A Tawa woman who supports former service personnel through Veterans’ Affairs is earning encouragement from her clients as she takes on a new role as a New Zealand Army Reserve Force infantry soldier.
Private Gemma Board joined the Reserve Force in November and completed her infantry corps training in January.
She has recently returned from Exercise Italy, a field training exercise near Whanganui that simulated a mid-intensity South West Pacific conflict scenario.
The exercise involved platoons carrying out quick attacks in open country.
Board, a case manager for Veterans’ Affairs, said the veterans she supports had been “super proud” of her decision to join the reserves.
“Before coming on the Reserve Force course, I told a few of my veterans I was doing this and they were super proud,” Board said.
“Several of them emailed me back, wished me luck and gave me little tips of what to do and what not to do around the training.
“They’ve backed me 100 percent. It’s good to have their support behind me.”
Veterans’ Affairs helps eligible veterans and their families access support and services in everyday life.
Board said her work with veterans helped her through the tougher parts of training, including weapons systems, first aid, leadership, patrolling, navigation, radio communication and living under a hoochie in Waiouru’s changeable weather.
“The vets told me ‘Waiouru is different’ and they were right about that,” she said.
“There were moments that pushed me out of my comfort zone.
“But I would think about the conversations I had with my veterans, and it gave me the resilience to go on.
“You’ve got to turn up, push through and lean on your comrades for support.”
Board is now serving with Wellington Company, 5/7 Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment.
She is required to complete 21 days of service each year, but said her unit was active, with something happening most months.
The unit is building towards Exercise Tauwharenīkau in July, the New Zealand Army Reserve’s largest annual exercise.
The exercise will include all Army Reserve Force units, along with reservists from the Australian Defence Force.
Board said her path into the reserves began after playing hockey for the New Zealand Army as a civilian, where reservists in the team gave her an insight into service life.
“The moment I committed to the idea, I knew I wanted to do it. It felt completely like me,” she said.
A former Tawa College student, Board completed a sports and recreation degree and worked at Work and Income in Porirua before becoming a Veterans’ Affairs case manager three years ago.
She said she valued the relationships she built with veterans through her work.
“No day is ever the same, and you get to know them very well and have some really good conversations,” she said.
“When they call, they are sometimes in a vulnerable spot, and I help them through that and get them the support they need.”
Board said joining the Reserve Force had changed the way she understood the veterans she worked with.
“I know what the veterans mean now when they talk about two families, the family you have and your services family,” she said.
“Your comrades go through the hard stuff with you, they know what you’re talking about.”
She said the experience had strengthened her work as a case manager.
“I feel like I can relate to my veterans in a more genuine way.
“Not because I’ve been through exactly what they have, but because I’ve stepped into a small part of that world, and that’s something I’ll carry with me every day in my work.
“Also, it helps now knowing all the Army lingo.”
