WWTW Beneficiaries Travel To New York To Take Part In The Ruck March

The event, now in its third year, has seen hundreds of veterans take part to show their respect to those who have served.

Mark Otto, Former Marine and Executive Director of the United War Veterans Council, set up the event as a way to build a bridge between the military and civilian world. The route of the march takes the veterans past several of the city’s war memorials and offers the opportunity to reflect on the ex-servicemen and woman who have lost their lives.

David, a WWTW veteran, took part and said, “It was a real honour and privilege to be invited to take part in the Ruck March in New York and to walk with so many other veterans and families of serving U.S soldiers past and present ahead of Veterans Day. The UK and US Armed Forces have fought closely together and it was great to be able to walk as a group and remember those who have served.”

WWTW promotes cooperation and collaboration between the UK and US as part of its Veterans Transatlantic Partnership (‘VTAP’) initiative. VTAP promotes closer workings and developments between UK and US veteran organisations focused on employment and mental health.

David served in The Armed Forces for 6 years in The Gulf War and Bosnia. He rose to the rank of Lance Corporal before applying for voluntary discharge in 1995. Following his return to civvy street, David quickly found work as an HGV driver but he suffered from mental health issues, resulting in the breakdown of his marriage and subsequent relationships. After years struggling to cope, David sought help from his GP who referred him to TILS (The NHS veteran’s Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service), and then to WWTW’s mental health programme, Head Start. To read David's story, click here.