A former SAS soldier, many people would now know Wayne Jones as the co-founder, CEO and Director of the Indoor Skydive Australia Group, an ASX listed company operating wind tunnels throughout Australia and the near region. However, prior to his success in business, Wayne honed his freefall skills within the SAS Regiment, including leading the first operational military freefall mission in the history of the Australian Army.
In this special double episode, Wayne talks to Ben and Tim about his experiences inside and outside of uniform. In this first installment, Wayne shares a little about his background in rural South Australia and his early years in the Army, including his harrowing deployment to Rwanda during which his section witnessed the atrocities of the infamous Kibeho massacre.
Wayne then reveals his SAS Selection Course secrets and describes his time within the Unit, and his multiple operational deployments, including to Iraq with the UK Special Forces in 2006.
Finally, Wayne share some insights into his career as a rock god, including what it’s like to have Angry Anderson sing backup for you!
Intelligence Summary (INTSUM)
03:35 Wayne’s childhood – and why growing up in small town in rural South Australia can serve as a great incentive to join the Army!
06:30 Recruit training at Kapooka, then infantry training at Singleton, graduating on his 18th birthday and posting up to the 2nd Battalion….
08:15 …and into Rwanda, on his first deployment
10:30 The threat – and how confused the landscape was at that time in Rwanda. Simmering tension, hugely outnumbered – and no real chance of back-up
12:45 Wayne’s experiences at the Kibeho IDP (internally displaced personnel) camp – one of the worst massacres in recent history
16:45 The confusion of being witness to a full-scale infantry battalion assault….onto an unarmed crowd
21:50 Going back in the next day…and the importance of mateship in getting you through a situation like that
23:00 Processing atrocity – how Wayne has dealt with everything he saw at Kibeho
26:00 Musical Interlude! Ben and Wayne murdering the classic James song Laid in a B-hut in Afghanistan, circa 2008. It’s amazing the sound quality you can get recording Afghan-made nylon string guitars in a bomb-proof shipping container on an iPhone…
27:00 Back from Rwanda….and onto SAS selection. Fun Fact: Wayne was on the same selection course as F18 pilot Tim Robertson – the chronic overachiever we interviewed way back in season one!
31:00 Extrinsic motivators – after all we’ve said in previous episodes, turns out they work!
32:30 Wayne’s rules for himself during selection
35:00 Musical Interlude – Kelly’s Last Dance, a Tongue Charge tune that Wayne wrote about Ned Kelly. Or an ex-girlfriend. Or an ex-girlfriend that looked like Ned Kelly – we were never sure
35:40 Wayne’s first impression of the SAS regiment
39:00 Leadership in the SAS – and how to broker the distinction between leadership and ‘likership’
43:50 Wayne’s experience on exchange with UK Special Forces in Iraq, 2006
47:50 The genesis of Tongue Charge – SAS band, and The External’s lesser-known (and far less tuneful) little brother.
50:45 Tongue Charge’s first gig – ‘you suck!’
52:45 …and their best gig, with Angry Anderson on backing vocals
54:30 The significance of Getting Away With It, the awesome James song that Tongue Charge would end every show with
56:00 The devastating loss of Craig ‘Crackers’ Linacre – an absolute legend, and the original Tongue Charge lead singer
External Links
Music
Tongue Charge! Recorded in various locations from Cottesloe Beach to Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan
S4E1 - Harry Garside: Fighting the good fight – inside and outside the ring
@RV28 – Season 3 Finale ….. Reflections & into the Future
S3E20 –Standout Life with Ali Hill
S3E19 –Lessons in Leadership with Randy Powell
S3E18 - MCTI Teamcast – Creativity within Mission Critical Teams
S3E17b – Hamish Blake: The Importance of Wheelies & Other Tips for Life
S3E17a – Hamish Blake: The Importance of Wheelies & Other Tips for Life
S3E16 – Christian ‘Boo’ Boucousis – The Fighter Pilot Mindset
S3E15- Dr Dan Pronk and the Making of Resilience (Shield)
S3E14- Life on the Line Reciprocal: SAS Resilience with Dr Dan Pronk, Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis
S3E13 – The Reverse Episode: Ben & Tim Talking Parenting with Jump Daddy and Dr Tom
S3E12 – Talking Parenting with Jump Daddy and Dr Tom from the Dad To Me Podcast
S3E11 – Dr Richard Magtengaard: Psychiatrist- Understanding Your Lizard Brain
S3E10 – Nicho Plowman – Meditation and the Cinema of Life
S3E9 – Dr Lies Notebaert: On Resilience & Adversity
@RV27- The Resilience RV
S3E8 – Pete Naschak: US Navy SEALs, Red Bull Athletes and Resilience Shepherds
@RV26 – On Simon Eastaugh, Lee Goddard and ‘Billy’ Billingham
S3E7 – A little further: Mark Billingham- From UK SAS Operator to in front of the camera
S3E6- Rear Admiral Lee Goddard CSC: The Pride of the Fleet!
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