Kerre Woodham: SAS primed for risk

A report that appeared in the media last week, suggesting that SAS troops were "uneasy" at the prospect of their mission in Afghanistan, didn't ring true.

My partner and I have been fortunate enough to be guests of the SAS on a number of occasions and we've enjoyed the company of the men and their wives socially.

I rang a few of my mates and it was as I thought. There is no way that these men are "gravely concerned".

They're not stupid - they understand the risks involved in the work they choose to do, but they accept the challenge and, just as importantly, so do their families.

A number of the guys I spoke to last year said they'd leave the Army if they weren't given missions - they said there was no point in being trained for a job you never get to do.

A friend of mine has a brother in the SAS and she says he's in great spirits - but to a man the unit is furious at the misreporting that appeared last week and they're concerned at the impact that will have on their families.

The SAS is an elite group of soldiers - and like elite forces around the world, they attract journalist groupies.

I suppose writing bullshit and dressing up in camouflage pyjamas is the closest these people get to the men they'd like to be.