The Voices of War 124. Australia's War in Afghanistan—Told From Inside the SASR
In this episode of ‘The Voices of War’, Maz sits down with two former Australian special operations officers whose careers unfolded at the sharp end of Australia’s longest war in Afghanistan.
Vando served 24 years in the Australian Army, including 16 in special operations with the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR). Across 10 deployments to Iraq, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, North Africa and three tours of Afghanistan, he held command at troop, squadron and senior staff levels, carrying responsibility across tactical and operational decision-making within the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG).
Brett came into special operations through law and intelligence. He first served as the principal intelligence officer (S2) at 1 Commando Regiment and later as the S2 for SASR, before transferring to the Legal Corps. In that role, he advised special operations forces on the laws of armed conflict, rules of engagement, and some of the most complex legal and ethical challenges of the Afghanistan war. His five deployments included Kosovo, three tours of East Timor and an extended tour of Afghanistan.
Together, they reflect on their involvement in the award-winning documentary ‘Bravery and Betrayal’, unpacking how sustained operational tempo, political decision-making, legal constraints, and leadership silence shaped the war in Afghanistan and what those choices cost individuals, families, veterans, and institutions.
This is a conversation about systems, not slogans; about war as it was lived, not how it was sold.
Key Moments:
- Why special forces became the ‘force of choice’
- Endless rotations and the absence of genuine rest
- The impact of ‘catch and release’ policy on decision-making
- How killing became routine over time
- The human and institutional fallout of the IGADF inquiry
- Moral injury and leadership silence that hurt deepest
- Why their story matters now
Resources & Links ‘Bravery and Betrayal’ documentary WEBSITE https://wanderingwarriors.org/bravery-betrayal-the-documentary/
BRAVERY & BETRAYAL 2025 | Trailer https://youtu.be/-3rS0h-pjqc?si=4_zStLj4KxR7w1xL
STREAMING
Madman Streaming https://www.madman.com.au/bravery-and-betrayal/
Prime https://www.primevideo.com/region/fe/detail/0I6EPX8QDL0CP8HN9HQTSENWY5?ref_=atv_sr_fle_c_Tn74RA_1_1_
Apple TV https://tv.apple.com/au/movie/bravery-and-betrayal/umc.cmc.1vql2nd3lpc381hnq1xjmxjcx
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuzpNCIB_P0
Fetch https://www.fetchtv.com.au/movie/details/3011300/bravery--betrayal
Docplay https://www.docplay.com/shows/bravery-betrayal
Vimeo https://vimeo.com/ondemand/braverybetrayal/1129397949
DONATE https://wandering-warriors.mygiveeasy.com/bravery-betrayal/donate
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📘 About Brett & Vando Vando - SASR Troop/Squadron Commander featured in Bravery and Betrayal documentary. 16 years SASR across 10 deployments. Brett - Special Forces Task Group legal officer. Combined intelligence and law background with 5 deployments.
🎙️ Related episodes & reading Explore more conversations on special operations, Afghanistan, moral injury and veteran leadership at https://thevoicesofwar.com
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