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OT-The Australian Soldier

On another forum an article was posted about the Ausies in Afganistan. It's an interesting read and better than most.

Link

Quote:

I HAVE often heard of a type of soldier with special skills, someone physically brave and practically intelligent; someone who led and was followed without a voice raised or ego challenged. In my imaginings I conjured the picture of the super athlete from my schooldays, the kid who captained cricket and football, now grown up to exchange his footy jumper for a uniform.

While sometimes the image conformed, when I met these special soldiers most at first appeared unexceptional. If, for example, you spotted Corporal Dan on a bus in "civvies", I doubt you would identify him as an elite soldier. He is healthy and tanned but unremarkably so, with none of the look-at-me, personal trainer-type fitness and not a trace of aggression in his bearing. If on that bus you came to ask directions and converse with Dan you would not at first learn a lot. He would more likely ask about you. He would volunteer little, and you would part company recognising an understated, courteous and even gentle persona...

A good article. I read it when it was first published. The Commandos are hard bastards. Respect.

The RSM (Regimental Sergeant Major - about the highest non-commissioned rank you can get) of my first battalion was a commando. Hard as nails, fitter than god, yet easily approachable. The perfection of a professional soldier.

I'd go so far as to say he was the role model of many men, me included.

I've had quite a few relatives who have had Commando or sapper patches. It's almost amusing some of the stories told about them. Like how after WWII one of them was asked by the Local cops to examine various potential Unexploded Ordinance found in the area. Or theres the one who's daughter had lots of Hungarian "Boyfriends" early in the cold war. Lets just say that the boyfriends talks with daddy are still classified.

Sometimes I wish I was a man of half their calliber.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockwolf66 (Post 51233)

Yes it certainly has been interesting, I wasn't a commando but I have worked with them and damn! those boy sure do get some "interesting" assignments - aircrew rescue, civilian rescue, ship sabotage, SF support, NBC support, they have their work cut out for them!
My own "intelligence file" is plenty thick because I've spent time with such people so it'd be scary to see just what's in a commando's personal file!

Quote:

Originally Posted by StainlessSteelCynic (Post 51236)

Well one of them was once background checked and the person doing the checking(an LEO friend of the relatives scumbag ex) got a message and the gist of it was "You have no need to know that information now go away".