Wow, where to start... My name is Nate Bocker, and I am an amateur bladesmith located in Northern Virginia. A few of the ABS board members will likely recognize my name, but here is my formal introduction to the ABS. I have been working at this craft for about two and a half years, now. I have followed the work of several Journeymen and Master Smiths since I got back into bladesmithing, and the education I have received by following this and other forums has been an asset to my journey, so far. I have debated joining, for quite a while, and honestly I am not really sure why I had not; It was not until I spoke with a few distinguished gentlemen from the ABS that I realized why I needed to. I have found myself in the unique position of being a student and a teacher at the same time, and the ABS has been the first organization to offer assistance with something that is very important to me.

In a nutshell, I am an active duty soldier. About a year ago, I decided that I wanted to offer basic knifemaking classes to wounded warriors that were assigned to the Warrior Transition Unit, where I am stationed. It had been something that I had found to be a creative outlet with a useful tool at the end of the process, and I thought that it might offer some stress relief to some people that might need a distraction. In the past year, it has turned into something much bigger than just a few guys sharing a hobby. It turns out that smithing is a great format to offer therapy in several forms, and I have been asked to brief the WTU Command on what I have been doing. I am currently working with several people, including some members here, on creating a program that partners smithing with physical therapy, occupational therapy, and mental therapies, specifically dealing with PTSD and TBI. As this continues to develop, I want to share the information with anyone who is interested. While my focus is on working with the men and women in uniform, I think that there are many who could benefit from this and similar craft. It was not too long ago that local forges were central to community and social life, and I think that even as a symbol, it still has a place.

Many thanks to those of you who I have already spoken to, and to those who have already made an impact. I look forward to being a student here, and hopefully I can find a way to repay your generosity!

My garage is always open, and if you find yourself in the area, please feel free to visit.