Author guest post from Lisa Morgan.

I’ve been asked countless times, “What’s it like to work in a war zone?” The truth is, beyond the chaos — gunfire, sirens, and fear — it’s strangely calm. It’s the sound of boots on tarmac at dawn, the bitter mix of burnt coffee and aviation fuel, and the weight of a bulletproof vest that never quite sits right on your boobs. Baghdad International Airport wasn’t just a place of danger — it was a world of human stories, unexpected courage, and moments that tested everything I thought I knew about myself.

When I first stepped onto the airfield, I wasn’t just a civilian with a handful of Close Protection certificates. I was a woman stepping into a man’s world, trained to search, screen, and protect in one of the most volatile places on earth.

“Welcome to Baghdad International Airport,” said the RSM — but what I really heard was, “Welcome to Hell, may I take your coat, Madam?” That dark humour became armour — the only way to stay sane when reality was anything but normal.

Each day, I watched thousands of Iraqi civilians escaping the war, moving out, while soldiers, diplomats, journalists, and contractors moved in — each carrying their own version of fear. My job was to stay calm when everything else wasn’t. Courage didn’t always come with medals or rank. Sometimes, it was in the discreet nod between me and my search team, signalling that something was about to disrupt a quiet moment — like an unattended bag, our biggest fear, possibly concealing a bomb.

Even in the madness, small reminders of normal life kept us grounded. Like Paul, the watchkeeper, giving instructions to expats leaving for R&R:
“Now then, have a safe trip, enjoy your vacation, but most importantly, bring back some f****** gravy powder!”

It was absurd and wonderful — a little piece of home in the middle of a war zone. Moments like that proved that humour, routine, and small comforts can survive even where peace cannot.

Behind every checkpoint, there’s a person quietly holding the line between chaos and calm.

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