SAS Australia star Jana Pittman to join the army reserves

She’s the Olympian-turned-doctor who put her body on the line to make it to the climatic end of season two of SAS Australia.

And now Jana Pittman has shared her plans to sign up to the Australian Army Reserve. 

The mother-of-six, 39, told The Sunday Telegraph she is in the process of enlisting,  and is excited to follow in the footsteps of other family members who have served.

‘I am halfway through that application, but I had the twins, so it has been delayed,’ said Jana, who welcomed a twin son and daughter in October. 

Pittman already has an impressive career behind her including winning medals at the Commonwealth games, becoming a qualified doctor and starring in the gruelling military-style reality show SAS Australia. 

She’s also the first woman, and the second Australian athlete in history, to compete in both the summer and winter Olympic Games for relay and bobsleigh.

The mother-of-six, 39, told The Sunday Telegraph she is in the process of enlisting, and is excited to follow in the footsteps of other family members who have served

But her decision to join the military has been primarily influenced by her family as her brother, grandfather, brother-in-law and father-in-law are all veterans.

‘My brother was an ex-Afghan veteran, my grandfather was in the Army and my husband’s brother is in the Army, as is his father. Also my grandparents were Dutch and went through (Nazi occupation in) World War II,’ she said.

‘So we have seen first hand how the war can impact them when they come home. I have grown up with a lot of respect for veterans.’

Jana comes from a military family. Her brother, grandfather, brother-in-law and father-in-law all served in the army. Jana is pictured on SAS Australia 

Pittman’s brother Ryan was involved in the military for ‘several years’ and did tours in Afghanistan. 

It was her brother’s experience in the army that made Pittman want to become involved and promote the Legacy Centenary Torch Relay.

The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay is a six-month campaign that acknowledges veterans and families of veterans.

‘I am halfway through that application, but I had the twins, so it has been delayed,’ said Jana, who welcomed a twin son and daughter in October. She is pictured with her four eldest children 

The torch for next year’s campaign will travel over 50,000 kilometres through 100 locations including France, the UK and Australia. It will be carried by approximately 1,500 torch bearers.

Pittman was on season two of SAS Australia and was one of just five recruits – and the only woman – to make it to the very end of the gruelling course.

She was ultimately eliminated by the directing staff, with NRL star Sam Burgess being the only recruit who passed. 

The former summer and winter Olympian works as a doctor specialising in reproductive medicine