Wounded Warrior Project AND Warrior Canine Connection Archives

Tag Archive for: Wounded Warrior Project AND Warrior Canine Connection

Stronger Together: WCC and Wounded Warrior Project Partner to Power Connection and Healing

March 26, 2026

When organizations share a deep commitment to serving Veterans, collaboration becomes more than a partnership — it becomes a powerful way to expand impact and reach more lives together.

That spirit has been on full display as Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) and Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) teamed up to host two Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) sessions in the Pittsburgh area. Together, the events offered area Veterans an introduction to WCC’s innovative Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) program and reinforced what’s possible when like-minded organizations work side by side.

While MBTR is traditionally delivered as an eight-week program, these sessions were designed as one-day, hands-on experiences for Veterans connected through WWP to engage with service dogs in training and with one another. During MBTR, Veterans learn how to train service dogs for their fellow Warriors. In the process, they also build skills such as communication, confidence, accountability, emotional regulation and patience — promoting an act of service while experiencing therapeutic benefits themselves.

“Sessions like this open people’s eyes to just how powerful dogs can be,” said Sue Watson, WCC Pittsburgh program manager and service dog training instructor. “The impact is incredible — and even if it’s just for an afternoon, you can feel the camaraderie, the connection and the lift it gives everyone in the room.”

Each gathering welcomed a small group, creating space for meaningful conversation and connection. The sessions began with food and introductions before five service dogs in training — WCC’s Poyner, Jimmy, Lego, Ski and Ash — took center stage alongside their Puppy Raisers, who shared the significance behind the dogs’ namesakes and their roles in their journeys.

Participants were guided through a mini MBTR experience, learning core principles such as the stages of canine learning, the “yes” marker, bonding, check-ins and introductory training commands. Veterans observed stress cueing and interacted directly with the dogs, applying what they learned in real time.

“For me, the hypervigilance is always there … that feeling that you have to keep looking over your shoulder,” said Tim Nicotra, Air Force Veteran. “But when I’m out with a WCC dog, I know he has my back. Instead of scanning everything around me, I can focus on him and just be in the moment. Even after finishing the eight-week MBTR program, I keep coming back because working with the dogs is so positive. I also want people to understand how much these dogs can help — and how much unconditional love they give.”

All participating Veterans were connected through WWP, underscoring the organization’s commitment to ensuring Veterans have access to a wide range of programs and partners that support their wellbeing.

“We believe the strongest outcomes for Veterans happen when organizations stop operating in silos and start amplifying each other’s strengths,” said Ashley Bunce, WWP’s director of community partnerships and investments. “WCC’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery model is exactly the kind of purposeful, proven programming we’ve been proud to stand behind since 2020. Bringing WWP-connected Veterans into these sessions means more warriors have access to healing pathways they may never have found otherwise. That’s the power of a true ecosystem of care.”

WWP’s support of WCC reflects its broader investment in strengthening the ecosystem of nonprofits dedicated to serving Veterans and their families. By collaborating on MBTR sessions, and exploring recurring opportunities, WWP is helping expand access to mission-driven approaches to alternative therapy, connection and recovery. Warriors are benefiting from the physiological and psychological animal-human connection.

For many Veterans, the experience goes far beyond learning dog training techniques. Working side by side toward a shared goal fosters trust and teamwork, creating a renewed sense of connection and purpose. Just as meaningful is the opportunity to spend time with fellow Veterans in an environment that feels welcoming, supportive, and grounded in something positive.

Together, these sessions demonstrate how collaboration can amplify impact — creating new interventions for engagement, healing and connection. Learn more about how you can get involved with either of these organizations by visiting: www.woundedwarriorproject.org and www.warriorcanineconnection.org.
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Warrior Spotlight: April Ames-Chase

February 15, 2023

Today we introduce you to U.S. Air Force Major (ret.) April Ames-Chase. She’s a Veteran who Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) had the good fortune to meet through its Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) training program in partnership with Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). We are privileged to share her story.

