From Chaos to Calm How a Dog Can Reset a Warrior’s Life 🧭 Level 🆙 Conversation with Founder of Warriors Choice Foundation Anthony ‘AJ’ Longo and His Canine Bourbon
Sat Feb 07 2026
SHOW NOTES
Anthony Longo is a U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran with multiple deployments to Fallujah, Iraq, who continued his service as a firefighter, nationally registered paramedic, and Tactical Medic protecting U.S. diplomats in Kabul, Afghanistan, where his actions during a mass-casualty insurgent attack earned him the Department of State’s Medal of Heroism. After his contracting career, he committed fully to canine training and rehabilitation, founding Warriors Choice Foundation®, a nonprofit dedicated to helping combat veterans and first responders heal through holistic wellness and service-dog programs. Under his leadership, WCF® has placed over 52 fully trained service dogs, developed the Focused Cognitive K9 Rehabilitation™ program, and is building toward a national flagship wellness center in South Florida — all driven by Anthony’s mission to create real pathways to recovery, purpose, and long-term stability.
📣QUOTE: “I’m the bridge, not the final destination. I’ll walk with you, but you have to carry the rock.” 🧱 - Anthony ‘AJ’ Longo
Level 🆙 Take-Aways
A canine partnership forces responsibility, which often becomes the foundation for healing 🐕🦺
Growth happens when life is treated as a series of forward-moving objectives, not a single finish line 🎯
Canines introduce daily structure that keeps people moving forward even on hard days 🐾
Any system that treats symptoms instead of the whole person will eventually fall short 🧬
A meaningful legacy is built by living with integrity, usefulness, and purpose every single day 🕊️
Accountability creates stability, while comfort quietly delays growth 📈
🔹 Valuable Time-Stamps🔹
🕒 00:03:30 – Identity and self-reflection moment
🕒 00:06:15 – “Bridge not destination” mindset
🕒 00:08:45 – Ego, boundaries, reintegration
🕒 00:10:30 – Canines, movement, accountability
🕒 00:13:45 – Service dogs transform lives
🌐 Visit Warriors Choice Foundation Website
▶ Warriors Choice FoundationYouTube
🔵 Warriors Choice Foundation Facebook
📷 Warriors Choice Foundation Instagram
🔥Show Sponsor Dynamic Mortgage
You Can Find Out More About Anthony ‘A.J.’ Longo and The Warriors Choice Foundation
Phone: (561) 203-5606
Email: a.longo@warriorschoice.org
More
SHOW NOTES Anthony Longo is a U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran with multiple deployments to Fallujah, Iraq, who continued his service as a firefighter, nationally registered paramedic, and Tactical Medic protecting U.S. diplomats in Kabul, Afghanistan, where his actions during a mass-casualty insurgent attack earned him the Department of State’s Medal of Heroism. After his contracting career, he committed fully to canine training and rehabilitation, founding Warriors Choice Foundation®, a nonprofit dedicated to helping combat veterans and first responders heal through holistic wellness and service-dog programs. Under his leadership, WCF® has placed over 52 fully trained service dogs, developed the Focused Cognitive K9 Rehabilitation™ program, and is building toward a national flagship wellness center in South Florida — all driven by Anthony’s mission to create real pathways to recovery, purpose, and long-term stability. 📣QUOTE: “I’m the bridge, not the final destination. I’ll walk with you, but you have to carry the rock.” 🧱 - Anthony ‘AJ’ Longo Level 🆙 Take-Aways A canine partnership forces responsibility, which often becomes the foundation for healing 🐕🦺 Growth happens when life is treated as a series of forward-moving objectives, not a single finish line 🎯 Canines introduce daily structure that keeps people moving forward even on hard days 🐾 Any system that treats symptoms instead of the whole person will eventually fall short 🧬 A meaningful legacy is built by living with integrity, usefulness, and purpose every single day 🕊️ Accountability creates stability, while comfort quietly delays growth 📈 🔹 Valuable Time-Stamps🔹 🕒 00:03:30 – Identity and self-reflection moment 🕒 00:06:15 – “Bridge not destination” mindset 🕒 00:08:45 – Ego, boundaries, reintegration 🕒 00:10:30 – Canines, movement, accountability 🕒 00:13:45 – Service dogs transform lives 🌐 Visit Warriors Choice Foundation Website ▶ Warriors Choice FoundationYouTube 🔵 Warriors Choice Foundation Facebook 📷 Warriors Choice Foundation Instagram 🔥Show Sponsor Dynamic Mortgage You Can Find Out More About Anthony ‘A.J.’ Longo and The Warriors Choice Foundation Phone: (561) 203-5606 Email: a.longo@warriorschoice.org