Sponsored by SSAFA
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08 May 24. KastKing Contributes to Getting Wounded Warriors Back On the Water. The simple pleasure of casting into the water and connecting with a fish attracts millions of anglers to the thrill of the sport. It’s easy to take the sport and hobby we love for granted until a traumatic injury takes that opportunity away.
Such is the case with many wounded warriors and first responders harmed in the line of duty. Spinal cord or head injuries can leave them with limited or no use of their hands, arms, and legs.
Before their injuries, these wounded heroes may or may not have been avid anglers; however, veteran assistance groups, such as River Deep Foundation, recognize the restorative power of being outdoors and having a renewed empowerment to cast and retrieve a lure to catch a fish.
Through a collaborative effort with their non-profit alliance member organizations, River Deep Foundation works with vets with debilitating spinal cord and other traumatic injuries to offer outdoor family events, such as fishing, to assist in re-engaging in sport and adventure.
This is where Colorado University Graduate Engineering student, Connor Borshard, and the team of six other fellow engineering graduate students stepped in to help. A non-profit group called Quality of Life Plus issued a call for university STEM programs to create innovative technology solutions that improve the quality of life for injured veterans and first responders. Borshard’s team was drawn to a project aiding in the casting, catching, and reeling of fish for individuals who have little to no dexterity in their hands or upper limbs. Borshard and his team proposed and engineered a brilliant solution they’ve dubbed, the Adaptive Fishing Device.
In summary, the Adaptive Fishing Device holds a spin cast rod and reel in the vertical casting position above a firm tripod base. The device receives inputs from the user, such as the desired casting distance, then loads a set of torsion springs to bring the rod back while depressing the casting button of the reel. Once loaded, the device springs the rod tip forward while releasing the casting button and launching the lure toward the target.
As Borshard explains, “We wanted the device to be relatively portable, yet stable enough for different terrains. It weighs in at 36 pounds total weight and has a 15-minute setup by those providing assistance to the angler.”
There are two methods of casting with the Adaptive Fishing Device. For those with some fine motor dexterity remaining in their fingers, a joystick can be maneuvered back and forth to load the cast. If the angler is further limited with no movement in the arms, hands, and fingers, a sip or puff device can be utilized to provide casting inputs to initiate the cast with air pressure.
The notion of getting veterans and first responders back out into the therapeutic element of the outdoors struck a chord with Borshard, who in addition to being a graduate student, is also an active-duty U.S. Marine. Once his graduate studies conclude at Colorado University, he’ll enter the Marine Corps flight training program.
When KastKing President, Al Noraker, heard of the initiative by the CU Engineering team, he leaped at the chance to aid in the effort by donating six-foot KastKing Crixus spin cast rods and KastKing Brutus spin cast reels to be used with the Adaptive Fishing Device.
“I’ve been fortunate to witness the incredible transformation from those with extreme PTSD and debilitating traumatic injuries leading to severe depression,” remarks Noraker. “I’ve seen it in a 19-year-old wounded warrior to an older Vietnam vet and it’s truly amazing how a simple experience of catching a fish changes their whole demeanor in such a short time.”
Recalling the transformation struck an emotional chord with Noraker, as he added, “When you witness the difference that fishing can make to people who have lost almost everything in the service of their country; well, that’s why I’m involved and will continue to be well after I’ve retired.”
For those interested in learning more about or implementing the Adaptive Fishing Device, Quality of Life Plus will take ownership once the graduate team hands over the finished product.
06 May 24. Ex-military personnel losing out on six figures in under settled claims. Thousands of ex-military personnel could be owed six-figure lump sums for having previously under settled personal injury claims against the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Many soldiers’ careers end abruptly due to injuries that could have been prevented – commonly either noise-induced hearing loss or cold injuries.
It is beginning to dawn on increasing numbers of ex service personnel that they have significantly under settled claims due to the negligence of their former lawyers or professionals who have failed to take into account the long-term compensation ex service personnel are owed.
Under settlement of military claims is a common mistake and occurs for a variety of reasons. Usually, full consideration has not been given to the service person’s earning potential post-injury to include any change to their pension entitlement or other benefits. The financial consequences of under settled claims are wide reaching, ranging from the loss of a military career and military pension, military benefits and reduced earning potential in civilian life.
Many injured service personnel are now taking action against their former solicitors for having failed to settle their claim fairly. Figures showed that, in the last 5 years, over 4,000 military claims had been settled, only a small handful of which went to trial. This raises concern that some claimants may have been wrongly advised to under settle their claim in order to bring their matter to an end quickly.
If a claimant has concerns that their solicitor may have been negligent and their case may have been under settled, they usually have six years from the date of the negligence to issue a professional negligence claim at court. In certain circumstances that time scale can be extended, but it is recommended that anyone who is concerned that their case may have under settled seek independent legal advice as soon as possible.
Abigail Flanagan, partner at Hugh James Solicitors, explains: “It is often not until years later that ex-service personnel realise their claims were significantly undervalued by solicitors who did not understand the complexities of such compensation.
What may have seemed like a big lump sum at first does not in fact take into account the lifelong career they would have had in the military, were it not for their injury, and does not reflect the salary and benefits, including pension entitlement, that they would have accrued over the years.
We’re observing a growing number of cases among veterans who are becoming increasingly aware of their circumstances. This realisation often happens through conversations with fellow servicemen who have received substantially higher compensation. For many injured ex-soldiers, who may not have pursued alternative educational or vocational paths, the prospect of a financially challenging future looms. They find themselves in a limited job market and sometimes have to seek low-paying jobs with limited career prospects.”
Pursuing under-settled claims against a negligent solicitor could result in their being awarded significant compensation to reflect what they were entitled to when the claim was initially brought, making all the difference to their futures”.
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SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has been providing lifelong support to our Forces and their families since 1885. In 2020, our teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 79,000 people in need, the currently serving (both regulars and reserves), veterans from the Second World War and those who have served in more recent conflicts, as well as their families. SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. And we are here for that person – any time they need us, in any way they need us, for as long as they need us.
https://www.ssafa.org.uk/about-us
https://www.ssafa.org.uk/support-us
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