114.webp?w=192&amp;h=192 192w, https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/img-114.webp?w=50&amp;h=50 50w, https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/img-114.webp?w=96&amp;h=96 96w" sizes="(max-width: 102px) 100vw, 102px" alt="James Elphick Avatar" loading="lazy" /> </a> <div class="author-name-title"> <h2 class="font-primary text-lg font-semibold text-secondary-900 leading-6"> <a href="https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/shelbyelphick/"> James Elphick </a> </h2> </div> </div> <div class="primary-author-bio line-clamp-6 text-sm text-secondary-900 mb-2"><p>James Elphick is a veteran airborne infantryman of the 82nd Airborne Division having served in both Afghanistan and Iraq. 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