Former sniper joins forces with Outward Bound to help fellow veterans

Thursday, 29 November 2018

Rifleman Aaron Wood was deployed overseas five times, including tours of duty in Afghanistan and Somalia.

He was once a defence force sniper but when it came to civilian life, sharpshooter didn't look great on his CV.

Former New Zealand Defence rifleman Aaron Wood initially struggled to make the switch to civilian life after he left four years ago.

The No Duff Charitable Trust co-founder has joined forces with Outward Bound to help make the move to civvy street less stressful for other veterans.

But funding desperately needs to be found to ensure the Outward Bound NZ Veterans course, the first of its kind in New Zealand, can go ahead.

An Outward Bound student takes on the high wire at Anakiwa.

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Wood left the forces as a staff sergeant after two decades of service and said he was stunned by the lack of support on offer from the New Zealand Defence Force.

'They don't care, it's just not their problem any more.

'I had no directly transferable skills, I was a sniper but couldn't exactly put that on a CV. For some unknown reason this generation of veterans has been very poorly supported,' he said.

Fourteen veterans had been chosen for the first course which was set to run in early February from the Anakiwa-based Outward Bound School in the Marlborough Sounds.

Aaron Wood initially struggled to make the switch to civilian life after he left four years ago and wants to help other veterans.

But $68,100 was needed to ensure the course was fully funded.

'I don't want them to have to pay for anything out of their own pocket, this isn't a holiday,' Wood said.

Wood was deployed overseas five times, including tours of duty in Afghanistan and Somalia.

'Most NZDF personnel are released without any form of transition support, active or otherwise.'

The view from the Coffee Shack hill above Anakiwa at dawn, where students often sleep under the stars.

The new course was based on the Outward Bound model and would include workshops, team building and outside activities, and exercises geared towards helping veterans redefine who they are.

Wood said a key component of the course was the closing ceremony, which would be held at the cenotaph on Picton's foreshore.

He said a lack of ceremony when leaving the force saw some people flounder.

'In contradiction to the pomp and ceremony which denotes entry into NZDF service for all ranks, virtually no service personnel receive any official recognition in the form of a ceremony upon release from the NZDF.

'As the transition from citizen to soldier is ritualised and celebrated, so too should the return transformation.'

A Defence Force spokesperson said the organisation was refreshing its range of transition services to ensure it met people's needs.

'Feedback and Veterans Affairs case management insights suggest that the majority of veterans adjust well, though some do struggle.

'Veterans Affairs provides vocational and social rehabilitation to veterans with qualifying operational service, should they need assistance to get well and find sustainable employment after they have left the NZDF.

'These services apply to all Regular Force personnel, regardless of whether they are a qualifying veteran – there are qualifying criteria to be classed as a veteran.'

For further information, visit noduff.org.nz or to make a donation go to givealittle.co.nz/org/noduff