On Patrol with the SAS: Sleeping with Your Ears Open - Soldier's

Our review of On Patrol with the SAS: Sleeping with Your Ears Open finds it essential reading for anyone interested in Australian military history and elite soldiering. Gary McKay delivers a candid, granular account that explains the rigours of SAS selection and the practical realities of smallteam operations. The book's biggest strength is its vivid, firsthand description of training and patrol life, offering both readable narrative and substantial information for readers seeking a realistic picture of combat operations in Borneo and South Viet Nam.

Key Features

• Firsthand accounts: Detailed combat narratives place the reader alongside patrols operating behind enemy lines, clarifying the stakes and decisions faced by SAS teams.
• Selection and training insight: A clear look at the selection process and preparation for war shows why physical and psychological toughness are core to success.
• Historical coverage: Descriptions of operations in Papua New Guinea, Borneo and South Viet Nam provide contextual depth for Australia and regional conflict history.
• Analytical commentary: The text debunks common myths about the SAS while highlighting exacting battle craft and smallunit tactics.
• Readable prose: Customers consistently cite readability and information content, making the book accessible to nonspecialists as well as veterans.

Who It's For

This book is aimed at readers of military history, veterans and students of smallunit tactics who want a blunt, experiencebased account of how SAS patrols were selected, trained and deployed. The combination of personal narrative and operational detail makes it suitable for readers seeking both story and substance.

Those looking for a formal academic study with exhaustive sourcing may want complementary works; likewise readers preferring purely strategic overviews rather than close combat description should consider broader histories alongside this memoir. For anyone wanting a vivid soldier's story, however, this delivers.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Compelling firsthand narratives give a clear sense of patrol life and mission pressure.
• Thorough coverage of selection and training explains the physical and psychological demands placed on candidates.
• Readable writing balances detail and narrative flow, improving accessibility for general readers.

Cons

• Focus on firsthand experience means the book is more narrative than exhaustive academic analysis.

Specifications

Title	On Patrol with the SAS: Sleeping with Your Ears Open
Author	Gary McKay
Subject	Australian Army Special Air Services Regiment operations and training
Geographic focus	Papua New Guinea, Borneo, South Viet Nam
Content type	Firsthand combat narrative and selection/training description
Audience	Military history readers, veterans, students of smallunit tactics

Our Verdict

On Patrol with the SAS is a valuable, well written soldier's account that should be bought by readers wanting a vivid, groundlevel view of SAS selection, training and patrol operations. Its mix of readability and operational detail offers strong value to those seeking authentic, experiencebased history rather than abstract strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book cover SAS selection?
Yes. The book provides clear, detailed descriptions of the SAS selection process and the qualities required to succeed.

Which conflicts does the book describe?
The narrative focuses on training and patrols in Papua New Guinea and combat operations in Borneo and South Viet Nam.

Is it suitable for nonspecialists?
Yes. Customers note its readability and information content, making it accessible to general readers as well as military enthusiasts.