The salt tang in the air, the muted thump of boots on steel decks, the thrum of readiness echoing from hangar to hangar—this wasn’t my first time out with the military.
Over the years, I’ve stood on Swedish warships slicing through Baltic waters, flown aboard NATO maritime patrol aircraft hunting submarines in the North Atlantic, watched armoured vehicles thunder across Salisbury Plain, and—perhaps unwisely—stared too closely at prototype lasers during live testing.
I’ve screamed across Swedish archipelagos in CB90s at ridiculous speed, watching their crews manoeuvre through impossibly tight island channels with casual ease. I’ve embarked on American destroyers tracking aircraft and missiles in joint drills.
I’ve boarded Ukrainian warships docked in Glasgow and spoken to their crew while their homeland was burning under Russian fire—conversations that have stayed with me in quiet, weighty ways.
Imposter Syndrome
I’ve been doing this for years. Defence journalism, for me, hasn’t been a career I stumbled into—it’s a beat I chased down with intent. But unlike some of my peers, I didn’t follow a conventional path. I didn’t come from the officer corps or transition from military service. Most defence journalists don’t. But I sometimes feel like that’s the expected route.
My background isn’t barracks or briefing rooms—it’s a one man blog turned multi-person news website. Before journalism, I worked in the NHS, not the newsroom. My degree is in cyber security, not war studies.
That’s not to say the feeling of impostor syndrome hasn’t tagged along. Even aboard a carrier during a recent media day, surrounded by familiar ranks and seasoned reporters, I found myself hesitating. Some were doing pieces to camera with no hesitation, while I had multiple takes and my battery ran out, literally.
Others were catching up with officers they’d briefed beside in half a dozen countries. I was still double-checking myself—quietly rehearsing ranks, wondering if pulling out my phone made me look amateurish.
And yet, people recognised me—officers, comms staff, even fellow journalists. Whether that’s good or bad, I don’t know. But it happened. And the warmth was there. People were friendly. Supportive. Welcoming. That quiet doubt that I didn’t belong? It never quite leaves—but it doesn’t stop me, either.
Which makes me ask—should it be there at all?
Because this isn’t new to me. I’ve been on more ships and airfields and exercise grounds than I can count. I’ve covered live ops, policy shifts, and political consequences. Alongside my small, dedicated team, we’ve broken international defence stories over a dozen times—everything from destroyer availability to Britain’s arms supplies to Ukraine before Russia invaded. Even lighter fare, like the ongoing saga of classified documents finding their way into the War Thunder forums, has found its way through our reporting.
Still, that whisper lingers. Maybe it’s healthy. Maybe it’s the friction that stops you from coasting. But I also wonder—if you’ve done the work, told the stories, earned the access, and still carry that weight—what would it take to put it down?
I try to believe that. I really do.
But even so, sometimes I find myself walking down a gangway or stepping onto a flight deck and thinking, “Surely they meant someone else.” That maybe the email went to the wrong inbox. That someone more polished, more military, more something should have taken my place.
My dad used to take me to South Street in Glasgow, beside what we know now as the BAE Scotstoun shipyard, to watch the ships being outfitted. I had no idea what I was looking at back then. It was just metal, cranes, and noise. But I remember how big it all felt. How important. Now, all these years later, I get to go and look at those ships up close—not just as a visitor, but as someone whose job it is to understand what they mean. I’ve walked through frigates under construction in the very yard I once stared at wide-eyed as a child. That alone would have stunned my younger self.
There are moments when it hits me. When I’m on a deck or in a hangar, and I catch myself thinking, “How on Earth did I get here?” And while I might not have followed the traditional route, maybe that’s not what matters.
Because in those moments when you’re on a warship talking to the man about to lead a carrier strike group across half the planet, not as part of the crew, but as one of many tasked with telling the public what it all means—it matters that you do the job well. Not for your ego, but for the trust that readers place in your words.
Do I belong? I hope so. I don’t really care. Because I’m here. I keep showing up. I’ve done the work. I’ve broken stories. I’ve stood on decks, walked hangars, and loved every minute.
