Sergeant Brett Mathew Wood - 8251361 - 2nd Commando Regiment SAS, Aged 32.

Sergeant Wood was serving with the Special Operations Task Group in Afghanistan when he was tragically killed in action as a result of the explosion of an Improvised Explosive Device on Monday 23 May 2011 (Afghanistan time).

Sergeant Brett Wood leaves behind his loving wife and family.

Sergeant Brett Wood was born in Ferntree Gully, Victoria in 1978. He joined the Army in 1996 and after recruit training joined 6th Battalion the Royal Australian Regiment. Sergeant Wood successfully undertook Commando Selection and Training and joined the then 4th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (2 Commando) in November 1998.

Sergeant Wood has significant operational experience. His first deployment was to Bougainville in 2000. In 2001 he deployed to East Timor on Operation Tanager and in 2003 to Iraq on Operation Falconer. In 2006 Sergeant Wood deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Slipper. He was awarded The Medal for Gallantry for leadership in action as a Team Commander during this tour.

Sergeant Wood received a Special Operations Commander – Australia, Commendation for service with the Tactical Assault Group – East in 2007 and in 2009 he returned to Afghanistan as a Section Commander.

Sergeant Wood deployed to Afghanistan, for the third time, in March this year.

Sergeant Brett Wood was awarded the Medal for Gallantry (MG), the Australian Active Service Medal with clasps: East Timor, International Coalition Against Terrorism (ICAT) and Iraq 2003; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Australian Service Medal with clasps: Bougainville, Counter Terrorism and Special Recovery Clasp; Defence Long Service Medal (DSM); Australian Defence Medal; United Nations East Timor Medal; NATO ISAF Medal; Special Operations Command Australia Commendation and Unit Citation for Gallantry. He has also been awarded the Infantry Combat Badge.

He was awarded the medal for gallantry - Corporal Brett Mathew Wood- For gallantry and leadership in action as a Commando Team Commander, of the Special Operations Task Group – Task Force 637, whilst deployed on Operation SLIPPER Rotation Three Afghanistan, May – September 2006.

He was also posthumously awarded the US Meritorious Service Medal at his funeral, which was awarded on behalf of the American commander of forces in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus.

During Sergeant Brett Wood service in the Australian Army, he deployed on the following Operations;

OPERATION BEL ISI II (Bougainville) –

Mar 2000 – Aug 2000.

OPERATION TANAGER (East Timor) –

Apr 2001 – Aug 2001.

OPERATION FALCONER (Iraq) –

Feb 2003 – May 2003.

OPERATION SLIPPER (Afghanistan) –

Apr 2006 – Sep 2006.

OPERATION SLIPPER (Afghanistan) –

Jul 2009 – Nov 2009.

OPERATION SLIPPER (Afghanistan) –

Mar 2011 – May 2011.

Memorial at The Australian War Memorial

Also commemorated at the Afghanistan Avenue of Honour, Yungaburra Qld