The Latrobe-based former soldier was on a training run, training for the special forces, at a facility in south-east Queensland in August 2017.

“I was carrying extra weight and we went on a speed pack march, I was training for the special forces,” he said.

“I don’t remember much about the incident.”

What had happened was the extra weight forced Kent onto his left knee, which had damaged ligaments and tendons.

He was medically evacuated from the facility and underwent 10 surgeries in 15 months to correct the injury, but was medically discharged from the Army, at the age of 27.

He had been serving for 10 years.

However, this year, Mr Kent will serve his country once again, but this time in a different capacity.

He is part of the Australian team competing in the 2018 Invictus Games.

The Games, founded by Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry in 2014, is an international sporting event for wounded veterans and soldiers.

Mr Kent is one of eight Tasmanians in the Australian team, and will compete in five events for the first time. He will compete in powerlifting, swimming, track, field and discus.

A final training run was held at the Launceston PCYC this week before Mr Kent and the team leave for Sydney on Monday, October 15.

Jarrod Kent of Latrobe will be one of eight flying the flag for Tasmania at the 2018 Invictus Games held in Sydney this month.  

Mr Kent said he had come to love exercise during his time in the Army, he went from a guy who did “only a bit of football”, to one who relished the challenge of regular exercise.

After the injury, exercise also became an outlet for Mr Kent, who used it to help measure his rehab progress, but also to set and break goals.

He said it “meant the world” to compete in the Invictus Games. “It made me realise that I might have been broken but I would never be beaten,” he said.

“To go from literally dying on the ground 12 months ago to turning my life around and where I am today.”

Veterans Affairs Minister Guy Barnett said Mr Kent, along with all the Tasmanian contingent, which includes co-captain of the Australian team Matt Brumby, were an inspiration to Tasmanians.

Mr Brumby, of Devonport, is a T6 complete paraplegic and will compete in archery and wheelchair rugby at the Games.

“It was my pleasure to send Jarrod off with a Tasmanian flag on behalf of the Tasmanian community as he embarks on his journey to the Games,” Mr Barnett said.

“The Games use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women.”

This year’s Invictus Games are the fourth since the inaugural event, held in London in 2014.

There have been more than 500 competitors from 18 nations competing in 11 adaptive sports. Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, will attend the Invictus Games in Sydney. The Games will be held in Sydney on October 20-27, 2018.