- Doug & Melissa moved to Numurkah from Frankston South in June 2024
- Served in Special Air Service (SAS) in Perth
- Became a Commando Instructor after a back injury
- Doug described the Military terms and abbreviations used
- The British had the first SAS during WW2 in Egypt against the Germans
- Primarily formed for sabotage and quick action, ambush teams
- No maps built yet, using the stars to navigate
- The SAS motto is ‘Who Dares Wins’
- There were 11 SAS troops formed over the world
- The Australian SAS was raised in 1970
- Selected from any units in the ADF with a minimum of 18 months service
- Initial interview and fitness assessments
- 21-day selection course
- Ph1 - Duty of care and breakdown (fitness assessments and training)
- Ph2 - Endurance Navigation (day 1 x 60km, day 2 x 30km, 2.2km/h aim)
- Ph3 - Exercise lucky dip (24hr reconnaissance mission that lasted 4 days)
- No feedback, no reassurances, no corrections
- 10-20% pass rate
- Then a further 9 months of training in demolition, weapons, survival, photography, medics, patrol and signaler
- Went on to further specialised courses in driving, tactics, SCUBA diver etc
- Doug's Time
- Joined in October 1979
- In May 1983 joined SASR selection course
- Post in May 1984
- In May 1987 joined Counter Terrorism
- Posted to Malaysia in 1994
- Learned Indonesian and Timorise and worked as an interpreter
- in 1995 in Philippines with SEALS and Delta
- Langs in 1996 and 1998
- Mission was to rescue hostages not to kill terrorists
- Started as a Trooper and worked way up to Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2)
