A gripping memoir by a Kiwi SAS commander on serving in Afghanistan and operating at the edge of his limits

The NZSAS is one of the world’s most elite military forces, their ten years in Afghanistan shrouded in secret. After the Taliban siege on Kabul’s Intercontinental Hotel in 2011, two soldiers were awarded a Gallantry Star – the country’s second highest honour – for their extraordinary acts of heroism. One was named only as Serviceman J. For the first time and in his own words, this is Jamie Pennell’s full story.From the gruelling SAS selection process to parachuting off the Hercules, patrols in hostile desert territories and heavy fire with terrorist targets, Jamie takes us inside life in the special forces. But surviving means more than just getting out alive. Returning to New Zealand between deployments, Jamie is unable to switch off his stress response or speak about what he’s been through. When his best mate Steve Askin dies, Jamie is forced to confront burnout and reflect on the real meaning of heroism. Serviceman J is an incredible memoir about bravery, comradeship, and heroism inside the NZSAS.