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