April Ames-Chase was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force nine months after graduating from nursing school. Her four older brothers were all in the Air Force, so it was a big draw for her—to follow in their footsteps.

April spent 20 years in the Air Force as a registered nurse, which she says, “was the experience of a lifetime.” Her work took her to many duty stations both in the U.S. and abroad, including the United Kingdom, Korea, Japan, and Iraq.

Iraq was very different from previous assignments, as her time there was during the height of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She worked long, grueling hours at the hospital on base in Balad, where they were under constant mortar fire, and April says she saw too many combat casualties and often feared for her own life.

“I can tell you it was the camaraderie of fellow medics that got me through it because we all had one mission in mind, and that was to save every life that we could no matter how injured they were,” said April. “Our mission was to save their lives and send them back to the United States once they were stabilized.”

She says those four and a half months in Balad had a profound effect on her.

“As a nurse, when I came back from Iraq, I was a changed person,” said April. “My role changed to an administrator, and after my experience in Iraq, I saw it was a duty that I didn’t want to do anymore; I wanted to be able to go back to mental health and nursing where I could affect change within individuals and put my energy toward helping Veterans.”

The timing felt right, so April retired after 20 years of service to do the nursing work she loves. She’s now a Behavioral Health Nurse Specialist at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland where she works with patients, their families, and staff members.

April got invited to attend a WWP event and continued participating in several community projects, including laying wreaths in the cemetery, along with other events throughout the year.

“I just felt a connection with the individuals in Wounded Warrior Project by attending the events,” said April.

She saw information about WWC’s eight-week MBTR program and signed up.

“Oh, I loved it,” said April. “I traveled from Silver Spring, Md. there every week, which was quite a distance but well worth it. I looked forward to it every Saturday. The highlight was on my last day, taking Dollie to Starbucks with Emily and her dog. The dogs are loving, non-judgmental, and being in mental health, I know they raise our endorphin levels along with providing comfort and happiness—they’re life-changing.”

April continues to attend WWP events while balancing her work with finishing up her dissertation for her PhD, which focuses on the adaptation of female Veterans after returning home from Iraq—a subject which hits home for her both personally and professionally.

“Being in behavioral health, I’ve sought my own help where I’ve needed it and programs like those Warrior Canine Connection and Wounded Warrior Project offer, have been instrumental,” said April. “Whether it’s through interacting with the dogs or helping others by training future service dogs, or attending Wounded Warrior Project’s programs and events, it’s been so important for me to have these connection points and outlets for my own mental health. I highly encourage other Veterans who may be hesitant to get involved—they stand to benefit in ways they never realized.”

Warrior Spotlight: Mike Milton

August 29, 2022

Military service is a family tradition for Retired U.S. Army Sergeant Mike Milton; his brother, sister-in-law, cousin, and uncles, all served in the Armed Forces.

“I joined to be of service to country,” says Milton. “I had amazing experiences that included people, travel, and lots of different situations—both good and bad—they were instrumental in getting me where I am today.”

He enlisted in 2008 and served as an infantryman through 2016. During a physical fitness training event, a muscle breakdown led to a debilitating kidney injury. Milton spent four-plus months at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center undergoing dialysis treatment. He would spend 18 additional months undergoing outpatient treatment there before medically retiring in 2018.

“While at Walter Reed, I attended a few events and enjoyed socializing with other Warriors through the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP),” said Milton. “I didn’t anticipate retiring so early and wasn’t sure what was next for me, and they really helped me through some difficult times.”

After medically retiring from the Army, Milton enrolled in the Operation Warfighter Program, the Department of Defense’s internship, which helped position him for his current role as a Safety and Occupation Health Specialist with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory Safety Office.

He also continued attending WWP events. It was at one of those later events that Milton encountered a service dog in training who was part of Warrior Canine Connection’s (WCC) Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) training program. A dog lover, he volunteered for WCC’s 8-week MBTR program, where he helped train a service dog for a fellow Warrior.