Maybe imposter syndrome still whispers, but if someone still wonders why I’m here, well—so do I, sometimes. But I came anyway. And I’ll turn up tomorrow, too.
You have earnt the kudos. Long may you continue to tread safely.
Congrats.
Even the most confident most qualified people suffer from occasional imposter syndrome. If you can’t ignore it, then use it as a motivation to keep yourself striving to be as good as you can be. It’s when people stop that constant effort to improve that their rivals close in and overtake them.
George, thank you for doing what you do. I have spent several years now reading your stories (& now those of Lisa & others) As entertaining and informative as they are I find myself staying to read the forum responses from knowledgeable people like Danielle & SB – others are available!
The point is, you are not an imposter and should feel proud of what you have built up here – long may the UKDJ continue!
Congrats for all of the hard work you and others do on this website.
Good on ya George! Great site and team you have!
Well done George and team and keep on going! You’re taking us along with you! Accidental or intentional, it seems like a blast! Pun intended. 🇦🇺 🇬🇧
Well done George and your team. Keep up keeping us informed. BZ
George – keep on doing what you’re doing. Your work means a great deal to many people.
Well done George.
Your background means nothing, what you do now does.
Imposter Syndrome? Yes, that happens here with me too. I too have no military background, and have the temerity to comment here which causes “issues” for some, despite having immersed myself in the subject since I was 18 after being rejected for service in the RAF.
Who cares!
You don’t cause problems Daniele, it’s the system that UKDJ uses to register posters. This results in the constant daily spam. Trolling is another issue here, you have to stand up to the trolls. If you do, others will back you up.
Yes, thanks for all you do, George. You are the best, Navy Lookout a close second.
I too was rejected by the RAF at the age of 18. Apart from the embarrassment of having to tell my Father (a proud product of RAF Halton) and my Uncle (a then still serving Wing Commander), it took me until my mid-twenties to work out what the hell to do with myself.
Absolutely, I would credit UKDJ with setting me along the career path I am on now, and conversations on here are the basis of a lot of my current knowledge.
The old timers and specialists are the thing that really sets UKDJ apart. DM, the other SB, and Dern and DaveyB to name a few. Not sure where Gunbuster went, he doesn’t seem to be around any more.
George, you belong. You have earned the right, by hard work. You have gained great respect personally, UKDJ is highly respected as a platform. I check it out, every morning! I ended up as a journalist by accident; I know how you feel. I just kept going. (I didn’t have any real alternative, &, moreover, it’s fun, especially as I don’t cover politics.) And you are doing the same, so keep going on! And enjoy it!
And a great job too George as the credibility and profile and profile of this website seems to rise and rise
Keep up the good work George. UKDJ is a daily read for me and I also appreciate the comments by informed posters, that’s you Daniele, SB, Airborne et al.
Cheers
George, great job and don’t worry about having imposter syndrome.
I spent 24 yrs in the military then a further 23 in the Defence Industry and in the later part of my career sometimes wondered if I should be where I was. Visiting Embassies and High Commissions, speaking at Symposiums and explaining to middle and senior ranking officers and officials as to why that what they were proposing was either wrong or pie in the sky.
I realised I had earned the right to be there through hard work, experience and knowledge.
Keep doing what you are doing, and I will continue to follow your site for updates of major and minor topics across the “defence spectrum”
George, we all get it at some time or other. I was a cocky young Lieutenant, full of p&w in my early twenties, until you realise at 02.00 you are on the bridge and in charge of a destroyer and 400+ crew. And you can’t get it wrong!
Nice one George, ,but where’s your ear defenders ?
Above all George – if I may call you that – publishing this sort of confessional, laying bare your self-doubt – shows that you are not arrogant and have admirable humility. I have to admit that to start with I thought you were something of an imposter if only because of that degree in cyber security and background in the NHS – what grounding was that meant to be? In truth that was born of my enviousness, probably: a health issue kept me away from my childhood dream of a career in the military so I consoled myself by doing International Politics and Strategic Studies at university – but you are the one getting articles published in The Daily Telegraph. As for your lingering imposter syndrome, think of all those non-career sailors, soldiers and airmen/women who were called up for service in WWII. Were the careerists inevitably better at what they were doing? Of course not. What is it they say at Dartmouth (allegedly, how would I know?) – be at least as good as your predecessors and better if you can. So anyway George, keep up the good work and never be fazed by your peers’ self-possession (I bet a lot of them went to public school – and I’d wager you didn’t?). By the way, ‘Daniele’, I have made a bee-line through the comments here to see if you had posted, to see what you had said – because your comments and contributions are always, always on point.
