At the Remembrance Day Banquet held at the Millbrook Legion on Saturday, November 8th, Jason Salo was presented with a special award for his service to local veterans and emergency service personnel through a program he launched and operates called Operation Vet Build.
Jason Salo is a retired reservist and military policeman who established this program in Millbrook in 2022. Run for and by veterans, the program now runs twice a month at the Millbrook Legion.
The concept originated in the UK where an organization was established to provide information, advice and guidance to support veterans of the armed forces to help them in their transition back to civilian life and the challenges that transition presents. Through individual support, shared experiences and common culture, the organization is a touch point for referral to advice and support whether it relates to administrative issues such as paperwork for benefits claims or professional emotional support. This Canadian version was launched in 2019 helping veterans heal through hobby and social support. It is coordinated through the Royal Canadian Legion OSI Special Section and is hosted in Legion Branches across Canada.
As you can imagine, retired veterans aren’t inclined to sit around and share their feelings. The group is called Vet Build because of what they do when they meet. Participants assemble plastic scale models of military vehicles and equipment and set up tabletop battles as a way to help alleviate the symptoms commonly associated with Operational Stress Injuries(OSIs) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and help them in their transition to civilian life after service. The hobby activity is conducted in a social atmosphere and allows veterans the opportunity to meet other veterans in their area while working through their projects. This is a peer support program first and model building is simply the diversion activity. In Millbrook, participants also use the models to develop table top war strategy gaming. These activities are helpful, as keeping hands busy through these activities seems to allow easier conversation about potentially challenging subjects.
While the main target for this group is veterans, Jason explains that the group welcomes Legion members, families of veterans or legion members, as well as first responders. Other participants include a scale model expert and an historian. New members are always welcome.
The award included a custom ink artwork by local artist, author and illustrator, Bill Slavin. It was created based on a photo of Jason taken in Afghanistan in May 2006 when he was teaching a young Afghan boy how to use his camera and showing him the photos on the cam-era’s memory card.
Now that Salo is over the shock of the public recognition, he would like to thank Millbrook Legion President Diann Corfe and all Legion members for sponsoring Operation Vet Build, providing the space where participants meet and for the recognition of his efforts in launching and sustaining this group. It’s success can be attributed to the participants who come out to share their time and their stories with each other.