Some Comparative Observations:
We ponder the question of former Soldier Julian Knight ‘what-if not via Duntroon Bastardisation and the psychotic consequences of innocents on Hoddle Street immediately afterwards…?’
Could he have well gone on to a military special forces unit…and what could he have achieved in combat against real enemy? In hindsight, what a waste!
There are glaring key differences between Julian Knight and those of legend who have advanced in combat skills during their military careers to go on to become highly lethal and effective against a foe – a rare and elite lot – ‘Military Killer-Legends’.
- Julian Knight was just 18 years of age
- Julian Knight was subjected to a relentless brutal bullying regime by gangs of senior cadets at RMC, who targeted him from Day 1
- Julian Knight killed the wrong people – innocent strangers at home in civilian Hoddle Street instead of enemy in the battlefield
- Julian Knight was not compos mentis when he committed the killings
- Julian Knight was far from completing his Infantry training at the time and would have been some years had he advanced in his combat skills to an expert military standard
Having said that, Julian Knight had demonstrated some the attributes to be able to advance his combat skills to an expert military standard
- He showed and demonstrated a keen interest in serving a career in the Army Infantry from an early age, that was all he wanted to do
- He showed and demonstrated a keen interest in serving a career in the Army Infantry from an early age, that was all he wanted to do
- His childhood and formative years exposed him to a continual Army environment and culture constantly, as well as rifle shooting from a young age
- During Infantry training he demonstrated a ‘Marksman’ level shooting accuracy in the Army Reserves (attains highest score in the Regiment) and then at RMC Duntroon. [NOTE: Rifle shooting accuracy levels progress from Marksman (basic qualification) to Sharpshooter (intermediate), Expert (advanced), and finally Sniper (elite, specialized role requiring expert-level skills and independent operations beyond just hitting targets). ]
- He showed no fear during Infantry field combat training against a mock enemy
- He repeatedly sought to advance his Infantry skills – Army rifle (L1A1 (SLR) training, Troopers course, Army radio course, RMC selection
- His ‘larrikin’, ‘easy going’ and ‘joking’ personality is in many ways comparable to that reported of elite combat soldiers through history especially of the Australian Army. He also got into fist fights.
- He is a team player amongst his fellow soldiers whom he can trust.
Notable Military Killer-Legends:
[Here, we are not concerned with rank, but determination, commitment, bravery in combat, and taking out many enemy – the true tasks of a professional Soldier in wartime]
A few example legends in this select genre:
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Billy Sing
[Discover the incredible true story of Billy Sing, the Australian farmer who became WWI’s deadliest sniper at Gallipoli. With 150+ confirmed kills, this Chinese-Australian kangaroo hunter terrorized Ottoman forces using nothing but a standard rifle and skills learned hunting in the Queensland outback. Watch how one quiet soldier revolutionized modern military sniper tactics, defeated the legendary “Abdul the Terrible” in an epic duel, and saved hundreds of Allied lives—all while remaining completely invisible to the enemy. This is the untold story of the ghost who changed warfare forever.]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Sing
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Jerry Michael Shriver
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Larry Earles
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Albert Jacka, VC
https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/stories/biographies/albert-jacka
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Ben Roberts-Smith, VC
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1270259
Australian Victoria Cross recipients:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Australian_Victoria_Cross_recipients
Australian Victoria Cross Memorials
https://vwma.org.au/public/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=VC&commit=Search
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