SF&AF AP Traditional Woodworking Clinic FEB 2025

This is a reposting from the Katz-Moses Tools February 2025 monthly newsletter:

KMWDF Sponsors Veteran Workshop by Semper Fi & America's Fund Hosted by WoodByWright

In January, our founder Jonathan was approached by James Wright from "Wood By Wright" about providing equipment for a class, attended by disabled veterans identified through Semper Fi & America’s Fund. With that being said, let’s begin this story from the beginning.

Ryan Barnard is presently enrolled in the Semper Fi and America’s Fund Apprenticeship Program (SF & AF AP… our service members love acronyms). Ryan is enrolled as a veteran entrepreneur with a business plan centered on woodworking instruction, tool sales, and manufacturing workbenches for individuals with disabilities and or mobility challenges. Seeking guidance through this, he reached out to James Wright for mentorship while preparing to launch his business. However, from

further discussions with his case manager, the idea was born to conduct woodworking training clinics through the SF & AF AP to help veterans gain foundational skills in hand tool woodworking and joinery.

Ryan broached this idea to James who collaborated with him to refine the course concept and develop a curriculum. James offered his workshop for the first clinic which operates as a pilot program to validate the model and determine its repeatability.

These attendees have a variety of disabilities, from spinal cord injuries limiting physical functions, to traumatic brain injuries (TBI) - blast injuries from combat which often manifest in chronic migraines, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Other disabilities vary by veteran, but the aforementioned are quite common amongst our service men and women.

The course itself is a walkthrough of hand tool woodworking and joinery, progressing from the use of hand tools in woodworking to the most basic joinery, progressing through more advanced concepts, and elevating into tool making. In the evenings, attendees conducted wood carving workshops as an additional add-on to provide a different facet of woodworking but also to help refine some of their skills such as grain reading. The ultimate goal was to equip the attendees with foundational woodworking skills while fostering confidence and independence. This course gave the attendees hands-on experience with essential techniques and tools, preparing them for more advanced projects or whatever their woodworking ventures may entail.

So WHY hand tool woodworking? As James Wright says, “Hand tools allow us to work in a smaller space.” They’re “far more peaceful and relaxed. If you learn the skill with hand tools you can translate that to power tools. You can’t always do it in the other direction.” Ryan adds on about the therapeutic aspect of hand tool woodworking, “We integrated biofeedback, mindfulness, and breathing exercises into the training to help veterans manage challenges stemming from their disabilities.”

“As Veterans encountered difficulties, we emphasized recognizing where stress was held in their bodies, practicing mindfulness, and understanding that while perfection is unattainable, excellence is achievable through patience and practice.”

How did the KMWDF fold into all this? Well, as we mentioned before, James approached Jonathan regarding the tool aspect of the class. One whole day was devoted to dovetails, so the KMWDF donating marking gauges and KM Tools Dovetail guides was vital to the mission. Since each student was provided their own gear, no student had to share equipment which can be at times frustrating in a learning environment. Also, the KM Tools dovetail guide’s magnetic implements provide “training wheels” to make the skill much more approachable. And as James Wright put it, the aprons donated, “gave the students a feeling of professionalism and a place to store the tools they used and made.” Ryan noted that the “quality marking knives improved precision in measuring and layout” and praised the dovetail guides as well. He concluded, “These resources made complex tasks approachable and fostered a sense of accomplishment amongst our participants.”

This kind of programming and the people behind it, specifically folks like James and Ryan are incredibly impactful for disabled veterans. For many disabled veterans, traditional 9-to-5 jobs are not practical due to the unpredictability of their disabilities, which can cause sudden disruptions to their schedules. After dedicating their lives to mission-focused service, being unable to work or contribute meaningfully can take a severe toll on their mental health and recovery. Programs like this provide veterans with the tools, training, and empowerment to work within the constraints of their disabilities while rediscovering purpose and meaning.

As Ryan details, “These initiatives help veterans transition from feeling hopeless, helpless, and worthless to becoming productive members of society, fostering a renewed sense of purpose and direction. By offering a viable pathway to pursue their goals and dreams despite physical or cognitive limitations, such programs not only improve quality of life but also play a role in addressing critical issues like veteran suicide. Empowering veterans in this way honors their sacrifices and helps them build fulfilling futures.”

Thank you to Ryan, James, and the rest of the team at Semper Fi & America’s Fund for allowing KMWDF to contribute to this meaningful endeavor.

Semper Fi & America's Fund Apprenticeship Program: https://thefund.org/our-programs/transition-program/apprenticeship-program/

Wood By Wright: https://www.woodbywright.com/

Katz-Moses Tools: https://kmtools.com/