October 7, 2025
Team Veteran Tackles True Grit: How Connection Makes the Challenge Worthwhile
At first glance, True Grit looks like a test of strength and endurance: rope climbs, mud pits and sandbag carries spread across a demanding course. For members of Team Veteran, established by Invictus Australia, the real challenge, and the real reward, comes from tackling the course side by side, as a team.
Through a national Community Partnership between Invictus Australia and True Grit, veterans and their families have the chance to take on the course together as Team Veteran. Competing as a team gives participants the confidence and support to embrace the challenge, no matter their fitness level or experience.
One veteran who knows the value of that experience is Neale Williams, who joined Team Veteran for the WA event in 2023.
Finding a New Kind of Challenge
Neale joined the Army in 2005 as a telecommunications systems technician, later serving with the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) after a deployment to East Timor. Like many veterans, he thrived on the physical challenges of service. Post-military, he stayed connected to this physicality, competing in the Spartan Race series in the United States of America.
So, when he considered joining Team Veteran for True Grit, Neale admits he was a little uncertain.
“I was a little bit apprehensive, actually, about taking on True Grit. Coming from that really competitive background… I kind of felt like doing it as part of a team wasn’t going to be challenging enough, or I wouldn’t enjoy it as much.”
The reality turned out very differently.
“I actually really enjoyed the whole event,” Neale said. “We had a bit of a pep talk as a team before the event started. Everyone was super welcoming and friendly. We all worked at a comfortable pace… Everyone waited, made sure all different abilities got across all of the challenges. I enjoyed the whole thing, from start to finish. There was laughing and backslapping and a real sense of teamwork and achievement when we finished.”
What Makes Team Veteran Different
For Neale, the difference wasn’t just the challenge of the obstacles, it was about the community that came together to compete.
“As part of Team Veteran, there was no ego or anything like that. We celebrated as a team when we conquered each obstacle as we went through. And that was nice, just a different experience to how I’ve always treated those kinds of events in the past, where I would want to be the best.”
One moment stood out in particular: a hill climb carrying sandbags. Some participants shouldered extra weight or completed extra laps so that everyone made it through together.
“Being part of Team Veteran in True Grit meant it was fun from the get-go,” Neale reflected. “We were laughing and smiling and high-fiving at every single accomplishment throughout the whole day. And yeah, it took longer — but winning was not what we were there for.”
It wasn’t just a one-day experience either. Neale has since reconnected with many of his True Grit teammates at other Invictus Australia events, their experience on the obstacle course an easy point of reconnection.
“You share a special connection because they were part of the challenge that you all overcame.”
Why Team Veteran Resonates with the Defence Community
For veterans, True Grit naturally echoes aspects of military training. There’s a familiarity in the obstacles, the challenge, and the push to keep going.
“There’s certainly similarities,” Neale explained. “Military training definitely puts you in a good spot.”
What makes the experience truly special, however, is doing it as part of Team Veteran.
“Being part of Team Veteran, it just felt familiar. I was with like-minded people, everyone was super inclusive, and it was just good to be a part of something that has potentially been missing from my life since defence.”
For Neale, this sense of camaraderie and shared achievement is what makes Team Veteran different from taking on events individually. It’s about connection, inclusivity, and building bonds.
The Bigger Picture
Invictus Australia and True Grit’s national partnership ensures that more veterans and families can access this kind of experience. At each event, Team Veteran entries are available, supported by Invictus Australia through 10 free tickets for veterans and family members, plus discounted entry for additional teammates.
Veterans and families take on the course together, celebrating each obstacle as a shared achievement. This model reflects the partnership’s shared vision: using sport to strengthen wellbeing, connection and purpose for Australia’s defence community.
Give It a Crack
This October, Team Veteran will once again take to the course when True Grit WA returns to Blackwood River on 11–12 October. Register interest here.
The opportunity to get involved is not just for Western Australians, there are opportunities across multiple states through True Grit, so that veterans and families everywhere can be part of the challenge.
Neale’s advice for anyone considering it? Simple.
Don’t hesitate. Doing things like that alone can sometimes be hard to motivate yourself, but doing it with Invictus Australia is a great way to go about it.”
Looking to get involved in sport in your region? Connect with our staff through your regions Facebook group or email support@invictusaustralia.org.
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