During the program, Service Members and Veterans in their own recovery help train service dogs for their fellow Warriors. By doing so, they receive their own therapeutic benefit from skills development in communication, self-esteem building, accountability, and emotional regulation. They also learn patience when they perform acts of service for others.

“It was great to give my own time to part of the program,” said Milton. “Dogs are very smart, and they appreciate the interaction, and the instructors were a joy to work with.”

Just happy to volunteer his time, what Milton didn’t expect was that he would benefit from the sessions himself.

“I went through a whole bout of sciatica with a lot of pain,” said Milton. “It took me an hour to drive to get to the training location but working with the dogs was relaxing to me and calmed me down. I didn’t think about world events or work or my sciatica … I was so focused, yet peaceful.”

His advice to other Veterans who are struggling or just want to connect with other Warriors?

Milton said, “Reach out to WWP or WCC. They’re good people. They’ve been there, done that and aren’t going to leave you hanging.”

If you would like to learn more about how you can get involved in WCC’s MBTR program, click here.

WCC Veteran Spotlight: Arodi Grullon Fernandez

August 3, 2021

Wounded Warrior Project & Warrior Canine Connection Instilling Sense of Community Among Veterans

Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) had the pleasure of meeting and working with Arodi Grullon Fernandez, a 12-year Veteran of the Marine Corps. He connected with WCC through a Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) event and continues to seek out WWP events and programs and encourages other Veterans to get involved.

Arodi Grullon Fernandez’s family immigrated from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico when he was just 5. The youngest of three brothers, after graduating from high school in 2002, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. His 12 years of service included one deployment to Iraq, two to Afghanistan, and several other duty stations, including Okinawa, Camp Pendleton, 29 Palms and Camp Lejeune.

During his service, Arodi trained as a refrigeration mechanic. As a junior Marine, he worked in maintenance and operations of the equipment, but after he became a non-commissioned officer, he performed duties of Platoon Sergeant and maintenance/operations. Due to service limitations, Arodi was honorably discharged on 2014.

“I was sad to leave the service,” said Arodi. “I credit the Marine Corps with giving me my leadership values, skills and camaraderie with my fellow Marines, but I am happy with how life worked out.”

And “worked out” it did. After leaving the Marine Corps, Arodi attended Craven Community College for two years for cyber security and network administration.

Still longing a connection with other Veterans, he got involved with Wounded Warrior Project. He got involved, attended several events, and learned about the Cisco Veteran Training Program, which led to his current job as a system administrator, where he’s been employed for three-plus years.

It was through WWP’s program that Arodi also learned about Warrior Canine Connection’s service dog training program, where Service Members and Veterans help train future service dogs for their fellow Warriors with visible and invisible wounds.

A dog lover and with allotted volunteer hours through Cisco, Arodi signed up.

“I thought it would be great a way to stay engaged with the Veteran community, and I never had any kind of training on how to work with my own dog, so it was interesting to me,” said Arodi.

He traveled to WCC once a week for 12 weeks. There, he assisted the service dog training instructors, and in the process learned training techniques, as well as other tasks such as proper grooming.

“It’s so rewarding to see small, incremental changes with the dogs,” said Arodi. “For me, I had no idea how much goes into training a service dog. It really opened my mind to how service dogs are used to help Veterans with PTSD and learn the triggers.”

He says the training helped him with his own communication with his dog, Lexi, a 4-year-old Australian Shepherd.

“It helped me put a lot of things in perspective with how I work with my own dog,” said Arodi. “I used to think I was the alpha male and yell/raise my voice to train mine. But I learned that, no, you just have to make it more interesting to them.”

Arodi only has one regret about his involvement in the programs.

“I wish I would have gotten involved with Wounded Warrior Project a little bit earlier,” said Arodi. “My connection to the military and the Marine Corps is very important, and Wounded Warrior Project and programs like Warrior Canine Connection’s service dog training program go a long way in helping me and others feel connected.”

Tag Archive for: Wounded Warrior Project AND Warrior Canine Connection

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