ca·ma·ra·de·rie - Simply put, it’s a “mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together”.

The men and women who are serving or have served in our U.S. armed forces know the feeling well. Spending countless hours training and serving together, it is like nothing else.

Though different, hunters and anglers feel it, too. There is just something about being at hunting camp; swapping stories, grimy from the earth. It truly makes friendships blossom.

That is why Wounded Warriors Guide Service was founded. The hope is bring back that sense of camaraderie among fellow vets in the form of hunting and fishing. And, offer it at little to no cost for the veteran. 

In this episode of Empower Outdoors, we talk to Paul Pedersen, who served 27 years in the 148th fighter wing in Duluth, MN. Pedersen is an avid hunter and angler, who is a board member and volunteer for the Wounded Warriors Guide service. In his day job, he also works for the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV).

“Each trip exposes people to other veterans and what I like about it is that you hear stories that you think are only yours. There’s a lot of vets that think that they are unique in that they’re the only ones experiencing something, whether it’s hardship at home or a tough day at the job. And you’re really not alone,” Pedersen said.