Operation Warrior Shield

What Operation Warrior Shield does

Operation Warrior Shield (OWS) is a Brooklyn-headquartered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2016 by Edward "Ed" Schloeman and the late Jerry Yellin to provide wellness, trauma-healing, and peer-support programs to service members, veterans, first responders, and their families. The organization delivers four core programs at no cost to beneficiaries: Transcendental Meditation (TM) provided in partnership with the David Lynch Foundation and supported by 340+ peer-reviewed research articles; the Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM) Protocol delivered in 3-4 ninety-minute sessions through a partnership with the Post Traumatic Training Institute; Operation Canine Companion, which trains and places service dogs with seriously wounded veterans; and VETWELL, a holistic wellness program offering yoga, community acupuncture, and custom workshops.

OWS is funded entirely through donations, corporate sponsorships, government grants (NYC Council, NYC DOHMH, NYC Department of Veterans' Services), foundation grants (Doris Day Animal Foundation), and event revenue from annual galas and the Legacy of Service Charity Golf Tournament. Distribution is regional, centered on the five NYC boroughs with select nationwide companion-dog deliveries, and is executed through a dense partnership ecosystem that includes the David Lynch Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, USO, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, NYPD, Hope For Heroes, Tunnel to Towers, and The Open Center.

The organization operates with a 6-person staff led by Chief Strategy Officer Bethann Carbone (following founder Ed Schloeman's passing in 2024), supported by a Board of Directors that includes a CohnReznick partner, a former NYSE-listed biotech co-founder, and a 20-year Army LtCol (Ret). No revenue figures, paid customers, or commercial product lines exist; all services are provided free to qualifying veterans and first responders, and OWS bears no traditional customer concentration risk on the beneficiary side but does depend on a narrow set of NYC municipal and foundation funders.

Name

Operation Warrior Shield

Legal name

Operation Warrior Shield, Inc.

Website

https://operationwarriorshield.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Operation Warrior Shield is a Brooklyn-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free Transcendental Meditation, RTM Protocol, holistic wellness, and service-dog programs to U.S. veterans, service members, first responders, and their families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veteran and First Responder Wellness Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Holistic & Alternative Therapy Retreats (Naturopathy, Energy Work) (THAGAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

Keywords

• Veteran wellness services
• PTSD treatment programs
• Service dog programs
• Nonprofit trauma healing
• First responder support

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorship: Primary revenue stream from individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and sponsorship packages for events. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Tax ID 81-1268470).
2. Government Grants: Funding from government bodies including NYC Council grants, NYC Department of Veterans Services grants, and NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) support for specific programs like RTM Protocol.
3. Foundation Grants: Partnership funding from foundations including Doris Day Animal Foundation grants for canine companion programs.
4. Event Revenue: Revenue from ticketed events, galas, and golf tournaments. Funds raised support OWS programs addressing veteran and first responder suicide epidemic.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Operation Warrior Shield delivers free wellness, trauma-healing, and peer-support programs to service members, veterans, first responders, and their families. Core offerings include Transcendental Meditation training (delivered with the David Lynch Foundation), the Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM) Protocol, the VETWELL holistic wellness program (yoga, community acupuncture, meditation, custom workshops), and the Operation Canine Companion service/companion dog program. All services are funded through donations, sponsorships, and grants.

Product overview

Operation Warrior Shield is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of wellness and healing programs for service members, veterans, first responders, and their families. The organization provides multiple complementary programs: Transcendental Meditation (TM) for stress and trauma relief, Operation Canine Companion for service dogs, VETWELL for holistic wellness therapies, and the Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories Protocol (RTM) for PTSD treatment. These programs are offered at no cost to participants and are delivered through partnerships with organizations including the David Lynch Foundation, Doris Day Animal Foundation, Hope for Heroes, and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Operation Canine Companion: Program providing uniquely trained, loving, and supportive canine companions to veterans, first responders, and their families who live with physical and emotional injuries sustained in the line of duty.
• VETWELL
• VETWELL

Products and services

• Transcendental Meditation (TM) Program Evidence-based stress relief and trauma healing technique provided in partnership with the David Lynch Foundation. Supports veterans and first responders managing PTSD and chronic stress through a non-religious, simple-to-learn meditation practice.
• Operation Canine Companion Program providing uniquely trained service and companion dogs to veterans, first responders, and their families living with physical and emotional injuries incurred in the line of duty. Dogs are trained from 8 weeks old and matched to recipients' lifestyles.
• VETWELL Holistic Wellness Program Community-based holistic wellness program providing complementary and alternative therapies including yoga, community acupuncture, meditation, and custom workshops addressing eating, sleeping, moving, breathing, and emotional stability.
• Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories Protocol (RTM) Revolutionary neurological intervention delivered in 3-4 ninety-minute therapeutic sessions, designed to facilitate the reconsolidation of traumatic memories and effectively eliminate symptoms of post-traumatic stress by separating traumatic feelings from memories through a relaxed re-imaging process.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40-55% reduction in PTSD and depression symptoms through TM training
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• David Lynch FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner supporting OWS since 2016. The foundation provides Transcendental Meditation training programs and funding. Bob Roth, CEO of the David Lynch Foundation, serves as keynote speaker at OWS events and is a key advocate for TM-based trauma healing.
• Wounded Warrior ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor veteran service organization partnership expanding reach and impact for OWS programs supporting wounded veterans.
• USOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with USO expands OWS's ability to reach active duty service members and veterans through USO centers and programs.
• U.S. ArmycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnership with U.S. Army to bring wellness programs and trauma healing to service members.
• U.S. Marine CorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with US Marine Corps supporting Marine veterans and active duty personnel with OWS programs.
• NYC Department of Veterans' ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NYC DVS, including Commissioner James Hendon, to support NYC veterans with wellness programs and resources.
• NYPDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerComprehensive partnership with NYPD including Health and Wellness Section. OWS provides TM training to officers, with 32 officers graduating from the program. NYPD Chief Scholl and Deputy Inspector/Commander Mark Wachter are key partners. NYPD provided $5,000 donation. OWS invited to bring stress management services to NYPD starting December 2020.
• Doris Day Animal FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Operation Canine Companion program providing grant funding for service and companion dogs for veterans.
• Hope For HeroescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDog training partner for Operation Canine Companion. Trainers Mitch Serlin and Matt Notaro provide specialized training for service dogs from 8 weeks old.
• Tunnel to Towers FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Operation Canine Companion program supporting veterans with physical and emotional injuries.
• Southampton Animal Shelter FoundationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in canine companion program supporting animal welfare and veteran services.
• Tournesol WellnesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in launching VETWELL, providing community-based holistic wellness programs including complementary and alternative therapies for veterans.
• The Open CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing wellness therapies and programs. In 2020, partnership resulted in 11,000+ virtual healing services for frontliners during pandemic. Ross Guttler, CEO of The Open Center, participates in OWS events.
• Stop Soldier SuicidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic alliance announced July 2016. Stop Soldier Suicide is the first national civilian not-for-profit dedicated to preventing active duty and Veteran suicide.
• NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner providing funding support for RTM Protocol program available free to NYC veterans through 2026.
• The Research and Recognition ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for delivering the Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories Protocol (RTM) to veterans.
• Post Traumatic Training Institute (PTTI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLicensed provider of RTM Protocol, working with OWS to offer the revolutionary neurological intervention to NYC veterans free of charge.
• Chi Chi RodriguezsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerGolf legend partnering with OWS for Legacy of Service Charity Golf Tournament at PGA National Resort, Palm Beach Gardens, FL (April 2, 2022).
• Anne AkerssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterans Advocate and partner in VETWELL program and OWS events, helping honor heroes and promote wellness.
• Manhattan Chamber of CommercesecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOWS joined the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce in July 2018 to expand business connections and support veteran initiatives.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hope For The Warriors: National nonprofit supporting post-9/11 veterans, service members, and military families with clinical, wellness, and family programs. Operates comparable holistic wellness and mental health programming to OWS's VETWELL and TM initiatives.
• Gary Sinise Foundation: Major nonprofit providing holistic wellness, mental health, and entertainment programs to defenders, veterans, first responders, and their families. Highly comparable mission and program structure to OWS.
• David Lynch Foundation: OWS's founding partner providing Transcendental Meditation training and research. While OWS is the direct service provider, DLF operates parallel TM-for-trauma programs in schools, prisons, and veteran populations globally.
• Wounded Warrior Project: Largest nonprofit serving post-9/11 wounded veterans, providing mental health, physical wellness, and career programs. Listed as a strategic partner of OWS and serves the same veteran/first responder segment.
• K9s For Warriors: Largest nonprofit provider of service dogs to veterans with PTSD/traumatic brain injury. Directly comparable to OWS's Operation Canine Companion in mission and operating model, though at substantially greater scale.
• Stop Soldier Suicide: National nonprofit focused on preventing active duty and veteran suicide — OWS's first strategic alliance partner since 2016. Directly comparable mission focus on veteran suicide prevention.
• Pets for Vets: Nonprofit that trains shelter dogs and provides them to veterans with PTSD and other challenges. Directly comparable to OWS's Operation Canine Companion program in mission and operating model.
• Tunnel to Towers Foundation: Major veteran and first responder support foundation and OWS partner in Operation Canine Companion. Serves catastrophically injured veterans and first responders with comparable programming.
• Coalition to Salute America's Heroes: Nonprofit providing financial and emotional support to severely wounded veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. OWS board member Mychal Watts previously served as their Director of Photography Services.

Broad incumbents

• USO (United Service Organizations): Established broad-based military service organization listed as an OWS strategic partner. Operates a much larger portfolio of programming but overlaps in supporting active duty service members and veterans with wellness and transition services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OPWarriorShield
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCOBkc5n7bBU8gTmLAGnFKVw
• Facebookfacebook.com/operationwarriorshield
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/operation-warrior-shield
• Instagraminstagram.com/operationwarriorshield

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Operation Warrior Shield