TTTS ReMEMBERS OUR FRIEND DAVID SCOTT-DONELAN

  A career soldier, spanning almost three decades of active duty in the war zones of Rhodesia, South Africa, Mozambique and Southwest Africa/Namibia, David is an original member of C Squadron, Rhodesia SAS.

One of the first members of the counter-insurgency unit known as the Selous Scouts, who tracked and fought the communist infiltration in Rhodesia.

David  immigrated to the United States in 1988 and has helped to spearhead tracker training. David has shared his extensive tracking knowledge through hundreds of classes spanning a 45 year period.  First exposed to tracking as a boy scout, his growing interest in the skill ignited a passion that became a lifelong pursuit.  

DSD's book, Tactical Tracking Operations is a comprehensive training manual for tracking, and from it spawned a new generation of combat trackers.  

DSD was a vital mentor, friend, and advisor for many of TTTS' cadre.  From their time together in training, to working together at the Army Combat Tracking School in Sierra Vista, AZ, to their agreement to start their new Tracking School's as "sister-schools" in 2010.  

TTTS and The Scott-Donelan Tracking School worked in tandem as a part of a greater Tracking Network, a dream David often shared with us.

He will be greatly missed by all.

Pamwe Chete!

Larry Comments coming soon

Aside from my Dad, David was the most influential mentor I have had during my career.  From the first time he met me, he shared his passion for tracking and really drove home the importance of gathering evidence from the spoor and along the track line.   

I was fortunate to receive the one on one training he provided to me and for his guidance when working on our own POI.  The times spent sitting in David's living room, learning more about his time in the Scouts is time I will always cherish.    
The last time we were in his home he told me about building a shoot house in the bush using rolls of paper in an old decerped structure and how he brought his men to that shoot house to bring them realistic training that at the time was so far out of the box it mad others uncomfortable. That type of innovation and foresight is what he brought to the table.  

His legacy continues through all who share his experiences and teachings.  We keep the spirit of David and Rhodesia alive as we pass down the Rhodesian Style of Tracking, because as the song says: "Rhodesian's Never Die."

Pamwe Chete!

Many years ago when I first started learning of the Rhodesian Style of tracking through Tactical Tracker Training School, I began to hear of a man named David Scott-Donelan.  I learned and read everything I could about him, Rhodesia, the bush wars, and the Selous Scouts.  The more I learned of the Selous Scouts the more I respected them as the 'most effective modern special forces unit'.

Scott-Donelan's name repeatedly came up.  This man made it possible for all of the most effective tracking in the United States today.  In my own law enforcement career I had many successes that are directly attributable to the cadre at TTTS and David Scott-Donelan.  David was one of the few heroes in life that I was blessed to meet.  We exchanged stories and I was able to continue learning from him directly as he talked.  I am immensely proud to carry on the heritage of the Selous Scouts through tracking today and as part of the Tactical Tracker Training School Cadre.

The loss of David Scott-Donelan is the losing of a man and an asset that we may not soon find again to the law enforcement and military world.  His legacy lives through those of us with honor, integrity, and responsibility to better ourselves and our fellow man.

Pamwe Chete!