Outside the Wire

On the front line with the SAS in Australia's war in Afghanistan

Andy White

• Publisher: Allen & Unwin
• Year: 2026
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Military Biographies
• eBook ISBN:
  9781761891113
• Index: History

A SAS soldier's journey from trainee to elite warrior fighting Islamic militants in Afghanistan, only to be betrayed by his own senior leaders at home.
' I've had more than my share of close calls. Truth is, it's f*cking thrilling. But the fear can hit just as hard, especially when you see mates wounded or killed. Or civilians caught in the crossfire – people who had nothing to do with the fight, but still paid the price.'
This is the story of Andy White and his two years in Tarin Kot with the Australian SAS, towards the end of the war in Afghanistan, when the fighting was at its most intense. These are vivid recollections of combat, leadership, bravery, errors and dark humour.
Andy reveals how the men planned their missions, how they rapidly adjusted to changing conditions on the ground and operated alongside Uruzgan's warlords. He also shows how strategic and political decisions shaped the way the SASR, alongside the 2nd Commando Regiment and the Special Operations Engineer Regiment, fought Australia's longest war.
Outside the Wire is an insider account of SAS operations like no other, from one of Australia's most experienced soldiers.
'An incredible story of endurance, sacrifice and courage.' John Cantwell AO DSC, Major General (Retd)
'An expert, unflinching account of the SASR in Afghanistan, a powerful story that needed to be told.' Wayne Weeks CSM, former Regimental Sergeant Major, SASR
'Andy's book exudes a rare authenticity and a genuine cry from the heart to all those who the system has failed.' Nick Kaldas AO APM, Chair, Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide
'A raw insight into the 21st-century warfighting experience of the Australian SASR.' Major Vando DSM, SASR SQN Commander (Retd)
' Outside the Wire is authentic, powerful, and needed.' Brigadier Dan Fortune DSC and Bar (SASR Retd)
'Far more than an engrossing read; it is a sophisticated demonstration of how tactical decisions made in the dust and chaos of operations can reverberate with strategic, national consequences.' Major Brett Sangster, 2CDO (Retd)

Table of contents

• COVER PAGE
• ABOUT THE AUTHOR
• TITLE PAGE
• COPYRIGHT PAGE
• DEDICATION
• CONTENTS
• LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
• MAP
• PREFACE: KNOWN KNOWNS
• 1 TROOPS IN CONTACT, WAIT OUT …
• 2 PRISONER OF MOTHER ENGLAND
• 3 LIFE IS NOT A REHEARSAL
• 4 BLOODLINES OF PRINCIPLE
• 5 OBSERVE, ORIENT, DECIDE, ACT
• 6 FOR QUEEN AND COUNTRIES
• 7 TESTING THE DEPTH OF THE WATER WITH BOTH FEET
• 8 THE CORNERSTONE OF THE SASR
• 9 EATING THE ELEPHANT, ONE BITE AT A TIME
• 10 GOING WALKABOUT
• 11 NO PLAN SURVIVES CONTACT
• 12 SHARPENING THE DAGGER’S EDGE
• 13 SHOOTERS THAT ARE THINKERS, AND THINKERS THAT ARE SHOOTERS
• 14 BLACK FRIDAY
• 15 CHECKING BOXES, NOT PEOPLE
• 16 WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE …
• 17 DON’T LET TRUTH GET IN THE WAY OF A GOOD STORY
• 18 TARGETING, TALL TALES AND TREASURY RESTRAINT
• 19 IN DOG WE TRUST
• 20 BOUND BY BLOOD
• 21 ROMULUS AND REMUS
• 22 W.I.A.
• 23 RATS AND RATLINES
• 24 BESTEST BOY
• 25 A CENTURY OF MATESHIP
• 26 KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
• 27 THE UN-REMARKABLE TRINITY
• 28 FRIENDS, FOES AND FENCE SITTERS
• EPILOGUE
• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• NOTES
• INDEX