Rifleman on the re-Bound
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 Force rifleman Aaron Wood initially struggled to make the switch to civilian life after he left the military four years ago.
The No Duff Charitable Trust co-founder has joined forces with Outward Bound to help make the move 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.
Wood left the forces as a staff sergeant after two decades of service, and he said he was stunned by the lack of support on offer from the 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 have been chosen for the first course, set to run in early February from the Anakiwa-based Outward Bound School in the Marlborough Sounds. But $68,100 is needed to ensure the course is 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 new course is based on the Outward Bound model and will 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 led to some people floundering.
‘‘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.