Captain Jeremy Smith, on first meet, is your average Australian.

But delve deeper, and you’ll come to find there’s more to the story of the footy-loving kid from Shepparton, whose father, Chris Smith, played an impressive 163 games for Fitzroy.

Smith served as an officer in the Australian Army for over eight years, and at just 24, he led soldiers on deployments to Iraq. It’s a feat not many can imagine, let alone at that age.

But for Smith, it was simply the job he had to do.

“My last appointment, I came back in 2007, but it’s something I think about a lot. The things that we achieved, the mateship we forged in that time, the difficult situations that brought us together,” Smith told Richmond Media.

“You look back and think, ‘wow, at 24, I’m in charge of the movement of every Australian through Baghdad’. Having that level of responsibility at such a young age, it was an incredible honour to be in charge of such skilled soldiers.”

It’s led to connections that have survived decades, with Smith leaning on those he fought with in his everyday life.

“Those friendships we forged haven’t changed and that’s helped us in many aspects of life since. It’s helped us in difficult situations, and how you make the most of difficult situations,” he said.

“Some of the guys I was deployed with, we may not see each other for five or 10 years, but when we do, we haven’t skipped a beat. It’s an incredible, ongoing mateship.”

These days, you’ll find him continuing to build on his successful career in business leadership and consulting.

But on the inside, he carries what he achieved and saw when deployed, sometimes heavily, but always proudly.

And the cost of war goes beyond the war itself. Smith has lost two great Australian Army mates to suicide. It’s a burden he carries quietly.

“The soldiers we served with were incredibly good at what we did. We achieved some great things and saw a big difference across the mission we did with the Iraqi people at that time,” Smith said.

While there weren’t so many physical injuries while deployed, it was the burden carried home that impacted Smith and his friends in heartbreaking fashion.

“I’ve had, sadly, two very close friends who have taken their own lives since returning to Australia. Writing eulogies for them is something that you never wish on anyone,” Smith said.

“It’s reflecting on the ‘what ifs’. That’s what I struggle with. I got the phone call [about a friend’s passing] and I thought, ‘why didn’t I call him?’. It’s none of our fault, but it’s [learning] how to not go down the dark path yourself. Not everyone is able to do that.

“Unfortunately, that is the time we’re bringing people together. We’re not catching up for reunions and good reasons. We’re catching up for the wrong reasons.

“You see the most courageous and incredible people that have given so much for the country, that are really struggling in many ways.

“It’s about reminding people that there are services out there to call upon. Soldiers, we’re not very good at asking for help.

“People still call now, that I haven’t spoken to in years, that just want an ear. Just knowing that there’s others out there and you don’t have to wear the burden yourself.”

Looking back on what he achieved at such a young age, Smith sometimes can’t believe his own achievements, and how he can still have an impact on those he led today.

“At that age, you’re not prepared for some of those things. You do your training in Duntroon, which is incredibly intense for 18 months,” he said

“Then, all of a sudden, you’re in charge of soldiers who have more experience than you. Many older than you. Work doesn’t stop at the end of the day.”

Smith refuses to let the legacy of his tireless efforts to protect our country go to waste. He stands for his mates, and for those who weren’t so lucky.

And his message to the rest of us is simple.

“I think quite a bit; nothing is that bad. No one is going to die in the corporate world, but people get really frustrated. There’s a way forward,” Smith said.

“You learn what ‘bad’ actually looks like. We had a part in helping improve that in the Middle East.

“For all the people that have served and the incredible sacrifice they’ve made. Always thank them for their service.

“Anzac Day is a time for reflection for the great mateship and things we’ve achieved, but also to remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice and aren’t here anymore.”

Smith will light the eternal flame at the MCG before Richmond’s Anzac Day Eve match on Friday night against Melbourne.