As a Major, Ferdie worked for the Special Air Service (SAS) a special forces unit of the British Army. He specialized in a number of roles including counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, direct action, and covert reconnaissance. Later he joined the South African Defense Force where he focused on intelligence gathering and interpretation and left as a Brigadier. He worked as a special advisor to the National Party during the Constitutional negotiations from 1991 - 1994. Ferdie has two Ph.D.’s in Agriculture.