Washington Commanders Archives - Warrior Canine Connection

Yellow lab “TJ” will spend the season with the Commanders before becoming a service dog for veterans

Washington, DC – Today, the Washington Commanders, with help from partner Redwire (N YSE: RDW), welcome their newest, furriest member to the organization. TJ, a 12-week-old yellow Labrador Retriever puppy, will spend the upcoming season with the Burgundy & Gold while he works on his basic skills and commands in training to become a service dog for veterans.

TJ joins the team through the Commanders’ partnership with Redwire (NYSE: RDW), founded on a shared commitment to honoring service members, veterans, and their families. Together, the organizations will collaborate on year-round programming to recognize the sacrifices of those who have served our country.

The team dog program serves as a military engagement effort both through TJ’s
ongoing service dog training and his name, which honors the call sign of Army Veteran and Redwire employee Jeremy White.

EDITOR’S NOTE: For digital assets of TJ, including photos with Jeremy White, click here. Credit can be attributed to the Washington Commanders.

The team dog’s name is inspired by Jeremy White, Sr. Program Manager at Redwire, whose military call sign was “TJ1”. A former Green Beret and decorated veteran whose life reflects a deep commitment to service, Jeremy spent more than 21 years in the U.S. Army, enlisting after September 11, 2001. His career
included roles with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and the Fifth Special Forces Group – designations reserved for the most capable and dedicated soldiers. Across deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, and Syria, he bravely led missions and guided his teams through challenging environments, earning recognition s such as Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and Best Warrior. He
later served internationally as a liaison officer with the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense in Cyprus. Following his military career, Jeremy has continued his service as a civilian, supporting disaster relief and community initiatives.

TJ is a yellow Lab from Warrior Canine Connection, a Maryland nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering those who have sustained physical and psychological wounds while in service to our country through their Warriors helping Warriors philosophy. Through their Mission Based Trauma
Recovery program, service members and veterans in recovery can learn to train service dogs, creating a therapeutic environment while preparing animals to support fellow veterans. As he continues his training, TJ’s experiences with the Commanders will help prepare him for his future role as a service
dog.

Fans can expect to see TJ cheering on the Commanders at numerous events throughout the season, including training camp and select home games . He will also join the team for several community activations with a focus on military engagements, providing meaningful moments of connection with service members, veterans, and fans.
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LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. – Today, the Washington Commanders announced the newest addition to the 2024 roster, Team Dog Barney, an 11-week-old black Labrador Retriever from Warrior Canine Connection (WCC). A nonprofit based in Boyds, Maryland, WCC breeds, trains and places highly skilled service dogs with Veterans who have sustained physical and psychological wounds while in service to our country. Barney’s arrival marks the beginning of the Commanders’ partnership with WCC.

“The Commanders are proud to support the country’s largest community of active-duty military personnel, veterans, retirees, and their families.” said Commanders President Jason Wright. “We are honored to partner with the Warrior Canine Connection in our efforts to give back to those in the DMV who have bravely served our nation.”

All WCC’s service dogs in training are named in honor of veterans, both past and present. The Washington Commanders named Barney in honor of Colonel Harvey Curtiss “Barney” Barnum Jr., a retired United States Marine Corps officer who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Vietnam War.

“Colonel Barnum exhibited true dedication to service throughout his career and into his retirement.” said veteran and Washington Salute Lead, Chris Bailey. “We’re proud to have the opportunity to honor him for his heroic actions and continued commitment to the community.”

Barney will spend approximately two years in training, where he will learn to support the veteran he is paired with after his training is complete. This includes WCC’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) training program, which helps veterans with increased impulse control, sleep and emotional regulation, as well as decreased levels of stress, depression and hypervigilance. During his training, Barney will impact the lives of up to 60 Veterans.

The team has made the most of free agency this off season and the addition of Barney as Wide Retriever is no exception. As Barney goes through training, he will make various guest appearances at Commanders’ games, where he will meet fans and participate in various community events. Throughout the season, the Washington Commanders Foundation will help cover Barney’s training expenses to ensure he fulfills his dream of becoming a life-changing companion for a worthy veteran.

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Commanders Welcome Team Dog in Partnership with Redwire

Washington Commanders announce team dog, Barney, in partnership with Warrior Canine Connection

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