So Excited for Dagger Dive 2025!
This may end up being a long blog post… or maybe I’ll be kind and share this story across several entries. :-) It’s just such a meaningful one to tell.
You might know that I’m a military wife—specifically, a wife to a Green Beret, a Special Forces operator. We, like many others, weathered countless deployments—beginning with the initial invasion of Afghanistan after 9/11. Deployments weren’t new, but the stress of war added a weight we hadn’t known before. 2002 marked the beginning of a long cycle of deployments starting with Afghanistan and shifting to Iraq. In 2009, his team returned to Afghanistan.
After many successful deployments and safe returns home, the second trip back to Afghanistan ended differently. In late 2010, he was badly injured losing both of his legs and the use of much of his right arm. No one ever imagines they would receive ‘that’ call, but that morning, our lives changed forever.
As bad and dark as the days were back then, there were silver linings in every single one of them. Some days you just had to look a little harder to find it.
About six weeks into his recovery at Walter Reed, an old friend, Keith, came to visit. He and a small group of others were building up a nonprofit to support Army Special Operations Forces (SOF) soldiers and their families. At the time, many organizations supported Army SOF members who were killed in action or those wounded in combat—but few (if any) included the families.
Through the funds they had raised, Keith was there to gift our son a laptop so he could keep up with school. But he had something else in mind too, he wanted to get Scott medically cleared for the very first Dagger Dive in Key West.
But before I get to that, let me back up a bit and set the stage.
Healing Beyond the Hospital Walls
At Walter Reed, the first goal is stabilization—address the immediate trauma and begin physical recovery. Day by day, through a combination of grit and incredible medical care, these wounded warriors start to learn how to navigate life in a new body.
The physical and occupational therapists are a remarkable group. They work relentlessly to help patients rebuild strength and independence. But more than that—they get creative. Recovery isn’t just about repetition, it’s about motivation. They look for new challenges and ways to keep things engaging. Some of the more advanced activities are offsite: kayaking on the Potomac, hand-cycling, rock climbing... things that seem might seem simple yet challenging and even more so when you’re relearning everything from scratch.
Keith, who had a passion for scuba diving, had been working with others to introduce wounded veterans to diving at a quarry near Dallas. After a couple of successful years, they asked: why not take this to Key West?
Imagine combining physical therapy with the healing power of the ocean—and bringing families back into the fold. A life he knew as a team of twelve instantly became a perceived team of one and this trip offered a chance to transform back into a team of family.
When Keith first mentioned the idea to us, Scott’s injuries were still incredibly fresh. I could barely think past the next surgery, let alone picture a dive trip in the Keys. But the trip was planned for late June, and—maybe? With strained smiles and zero certainty, we said, “Sure?” It certainly did give us something to look forward to and that summer, we made the trip.
The First Dive
Scott already knew how to dive—he had learned years earlier in the Red Sea. But this time, it was about adapting. With no legs, his center of gravity had shifted. Gear had to be reconfigured, and he struggled with staying upright—he kept tipping forward. Meanwhile, our son and I were learning to dive for the first time.
It was an incredible, long overdue, escape from the hospital. That week was life-changing—for all of us.
That experience touched us so deeply that we have returned to volunteer every year since then. In the early years, my role was simple: help wherever I could. But before long, I realized my most meaningful contribution was behind the lens—as a visual storyteller.
What Dagger Dive Has Become
The event began with a literal boatload of amputees—gear bags rolling from one side of the boat to the other, body parts too. I’ll never forget hearing one guy yell, “Hey, can you toss me my leg?” and another laugh as he handed it over. The humor was raw, but oh so healing.
As the years passed, the injuries shifted. These days, we see more traumatic brain injuries (TBI), post-traumatic stress (PTS), cancer diagnoses, and the physical toll of long careers. But often, the hardest thing to witness isn’t the injury—it’s the broken relationships within the families.
Long deployments. Single parenting. Silent struggles. Self-medicating just to get through the day. The emotional weight affects every family that shows up. We’ve lived it too—and sometimes still do.
But something incredible happens during Dagger Dive.
You bring these warriors—men and women trained to operate as part of a tight team—back into a group setting. You place their families alongside them. You challenge them to breathe underwater, face rough seas, overcome fear. And somewhere in that pressure, the cracks start to heal. The family becomes the team again. And the lens? It captures the flicker of tension, the connections, and the small miracle of finding each other again.
A Week Unlike Any Other
The schedule is full—pool training, open water dives, social events, and so many moments designed to make new friends and reconnect. There’s a kid’s camp, a pirate party, a teen night out, and even a parents’ night off. It’s not just about the veterans. It’s ALL about the families and the amazing community of Key West supporting along the way!
Each year, I see connections rekindled, confidence regained, joy rediscovered. And through my lens, I get to capture those sacred, life-giving moments.
Looking Ahead
Truthfully, I look forward to the week of Dagger Dive all year long. Once the holidays are over, I start counting down the days. And when it is over? I start counting again.
Yes, I know I’m supposed to live in the moment—but when something touches your heart like this does, it’s hard not to look forward to the next one.
As I get ready for this year’s Dagger Dive, I’ll be sharing more of these stories from years past—snapshots of courage, resilience, and the unexpected beauty that emerges when people come together to heal. If you’ve never heard of this event, I hope these stories bring it to life for you. And if you have… welcome back.
I can’t wait to share what unfolds this year. Until then, I’ll be counting the days—and charging my cameras.
👉 If you’d like to see what Dagger Dive looks like through the lens, keep an eye on the blog and socials. I’ll be sharing past photos and stories leading up to this year’s trip.
If you know someone in the SOF community who could benefit from this kind of healing experience, please reach out! You never know where one conversation might lead. Click the link below.
Leave a comment
4 Comments
Jun 12, 2025, 8:17:34 PM
Laura Schroeder - Everyone needs to find something that makes you come alive and this is definitely does this for me and so many others that come back each year.
Jun 12, 2025, 8:12:40 PM
Laura Richards - Laura-this is a beautiful share of the heart! I’ve heard you talk about the Dagger Dive event these last several years of knowing eachother but it was extra special to see all the photos accompanying the story. Thank you for such a special share!🩷 I’ve been saving it for a time to focus and read. It was worth the wait🤗
Jun 12, 2025, 6:47:10 PM
Laura Schroeder - 😍
Jun 12, 2025, 7:59:18 AM
Ann McGee - Be still my heart! What an amazing experience- I get it now. Thanks for sharing your journey. I look forward to seeing and reading more. Godspeed, my friend.