Namita Nayyar:
The classes at army barracks are intense. What has been the most surprising aspect of the military training—something that civilians like myself wouldn’t expect?
Alice Connors:
One of the biggest surprises was just how disciplined and tightly controlled the environment is. Others often associate military training with physical fitness, but the emphasis on attention to detail is equally demanding. Every aspect of a soldier’s appearance, conduct, and routine is held to an exceptionally high standard.
Another thing that surprised me was the number of weapons stored within the barracks. Firearms are a routine part of military life, but they are kept under strict security measures and handled only in accordance with rigorous safety procedures.
The barracks also had a fully equipped indoor gym, which was an excellent facility for soldiers. It meant that we could come into the barracks on our days off from training and continue our fitness routines indoors. The gym was exceptionally well equipped, providing everything needed to maintain the physical standards expected of soldiers throughout their training.
I was also struck by how seriously uniform standards are enforced. Soldiers are expected to wear the correct uniform for the appropriate duty, and every detail—from the way it is fitted to how it is maintained—is inspected. Uniform is regarded as a symbol of professionalism, discipline, and responsibility.
For security and professional reasons, soldiers do not simply walk around in uniform unless they are travelling directly to or from duty, carrying out official duties, or are otherwise authorised to do so. Whenever they are in uniform, they are representing the British Army and are therefore expected to uphold the highest standards of conduct.
Namita Nayyar:
You have been undergoing intensive fitness and strength training to meet military standards. How does the physical intensity of army training compare to the physical demands of a runway show or a long studio session?
Alice Connors:
The physical demands of military training are unlike anything I have experienced in modelling or the music industry. Army training is exceptionally intensive and requires a high level of endurance, strength, and mental resilience. There are strict physical standards that every soldier is expected to meet, including completing timed runs over set distances within demanding time limits.
I remember taking part in a timed run during training that became one of the most mentally challenging experiences I have ever faced. Every part of me wanted to slow down, stop, or take a break, but I kept my focus on the clock and reminded myself that giving up was simply not an option. As I continued running, I found myself covering a distance far greater than I had ever believed I was capable of.
My legs were aching, my body was overheating, and every instinct told me to stop. I had to endure the discomfort, keep moving forward, and push beyond what I believed were my physical limits. At one point, I poured water over myself to cool down, but I never stopped running.
That experience taught me one of the most valuable lessons of military training: endurance is often determined by the mind before it is determined by the body. We frequently convince ourselves that we have reached our limit when, in reality, we are capable of achieving far more.
By the time I finished the run, I realised I had covered almost twice the distance from the moment my mind had first told me to stop. It completely changed my perspective on resilience, self-belief, and mental strength. I learned that growth begins where comfort ends, and that success often comes from taking one more step when everything inside you tells you to quit.
The contrast between military training and my work as a model and musician is significant. Modeling is ultimately a performance-based profession. When I attend campaigns, fashion events, or red-carpet appearances, there are often teams of professionals supporting the production, including photographers, stylists, public relations staff, and event organisers. Their role is to ensure everything runs smoothly so that I can focus on the job at hand.
Military training is the complete opposite. At the barracks, there are no personal assistants or production teams. Every responsibility rests with you. You are expected to carry your own equipment, prepare yourself, maintain your uniform, meet demanding physical standards, and perform regardless of the weather or how uncomfortable you may feel.
There are no shortcuts and no one to carry the load for you. That environment taught me self-reliance, accountability, discipline, and resilience in a way that no other profession has. Those lessons have strengthened not only my approach to military training but also the determination and work ethic I bring to my modeling career, my music, my work in radio, and every other aspect of my professional life.
Namita Nayyar:
The King’s Guards are known for their precision and brotherhood (and sisterhood). How has the team dynamic in the barracks influenced your approach to teamwork in the music industry?
Alice Connors:
One of the things that stood out to me most was the diversity of roles within the barracks. Not everyone was carrying out the same responsibilities. Some soldiers were working in communications and radio rooms, while others were involved in training, education, administration, logistics, or other specialist areas. It made me realise that every individual has a unique set of skills and an equally important role to play.
The experience reinforced the idea that no contribution is insignificant. Although each person performs a different task, it is the combination of those individual responsibilities that enables the Army to function as one united force. No single role exists in isolation; each supports another, creating something far greater than any individual could achieve alone.
I realised the same principle applies to the modeling and music industries. A photographer captures a single moment, a stylist shapes the visual story, a make-up artist brings a creative vision to life, an agent opens opportunities, a publicist shares the work with the world, and an editor transforms countless images into one compelling cover.
Each contribution may seem small on its own, yet together they create the final image that people remember. The same is true in music, where writers, producers, engineers, performers, and countless others each contribute to the finished piece.
Having worked in the modeling industry for more than a decade, I have gradually learned many of these skills myself. Over the years, I have become capable of managing much of my own image, publicity, and publishing, allowing me to take a more hands-on approach to my career. Even so, the Army reminded me that independence does not diminish the value of collaboration. No matter how many roles one person can fulfil, there is something profoundly valuable about having others contribute their own expertise. Their support not only strengthens the final outcome but also becomes an important part of the story behind it.
That experience also changed the way I see life itself. It reminded me of a vast jigsaw puzzle. Some pieces are dark, representing the difficult seasons that test our resilience, while others are light, reflecting moments of joy, success, and hope. When viewed individually, a single piece can appear insignificant or incomplete. Yet every piece has a purpose, and without even one of them, the picture can never be whole.
Perhaps that is one of life’s greatest lessons: we often underestimate the value of individual moments, experiences, and people because we see them in isolation. It is only when we step back that we recognise how every challenge, every success, every person we meet, and every role we play has quietly been contributing to something much greater. Like the Army, like the creative industries, and like a completed work of art, it is the coming together of many different parts that creates something truly extraordinary.
Namita Nayyar:
Looking ahead, how do you plan to merge the discipline you’ve learned from the Royal Battalion with your future music projects and business ventures?
Alice Connors:
Military training has taught me that excellence is not achieved through talent alone. It is built through preparation, consistency, resilience, and a willingness to improve every single day. Those principles now shape the way I write music, manage creative projects, make business decisions, and pursue long-term goals. I understand that success is the result of countless small actions carried out with discipline over time.
Above all, the Royal Battalion has shown me the importance of maintaining high standards even when no one is watching. It has taught me to remain focused under pressure, to embrace challenges rather than avoid them, and to keep striving for excellence regardless of the circumstances. That mindset will remain with me throughout my career.
My goal is to continue developing as an artist, entrepreneur, and professional by applying the same discipline, resilience, commitment, and attention to detail that I learned through military training, ensuring that everything I create reflects the highest standard of which I am capable.
Alice Connors Social Media Presence
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliceconnorsofficial/
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