NZSAS: First Among Equals - Full Series

Once you decide to do the cycle…you give it your all.

– Former NZSAS soldier Dale on the training process, in episode two

We soon got to realise that SAS really stood for Saturdays and Sundays, because we worked every damn weekend.

– A former NZSAS soldier, in episode two

With a lot of weapon skills and during combat you learn to think quickly on your feet. You have to. If you can’t then you’ll make a mistake. Make a mistake, and someone will die.

– A former NZSAS soldier, in episode three

You could be at the movies. Beeper goes off — give the girl a kiss and hand over your jaffas and off you go.

– Former NZSAS soldier Dale, in episode three

Exercises, you always take seriously. But you’re still that one step off that 110%, aren’t you? You know, operations is life…and death.

– Former NZSAS soldier Dale, in episode three

The jungle is the same for you and for your enemy...one who makes the best use of the jungle, survives.

– A former NZSAS soldier in episode four

Unlike a lot of unconventional forces, they will see action early and often in their operational life.

– Military analyst Paul Buchanan, in episode four

The effects of food and sleep deprivation and strength-sapping pack work are intended to play havoc with their ability to function.

– Narrator Mike McRoberts, in episode one

New Zealand is regarded as having one of the worlds best special forces, having fought in many major conflicts for over half a century.

– Narrator Mike McRoberts, in episode one

I’d never been so crippled in my life as trying to walk in bricks —frozen bricks, with wet socks and feet that resembled marshmallows.

– An ex-SAS soldier describing the effects on his body when he was at training camp, in episode 1

A Special Forces solider is trained in a number of military disciplines and that right there is what distinguishes them from the conventional soldier. What you have is what are known as the ‘one percenters’. They’re the upper most one percent in both mental aptitude as well as physical aptitude.

– Military analyst Paul Buchanan, in episode one

Like when athletes hit the wall — this is our wall.

– A Regimental Sergeant Major describes Exercise von Tempsky, one of the most difficult tests of stamina, in episode 1

It will definitely be a case of kill or be killed. So we have to train with that in mind at all times.

– A Regimental sergeant major, in episode two