True Blue History: Former SASR and 2nd Commando Veteran Sergeant Ret Peter Rudland

Pete Rudland joined the Australian Defence Force on 21 March 1989. He spent 28 years in the Royal Australian Infantry and served in 3RAR, 4RAR, The Parachute Training School, SASR and 2CDO Regiment.

Pete deployed to Cambodia as part of UNTAC in 1993, to Iraq with the SASR during the 1997 bombing campaign, East Timor in 2001 as part of the 4RAR (CDO) deployment, Iraq in 2003 as part of an exchange with British forces, Timor Leste in 2006 with 4RAR (CDO) and Afghanistan in 2010 as part of ACOY 2CDO.

On 21 June 2010, three Australian Commandos and a US soldier were killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. Pete was wounded in the crash and received multiple muscle-skeletal injuries and a frontal lobe bleed. As a result of the injuries, Pete was discharged from Defence on 08 November 2017.

Since being wounded he started a company counselling soldiers, police and emergency services for PTS, depression and associated illnesses. Peter is now a national ambassador For RSL Australia.

 

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Peter Rudland

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike