By Chloe Cramutola
Every morning, for two years straight, veteran Paul Hewitt Jr. woke up with the sun and fetched his rod to fish and clear his mind. When the sun hit a certain spot on the tree line, he knew it was time to pack up and go home. That routine became his morning therapy session.
In July of 2023, it became his inspiration for the creation of a South Jersey nonprofit organization that helps other veterans get outside to experience nature and its healing properties – American Warrior Outdoors.
Hewitt, who joined the U.S. Army in 2006 as a Military Police Officer, is the co-founder, along with Kevin Nolan, another U.S. Army retiree. They met at an event for veterans organized by another group called MA22.
“We kind of bounced the idea around for a while, until we said, ‘Why don’t we see if we can do it on our own?’” said Hewitt. “MA22 does more of the day-to-day help and advice, so we thought we would just worry about the outdoor stuff.”
Hewitt said he is happy to direct veterans to other organizations for counseling or medical help, since his own cause focuses on “camaraderie, support and engagement with nature,” or ecotherapy. “Outdoor activities have been shown to have numerous physical, mental and emotional benefits, making them especially valuable for veterans who may be dealing with the challenges of transitioning to civilian life or coping with service-related issues,” according to the American Warrior Outdoors website.
This organization creates a space where veterans can come together and participate in outdoor activities like fishing, hiking, hunting and camping trips, all while meeting people who can share their experiences and understand each other.
Sergio Agudelo, a previous E-4 specialist in the U.S. Army, joined the military right out of high school. He endured mental, physical and emotional trauma, and he recently underwent a major lower back surgery. Various PTSD programs and rehabilitation centers supplemented his journey to recovery, and after discovering nonprofit organizations like AWO, he realized he became part of a “lifetime movement.”
Agudelo said he was drawn to AWO because it is veteran operated, and in joining he felt he wasn’t alone in the fight. He was even able to bring his son, Jacob, on one of the outdoor trips.
“To know that I can do that is exciting,” he said. “To be out there and to share that experience with my son, so he can also understand what Daddy went through and why these trips are important to me.”
Hewitt also emphasizes the importance of bringing family on these trips, because “family members like my wife, my daughter, they see me at my worst and they know it’s tough.” On July 30, the group ventured to Massachusetts, and it was the first official Veteran/Family Fishing Trip. Each veteran brought one family member.
So far, the organization has gotten nearly 80 veterans outside in its first year, with multiple trips and events coming up soon. A total of 150 veterans are currently signed up.
“The big goal is just to combat the 22-A-Day. Twenty-two vets commit suicide a day. We know we can’t stop it. But if one guy can say, ‘Hey, I’m still here because of you guys…’ That’s our purpose.”
To sign up, veterans can head to the American Warrior Outdoors website and click on the 2024 Veteran Registration link. If an individual is a boat owner or captain looking to help get veterans on the water, there is also a registration form for that on the website. If any veteran has special needs, such as wheelchair accessibility, AWO has a list of wheelchair- and handicap-accessible boats.
If there are any particular requests or questions, Hewitt and Nolan try to accommodate each person. For example, one veteran reached out to Hewitt and said he was paralyzed on his left side. After a few calls, Hewitt found someone who could donate an electric reel so the veteran could simply push the button and reel the line in.
“We went through like four people to get to that spot, but we all helped each other out along the way, and that’s what it’s all about,” said Hewitt.
He also said if there is a veteran who goes quiet for a while, he will reach out and have others reach out as well. Recently, he started posting buddy checks, or wellness checks, asking others in the community to give a veteran buddy a call to see how they are doing.
Another veteran, Robert Felicito, was a sergeant motor section leader in the U.S. Marine Corps. Now, he is a public adjuster and owner, which has led him to fulfill something he’s always dreamed of – working for himself and helping others. He sees that support system at AWO, too.
“It has brought me into contact with other like-minded individuals,” he said. “We also have the ability to help each other out, whether it’s listening to stories, problems or jokes. It’s an easy, naturally occurring bond.”
Hewitt can agree. Although he doesn’t have the time to fish every morning like he used to, he found a new form of therapy, solace and purpose in the work he is doing with AWO.
“We’re all veterans, but I treat everybody as my family,” he said. “There’s a lot of people who throw around the word ‘brother’ loosely, but when I say it to another vet, I mean I will do anything for you. You’re not blood but you’re still part of the family and that’s what we are. We’re not just an organization. We want to be a family.”
Chloe is a multimedia editor and journalism major at Boston University, where she is Editor at The Daily Free Press. She will be graduating Spring ’25. Connect with her on LinkedIn @chloecramutola
