www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, November 5, 2015 | 18 Veteran's war skills re-tooled for career at home by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff An Oakville veteran is drawing attention to a special program which gives those who have recently left the military a smooth transition to a civilian career in the trades. Scott Frizzle, a graduate of Iroquois Ridge High School, served his country in Kandahar, Afghanistan for eight months in 2010. He worked as part of the provincial reconstruction team, but also helped carry out patrols and secure vital routes in the volatile Panjwai District. During one such patrol, Frizzle's friend, Cpl. Brian Pinksen, was killed and several others were injured by a remote detonated Improvised Explosive Device (IED). In another incident, the Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) Frizzle was struck by an IED but fortunately resulted in no casualties. Additionally, several soldiers Frizzle was with were severely injured when they tried to search a man who turned out to be a suicide bomber and detonated explosives hidden on his donkey. After returning home from Afghanistan, the 28-year-old Frizzle decided four years in the military was long enough and left the Canadian Forces. "It wasn't easy getting back to normal life Oakville's Scott Frizzle, pictured at left, on patrol with other Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan. At right, Frizzle is at work constructing a building in Toronto. | submitted photos back at home... It was hard to relate to my family," said Frizzle. "It was tough, but I think pretty much what I had to do was move on and focus on something. I wanted to get out of the military. I went to college for a year and then I started working in the trades." Frizzle said a program, developed about a year ago by the Ontario College of Trades in cooperation with veterans group Helmets to Hardhats, helped him immensely. The program recognizes the trade experience former members of the Canadian Forces have acquired. Through the college's Trade Equivalency Assessment, military qualifications can be matched to civilian qualifications. The college can also assess any former work experience and training the veteran has in a skilled trade. The idea is to save veterans potentially years of study by recognizing their existing skills and experience and, if they qualify, allowing them to earn their Certificate of Qualification faster so they can get a decent civilian job in the trades. Frizzle's work in the armed forces was deemed equivalent to the civilian trade of carpenter. He said Helmets to Hardhats helped him connect with employers looking for people see Veterans on p.20 OUR BENEDICTS As seen on DISCOVER MONDAY TO SUNDAY 7AM TO 3PM OAKVILLE 146 Lakeshore Rd.W. 905.338.6333 Keep your retirement dollars working for you. PB250LN Blower ONLY $ 179 0 95 IN2 STANT $ AFTER EW! PB580H/T N Backpack Blower ear r 5yu me Cons anty Warr $ 449 0 95 IN3 STANT $ AFTER Visit us on: Insta REBATE REBATE Prices are in effect from August 1 to November 30, 2015. CURRENT POWER MACHINERY 1661 LAKESHORE RD WEST MISSISSAUGA, ON L5J 1J4 See www.currentpowerinc.ca 905-822-4211