Last night on SAS Australia, the 10 remaining recruits were tested on confidence and commitment, because in the Special Forces, any doubt or hesitation can cost lives.
In the first task, recruits had to fall backwards from a 10 metre high platform, entering a murky pool of water head-first and vertical. Some executed the dive perfectly, while others hit the water at all angles, showing a lack of confidence in themselves.
After failing the task, Isabelle Cornish started to withdraw and was brought in for questioning, where she opened up about her recent ADHD diagnosis.
“I’ve struggled with always feeling different, feeling I just don’t fit into the normal world,” said Isabelle. “Now I understand why I’ve struggled, and there’s relief, but baggage with the relief.
“They say eating disorders and ADHD go hand in hand, it was a bit of a coping mechanism. I had the disorder for about a year when I was younger then I stopped those habits. I just realised one day that that’s not me. I lost everything that I loved and when I came out of that and I realised that, I was like ‘this is my life and I’m going to do everything that I want to do’ and since that I feel like I’ve become such a bigger, better version of myself,” she said.
In an honesty test, recruits were asked to share their deepest, darkest secrets with each other and emotions ran high as they each opened up about something they’re ashamed of doing or saying in the past.
Jett Kenny revealed he sets high standards for himself and struggles with feelings of never feeling good enough, before admitting he regrets not being there more for his late sister Jaimi.
Chief Instructor Ant Middleton explained to the recruits that by ignoring failure, you’re ignoring life, and that by embracing regret and things you’re ashamed of can help you become a better version of yourself.
Recruits then performed one of the most arduous physical exercises yet, in a team against team recovery patrol, carrying or dragging three 50 kilogram tyres along a six kilometre bush track.
The punishing task took everything out of Jett, leading to an attempted VW, but Ant convinced him to rethink his decision, later bringing him into the Mirror Room to question him about his meltdown.
“I felt like as soon as I was becoming a liability I probably didn’t deserve to be there,” Jett told the DS. “In my head I’d failed.”
Later that night, Jett talked to Mark Philippoussis about growing up as Jett Kenny, “never just Jett”, saying he got bullied at school because of who his parents were.
Mark advised Jett to stop putting pressure on himself, telling him: “Life is tough enough, why beat yourself up as well, you’ve got your own journey.”
