From Navy SEAL to Recovery Advocate: Finding Life After the Teams

October 15, 2025

West Palm Beach, Fl - Dr. Tony Dice’s story could easily be mistaken for the plot of an action movie, a U.S. Navy SEAL, firefighter, and paramedic who spent years running toward danger. But Dice’s greatest battle wasn’t fought on foreign soil; it was waged within himself.

“I blew up my life with alcohol and drugs because I didn’t know how to deal with the trauma,” Dice shared candidly. “When you come home, the mission changes, but nobody teaches you how to survive that part.”

Dice recently appeared as a guest on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, where he opened up about his struggles, recovery, and new purpose in life. The full interview is available for free on their website, as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most major podcast platforms.

For years, Dice lived by the warrior’s code, strength, resilience, and mission above all else. As one of the Navy’s elite, he was trained to complete high-risk operations that most people can barely imagine.

The SEALs, short for Sea, Air, and Land Teams, are the Navy’s special operations force, the tip of the spear in America’s most dangerous missions, from direct action to counterterrorism and reconnaissance.

It was a calling Dice had chased since childhood. “Becoming a SEAL was everything I thought I wanted,” he said. “But I didn’t realize I was also looking for something deeper, a sense of peace I couldn’t find out there.”

That peace would prove elusive. After leaving the Teams, Dice faced the same hidden battle that affects so many veterans: moral injury, addiction, and the challenge of finding meaning beyond the uniform.

The Invisible Wound: Understanding Moral Injury

While post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often discussed, moral injury remains a quieter and less understood wound. It happens when someone experiences or witnesses events that violate their own moral code, moments that feel impossible to reconcile.

“You train to do the impossible,” Dice explained. “But what nobody prepares you for is the guilt, the loss, or the grief that follows. That’s what moral injury is, it’s a wound to the soul.”

For Dice, alcohol and drugs became a way to numb the pain. “It was a self-destruction mission I didn’t even see happening,” he admitted. The same focus and intensity that made him a top-tier operator turned inward, fueling his addiction.

Rebuilding in Virginia: A New Mission

Eventually, Dice made a choice, to fight back. Through counseling, recovery, and reflection, he began to rebuild. Today, he channels that same warrior spirit into helping others heal.

Based in Virginia, Dice now dedicates his life to supporting veterans, first responders, and law enforcement officers as they face their own battles with trauma. Alongside his friend and business partner, Scott Bishop, he co-founded Bishop and Dice Defense LLC, a company grounded in two pillars: behavioral health and defense innovation.

“We wanted to create something that serves both the mind and the body,” Dice said. “Our operators and first responders need armor, not just for the fight, but for the recovery.”

Bishop and Dice Defense: Protecting Mind and Mission

At Bishop and Dice Defense, every counselor and advisor has a background in military or law enforcement service. That shared experience builds credibility and trust with clients who often hesitate to seek help.

“Our clients often distrust support systems,” Dice explained. “They’re afraid getting help will hurt their careers. That’s why we created a space where they can connect, trust, and start to heal.”

The company’s dual approach mental defense and physical defense, represents a balance between therapy and tactical readiness. It’s about protecting those who protect others.

Beyond the Clinic: Sharing His Message

Dice has also taken his mission beyond the counseling room. Through his appearance on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, their social media outreach, and his own storytelling platforms, he’s breaking down the stigma surrounding addiction, trauma, and recovery.

His upcoming book, set for release soon, offers a raw and powerful look at his personal journey, from self-destruction to self-discovery. “Recovery isn’t a straight line,” Dice said. “It’s messy, it’s painful, but it’s worth every step.”

From Survival to Service

Dr. Tony Dice’s story is about more than just survival. It’s a story of transformation, proof that life after the Teams can be just as purposeful, even without the uniform.

“Being a SEAL taught me how to fight,” he said. “Recovery taught me how to live.”

Today, through Bishop & Dice Defense, his growing online presence, and his commitment to mental health advocacy, Dice continues to serve, not through combat, but through compassion.

His message is simple, powerful, and deeply human:

“The fight for recovery is worth winning.”

You can listen to Dr. Tony Dice’s full story on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, available for free on their website, and on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most major podcast platforms.