Hello Old Bloke.
Thank you. Respect.
Heavens, don’t respect me I’m not worthy – ha ha! But thanks anyway – and it was the RAF I too wanted to go in. Now let’s all lobby our MPs to urge the Government to remanufacture WE.177 – a pet subject of mine – as in these times of strategic imbalance it would be a great leveller and no pun intended.
I agree. I have never seen the logic of some Trident warheads with tactical yields, it compromises the boat, and the opponent won’t know that incoming warheads are not of strategic yield.
So another sub option is desired.
I assume the associated infrastructure like the vaults beneath some of the HAS at Marham are still usable? Some RAF stations still have SSA for such weapons.
Agreed mate,
Although, I don’t think WE.177 is the way to go. Building nuclear warheads is not the safest task on the planet so I would build something that can go on a ground/surface and or air launched missile with a stand off of at least 100km. I used to work with a Wing Commander who used to fly F4 Phantoms back in the 70’s and 80’s. Rather chillingly he told me they only trained for their first mission as they didn’t expect to survive long enough to fly the second one! My guess was that their flight profile with WE.177 was the problem, low level in, pull up hard and fast and release the weapon in an upward ballistic trajectory. Trouble is popping up like that in a non stealth platform…
So a stand off weapon with the accuracy to cause significant operational effect either with or without a bucket of sunshine. Sub, surface ship, truck and air launched versions of FC/ASW or Cruise perhaps?
As for the strategic capability, if the US continues to be unreliable (they are now talking about walking away from the Ukraine peace process they started) then we might need to develop our own SLBM in the medium to long term. The technology could be developed as part of our drive to create a UK space launch industry. With the right design compromises there is no reason why a SLBM couldn’t be the basis for a satellite launch vehicle and with an additional booster stage, a vehicle mounted ICBM. SLBM’s are short and fat when compared to most rockets so could probably be able to take a booster if designed to take the extra loads…
Long and short, the UK and France will need to develop their Nuclear capabilities considerably, including a triad delivery capability, if we are to provide Europe’s nuclear umbrella effectively.
Cheers CR
Hi Daniele,
I must admit that I thought you had served given your depth of knowledge, particularly with regards to the Army but also right across the whole spectrum.
Likewise you are one of the people on here I look out for, respect mate.
Cheers CR
Cheers mate.
George, you are pursuing your passion and that shines through. There is a warmth towards UKDJ because you are one of the few (TD & SRN being 2 other notables) who took up the baton when it wasn’t really newsworthy (politicians have lost the underlying value of training dedicated people to a higher cause).
The others are there because it is now fashionable, I think the MOD know UKDJ is an ally worth engaging with.
You have earned your place at the table, well done and keep up the good work
Well done George, keep it up!!!!
George,
You are doing a great job. One you clearly enjoy and it comes through in your reporting. May be enjoying your work is where the imposter syndrome comes from? Doing something that you are genuinely interested in and enjoy doing is often seen as ‘not being a proper job’! Fact is you are doing a proper job, an important one at that! Especially at this point in history when the country needs to understand the threats and risks that is faces and what is being done or not done to keep us all safe.
Your attention to the truth is underlined by your willingness to be honest if mistakes are made. So not only is UKDJ a good daily read it is also refreshingly honest and up front when it makes mistakes.
There is no reason for you to feel out of place. My experience of working with military people is that they appreciate it when civvies show genuine interest in what they do and care about it, which you clearly do.
Well done George and thank you to you and the team.
Best wishes
CR
Great work George & team, keeping us abreast. Can you deal with the recent spammers in the comments getting free advertising?
BZ George….please keep up the great work….the site is fantastic and informative…👍