Sergeant Brett Wood was serving with the Special Operations Task Group when he was tragically killed by an explosive device in the conduct of operations within a Taliban Safe Haven in Afghanistan on 23 May 2011.

Aged 32 at the time of his death, Brett was from the Sydney-based 2nd Commando Regiment.

‍Brett enlisted in the Australian Army on the 13th February 1996 and, post initial training, was allocated to the 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. He later successfully completed Commando training and was posted to 2nd Commando Regiment (then the 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment) in 1998.

‍Brett has seen operational service in Bougainville, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.

He was an absolute professional emulated by many, given his service was of the highest order and he excelled in everything he did. Brett’s loss is sorely felt by his unit, mates and all who knew him.

‍Brett leaves behind his beloved wife, loving parents, sisters and brothers.

Brett has received the following honours and awards:

• Medal for Gallantry
• Australian Active Service Medal with Clasps East Timor, Iraq and International Coalition Against Terrorism
• Afghanistan Campaign Medal
• Iraq Campaign Medal
• Australian Service Medal with Clasps Bougainville and Counter-Terrorism/Special Recovery
• Australian Defence Medal
• United Nations Transitional Administration East Timor Medal
• NATO Medal with International Security Assistance Force Clasp and 2 Devices
• Unit Citation for Gallantry
• Infantry Combat Badge
• Returned from Active Service Badge
• Defence Long Service Medal
• Posthumously awarded the United States Meritorious Service Medal
• In the 2012 Australia Day Honours List, Brett was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Medal

During Brett’s service in the Australian Army, he was deployed on the following operations:

• Operation Slipper (Afghanistan) 2011
• Operation Slipper (Afghanistan) 2009
• Protective Security Detachment Deployments To The Middle East Area Of Operations 2008
• Operation Slipper (Afghanistan) 2006
• Operation Bastille Falconer (Iraq) 2003
• Operation Tanager (East Timor) 2001
• Operation Bel Isi (Bougainville) 2000
• Multiple domestic Counter-Terrorism operations for the provision of security to international events