This episode of The Scoop goes deep into a journey most people never hear. Tom LaGrave, a former Navy SEAL Team One hospital corpsman, opens up about his battle with addiction, the pain of losing his trident, and the long road to recovery that gave him a new mission—mentoring the next generation.
From volunteering at an adolescent recovery center to leading a Boys & Girls Club of 440 youth, to earning his master’s degree and becoming a licensed clinical social worker, Tom transformed his pain into purpose. Over 40 years, he has mentored 3,500+ young people, built Honor Bound Academy, and written Special Welfare, Social Warfare: Adolescent to Adulthood, a Guidebook, a call-to-action for parents, communities, and adolescents to prepare for the realities of modern life.
The Navy SEAL experience—and what happens when it ends in addiction
The importance of truth-telling and “owning your authentic truth”
Why mentorship changes lives, especially for adolescents in crisis
The burden and blessing of being given a second chance
How communities can build resilience through collective action
Tom reminds us that the fight doesn’t end when the uniform comes off. It continues inside us—and with the right tools, community, and courage, every battle can become a blueprint for someone else’s survival.
📖 Tom’s Hub (book + research): thehonorboundacademy.org
🌐 VET S.O.S.: vetsospodcast.com
🎥 YouTube: youtube.com/@vetsospodcast
📲 Parade Deck: paradedeck.com/creator/vetsospodcast
#VETSOS #TheScoop #VeteranMentalHealth #NavySEALStories #AddictionRecovery #MentorshipMatters #YouthDevelopment #OwnYourTruth #ResilientCommunities #VeteranSupport
