AYR POLICE OFFICER RECOGNISED FOR HISTORIC MILITARY ACHIEVEMENT

Former Army Sergeant Matthew Reid was formally awarded the prestigious jaguar brevet at a ceremony held at Jezzine House, Jezzine Barracks in Townsville last week. Photo credit: Jacob Casha

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A local Ayr police officer has received formal military recognition for becoming the first Australian soldier to pass one of the toughest jungle warfare courses in the world.

Former Army Sergeant Matthew Reid was formally awarded the prestigious jaguar brevet at a ceremony held at Jezzine House, Jezzine Barracks in Townsville last week.

The event marked the official endorsement for recipients to wear the brevet on their formal Army ceremonial dress.

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The recognition comes after Mr Reid made history in 2024, becoming the first Australian to successfully complete the gruelling eight-week Jaguar Course in French Guiana, run by the French Foreign Legion.

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The elite course, notorious for its extreme physical rigours, put participants through endurance, combat, and survival tests in a dense jungle environment.

The experience proved a true test of resilience for NSW-born Reid, compounded by a severe foot infection that caused swelling and intense pain throughout the training.

"It was probably one of the hardest things I've done throughout my military career. But I enjoyed it a lot," Mr Reid said.

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After two months of intense field training, which saw him struggle through a casualty transport emulation in armpit-deep mud, Mr Reid would pass the course ranking 18th out of 35 students.

He recalled feeling a mix of nervousness, relief and pride as he awaited his results at the ceremony.

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“The staff and instructors over there don't really give you too much feedback, so you don’t really know where you sit. But it was definitely a massive weight off the shoulders (when I passed),” he said.

“It felt good to represent Australia, the Army, and the unit that I came from.”

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Following a ten-year military career, which included eight years in Townsville and two years in Tully, Mr Reid would eventually transition into civilian law enforcement.

He graduated from the police academy and was stationed at the Ayr Police Station last November, where he’s been learning the ropes ever since.

Mr Reid said that, despite few similarities between the Jaguar jungle course and the Ayr climate, his military background has facilitated a smooth transition into policing.

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“Not so much from (the Jaguar Course) applies, but from the army in general, there’s definitely a lot of discipline and resilience that carries over to this job,” he said.

Now six months into his policing career, he says he has embraced the slower pace of the Burdekin, drawing parallels with his coastal hometown of Jervis Bay.

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"It's a nice place to start policing. It's a bit slower in pace compared to the bigger cities … so you get to understand the processes and policies (a bit easier). The community has also been quite friendly,” he said.

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Looking ahead, Mr Reid is eager to focus on mastering his new role in Ayr.