Captain Mark Beretta — Sunrise sports presenter joins the army: ‘I’ve got buckets to learn’
Sports reporter Mark Beretta has joined the army and will be referred to as Captain Beretta in his role.
Confidential
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TV sports reporter Mark Beretta has joined the army.
The Sunrise presenter has entered the Australian Army Reserves and concedes he initially thought he might be too old at the age of 53.
“Even as an older fella, you’ve still got to meet all the basic physical requirements,” Beretta told Confidential.
“You have got to do all of the sit ups and push ups and get the right score on the beep test for running. It was a bit of a challenge but I’ve really enjoyed it.”
Beretta started the recruitment phase mid last year and received the green light that he had been accepted and ranked Captain, working at the Australian Army’s Forces Command in Sydney from earlier this year.
His commitment is to serve a minimum of 20 days a year as a Public Affairs Officer.
“I go in and work at Vic Barracks in Paddington (Sydney), which is convenient,” he said. “The most impressive part is the people. I have just been enthused by them. They are proud of their country and like the whole concept of serving; there is a real family feel to it.”
Beretta at the weekend filmed segments for Sunrise from the Townsville Supercars event, where the Army partnered with Penrite Racing to theme two cars and also put on a show for the public with a fly-past of helicopters.
Beretta’s years on television and the fact he is a household name doesn’t give him any special treatment as a reservist.
“I have a job to do just like anyone else,” he said. “When I walk in the door there, I am anybody else. It is, ‘Captain Beretta, you need to do this or that’. That is the way it is, it is the same with the training. I have got buckets to learn. I went in as the new kid; I trip over myself and put my uniform upside down and weird but they have been so supportive.”
He added: “Every time I put the uniform on and I am sure a lot of other people feel the same, I do feel a sense of pride about it, it is a really special thing. It is not a fairytale, there are good and bad days and some days are tough but the people are very professional and that is what makes it all worthwhile.”
Originally published as Captain Mark Beretta — Sunrise sports presenter joins the army: ‘I’ve got buckets to learn’
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