Last Updated on May 8, 2026 by Allied Dispatch UK | Published: May 8, 2026
In our previous post, we explored the Swedish “Total Defence” model—a nation where every citizen has a role, a purpose, and a place in the “War Book.” We spoke about the “Little Ships” of Dunkirk and how the UK has always relied on the quiet courage of the many.
But what does that look like today? To understand the true scale of the UK’s “latent resilience,” we need to look past the spreadsheets and meet the people the state has simply forgotten how to see.
Let’s call one of them “Bob.”
The Profile of a ‘Hidden Asset’
If the “Red Signal” flashed tonight, Bob is exactly the kind of person the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office would be desperate to find. He isn’t a theoretical concept; he is a walking, breathing “Swiss Army Knife” of national survival.
Bob’s life has been defined by the “On Call” status. He spent years in the RAF on Search and Rescue, a role where the difference between life and death is measured in seconds and decided in the dead of night, often in the worst weather imaginable.
He didn’t stop serving when he took off the uniform. His CV is a masterclass in the “Dunkirk Spirit” updated for the 21st century:
- The Foundation: A veteran of HM Forces, forged in various roles such as on operations and the high-pressure world of RAF SAR.
- The Specialist: A former RNLI volunteer, carrying that “save at all costs” ethos back into the water.
- The First Responder: A British Red Cross Community Responder and an Outdoor First Aider—trained to provide trauma care and mental health support when the traditional systems are failing.
- The Modern Scout: A drone pilot who has been using UAS for “drones for good” since 2016, providing eyes in the sky when they are needed most.
In a crisis, Bob is the one you want leading the local response. He can manage a first aid situation, coordinate a drone-based search or supply drop, lead a rescue team through a storm, and help keep a community calm when the lights go out.
The problem? As far as the UK’s national security strategy is concerned, Bob is a ghost.
An Army Dotted Around the UK
Bob is not alone. There is an “Unknown Army” of specialists living in every town and village across this country. They are the builders who can turn a school hall into a field hospital in 48 hours; the HGV drivers who know the nation’s logistics inside out; and the amateur radio operators who can bridge the gap when the internet fails.
These are people who have spent their lives working under pressure, at all times of day, in roles where “no” is not an answer. They may have already “stepped up” once. They are ready to do it again. But because the UK lacks a National Skills Register, these assets are effectively invisible. We are looking for a “Total Defence” solution while tripping over the very people who provide it.
Bob Says It’s Time to Talk
In Sweden, “Bob” would have received a letter confirming his “War Posting.” He would have a role, a purpose, and a clear line of communication to the state. In the UK, we have millions of specialists waiting for a call that never comes, because the state doesn’t know who they are or where to find them.
We need an open discussion as a country to prepare ourselves for a war situation. The threats of 2026 don’t just come from missiles; they come from things such as the ‘invisible’ disruption of our digital lives. You cannot fight an attack with a dwindling armed forces army alone. You fight it with a nation that knows its own strength. It’s time to take the War Book out of the bunker and put it into the hands of the people who can actually deliver it -it’s citizens.
We need a system that allows the “Unknown Army” to make itself known. We need a “War Book” that doesn’t just list equipment, but maps the incredible human talent that defines this country.
I know this needs to happen. I know the value of that “on-call” spirit, and I know the danger of letting it wither on the vine.
I know this first-hand.
Because “Bob” is me.
And I am one of many “unknowns”.
JT, Allied Dispatch UK