
17 Jun NFM supporting veterans
NFM SUPPORTING NORWEGIAN VETERANS
I am an ex-Policeman and also an instructor in the Military, so the veteran community is very important to me, always has been. My grandfathers, father and uncle served. One of my grandfathers was a Japanese POW who saw the atom bomb hit Nagasaki.
Due to my experience and family history, I am constantly looking for ways to support the community.
This year, my plan was to support SIOPS – which stands for Skadet under Internasjonal Operasjoner (“Wounded under international operations”). They support combat vets that struggle with injuries and illnesses and create an environment for them that is neutral and one where they can share their experiences together and overcome the challenges they face. That is an important thing – sharing experiences with people who have experienced the same. SIOPS is the only organisation, in Norway, dedicated to assisting wounded veterans and their families.
War is brutal and it does affect the person exposed to it. When coming home, it is often difficult for veterans to share their experiences with people who have not been there. This is also the case for me after returning from both Iraq and Ukraine. A sought-after shoulder to lean on is usually a comrade who was there with you. That is where SIOPS comes in, they are that shoulder.
RUNNING FOR OUR VETS
On Saturday the 11th of June 2022, I took part in the 10km Kristiansand Sommerløp run. The challenge was to complete it in NFM THOR™ vest system with SKJOLD™ ballistic plates.
Admittedly, the Sommerløp was a last minute thing and I did not create a donation page until the day of the race. That being said, a friend and I who did it, managed to raise $207 USD. Once the leadership at NFM found out we were doing this, they offered to match whatever donations we received. That brought the total to $414 USD.
I spoke to Øystein Wemberg, who is the General Secretary for SIOPS and asked him if I could come and join some veterans that attend the SIOPS office every Wednesday for “Waffle Wednesdays”. It is a day where any veteran can come in and eat some food and share some stories. It was also an opportunity to hand over the donations raised.
There were a few veterans that attended the waffle get together and they were very hospitable to me, being a newbie to the Wednesday tradition. (The top image is from their office with Øystein second from the left)


SAILING EXPEDITION
Øystein told me that SIOPS organizes a yearly sailing expedition to the Lofoten Islands in the north of the country every July and I was invited to attend with them as their photographer from NFM. It just so happens that I will be in Lofoten at that time, so it will be an honour to join them.
This will be the fourth year that the organization will be sailing with the world’s oldest sailing Schooner, “Anna Rogde” from 1868. Every veteran on the ship has a job to do – be it cleaning, maintain the sails, lookout or cooking. I guess I get the easy one – taking pictures.
WHY NFM SUPPORTS VETERANS
NFM was started by former soldiers who are now veterans. They know the community well and will do what they can to assist fellow veterans so you will see a lot more activities from NFM in the coming months and years.
NFM has a saying, “We protect those who protect us”.
Well, in this regard NFM is also “Helping those who have helped us”.
It feels good to give.

| ABOUT NFM |
NFM Group, founded in 1996, designs and produces protective equipment that enables the user to deploy his full capacity during combat, while staying protected. Our systems and products, based on the Scandinavian heritage of craftsmanship, are designed with the user in the center and by continuously implementing a holistic and innovative approach to protection.
Today, NFM has contracts with over 50 military and law enforcement agencies worldwide.
For more information, please visit page about our company.
OUR SOCIAL MEDIA:
| ABOUT NFM |
NFM Group, founded in 1996, designs and produces protective equipment that enables the user to deploy his full capacity during combat, while staying protected. Our systems and products, based on the Scandinavian heritage of craftsmanship, are designed with the user in the center and by continuously implementing a holistic and innovative approach to protection.
Today, NFM has contracts with over 50 military and law enforcement agencies worldwide.
For more information, please visit page about our company.
OUR SOCIAL MEDIA: