Marine to SWAT K9 to Peer Support: Jeff McGreevey on Resilience, Wellness, and the Victory Mindset

In this episode of The Resilient Edge, host Dave Wyner speaks with retired law enforcement veteran and Marine Corps alumnus Jeff McGreevey, founder of Tombstone Courage, about resilience across a 29-year career spanning SWAT, patrol, explosive detection K9, gang enforcement, detective work, and neighborhood policing leadership. McGreevey explains why he chose the Marine Corps, reflects on generational differences in decompression after combat, and defines "tombstone courage" as both avoidable risk-taking and the everyday bravery of first responders. He discusses lessons from high-liability units, the strategic use of K9, and how community policing and decentralized leadership (influenced by Extreme Ownership) built stronger teams. He also details building trauma/peer support since 2004, the need for policy and funding, the impact of CIT and de-escalation, and why he created the Victory Mindset Leadership and Resilience Summit to help first responders achieve healthy careers, families, and retirements.

About Jeff McGreevy -

Sergeant Jeff McGreevy (Ret.) Jeff McGreevy began his career of service when he joined the United States Marine Corps at age 17 and entered the police academy at 21. He went on to serve more than 29 years in law enforcement, building a career that combined frontline operational experience, leadership, and a commitment to the mental health and wellness of first responders. During his career, Jeff served in patrol, community policing, field training, special enforcement, and investigations. He spent 10 years as a SWAT team member, served as a patrol and explosive-detection K-9 handler, worked with an FBI Gang Task Force, and investigated gang and robbery cases as a Detective. As a Sergeant, he supervised the Neighborhood Policing Team and coordinated his department's Crisis Intervention Team and Peer Support Programs. Jeff has been involved in trauma support and peer support since 2004 and has become a recognized expert for building effective, culturally competent wellness and peer support programs within public safety organizations. He regularly teaches first responders and public safety leaders about peer support team development, implementation, leadership, resilience, and officer wellness. Jeff is an instructor with The Counseling Team International and serves as a Public Safety Advocate for First Responder Wellness. In 2024, he created the Victory Mindset Leadership & Resilience Summit for First Responders, bringing together experts in mental health, leadership, physical readiness, and human performance to help first responders perform well on the job while building healthier and more resilient lives.

Links:

Website - www.tombstonecourage.com

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-mcgreevy/