Don’t condemn all Aussie soldiers for sins of a few

It would be a mistake to condemn all our Special Forces for the alleged crimes of a few, says Charles Miranda.

Roger* is sitting behind a battle-scarred stone shack, waiting for a helo ride to take him and others a few kilometres closer to a planned coalition assault on an insurgent stronghold.

He is in the zone, mentally fixating on the task ahead for himself and a squad of men that are sitting around waiting for the move orders, checking and rechecking their kit and weapons.

They are thinking about what they have to do but equally what could happen to them, the ultimate sacrifice.

“The public don’t want to know how the sausages are made, they just want to taste (the victory) after they’re done,” the experienced Special Forces soldier says from behind his heavy tinted sunnies, surrounded by his dusty kit in the belting Middle East sun.

“We do what we have to do, get the job done, and most people won’t understand but there is a reason we do this, and that’s for our families and the safety of our country.”

MORE: War crimes claims narrowed down to 20 Aussie soldiers

Australian Special Forces soldiers from the Special Operations Task Group based in Oruzgan Province in Afghanistan.

I’ve travelled to the conflict zones with our troops since East Timor then onto Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere in the Middle East and the sentiment has been the same; an extraordinary job required from ordinary men in the most difficult of circumstances.

On the whole, these men were honourable, dedicated and not looking to make excuses under the fog of war.

There are many heroic deeds, most of which barely make the 45-second nightly TV bulletins, but can best be told in numbers.

There were 5730 individual deployments overseas on Special Forces operations, from which there were three awarded the Victoria Cross, six the Star of Gallantry and 23 Medals of Gallantry.

Australian Special Forces soldiers say a final farewell as they salute their fallen mates, as their sad journey home begins. Picture: Supplied

There are other figures too. Over half the more than 40 names on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour were killed on duty during these special operations, another 150 were seriously wounded on the battlefield, thousands have mental health trauma and more than 400 have since taken their own lives.

Those who actively sought to commit an atrocity, outside the fog of war, deserve the weight of the law placed upon them, but the point is the majority did do the right thing, some paid for that with their lives or head space and that should not be forgotten.

You cannot trivialise, excuse or exonerate the war crime claims against a few but similarly one can’t cast doubt against the majority who have done this country proud in their service.

* not his real name

Support services are available:

The Defence all-hours Support Line is a confidential telephone and online service for ADF members and their families 1800 628 036

Open Arms provides 24-hour free and confidential counselling and support for current and former ADF members and their families 1800 011 046, or through SafeZone on 1800 142 072.

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Originally published as Don’t condemn all Aussie soldiers for sins of a few