Military Career
Willem Ratte volunteered to join the Rhodesian Army in 1973 and was in the Rhodesian Light Infantry and later transferred to the elite Rhodesian Special Air Service. After 6 years in the Rhodesian Army and before the disbandment of the Rhodesian Special Air Service in 1980, Willem Ratte left and joined the South African Defence Force. He was transferred to the elite 32 Battalion in 1979 with the rank of Lieutenant. His command and reconnaissance skills amongst other reconnaissance operations such as "Project Spiderweb" earned him a promotion in 1984 to the rank of Captain and in 1985 promoted again to the rank of Major. In 1990 he was again promoted this time to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel however he resigned the following year in 1991. He was referred to by Eeben Barlow as being "simply the finest, most professional soldier ever trained by the South African Defence Force."
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