Special series shows bravery

THE centenary of Remembrance Day is just three days away and today we start an eight-part series in the Cairns Post on one of the most bravest and secretive units within the Australian Defence Force.

They are the medics of Australia’s Special Operations Command known as Voodoo Medics.

They are called Voodoo Medics, not because they perform magic, but because they practise the science of medicine under the toughest conditions on Earth: on the front lines of war.

The nickname for the tiny group of combat medics assigned to Australia’s Special Operations Command is not sanctioned by the military brass and was coined a decade ago to describe the soldiers saving lives in Afghanistan with nothing but what they can carry.

Voodoo Medics perform the full spectrum of treatments from managing troops’ coughs and colds through to lifesaving procedures on the front lines, including applying dressings to bullet wounds and tourniquets to amputated limbs.

The thoughts behind the voodoo doll come from unconventional warfare and unconventional medicine. It is informal.

Their logo features an outline of a voodoo doll, pins, and the initial of the medics’ call sign “Kilo”.

Their motto is a promise to the elite fighters they serve with: “We’ll do the voodoo, so you can do what you do.”

Less than two dozen men fill this prestigious role at any one time.

They are fighting soldiers whose first jobs are to save lives.

Our series reveals their stories of heroism, tragedy and resilience.

It’s compelling reading in print and online and is timely. Nick Dalton Deputy editor