For many veterans, service dogs are more than companions; they’re a quiet kind of safety. That has been true for Mission Roll Call’s own Taamir Ransome, whose path to service dogs began years before he joined the MRC team.

Taamir enlisted in the Army in October 2001, only weeks after the attacks of September 11. What started as a technical track in radar repair quickly shifted into combat deployments with the 82nd Airborne, then into explosive ordnance disposal (EOD). He eventually earned a place in a special mission unit, becoming the first Black Tier 1 EOD operator in history. Over the course of 22 years, he deployed repeatedly, survived blasts and crashes, and carried the physical and invisible weight of a long career in special operations. In 2021, after surgery to rebuild his foot, he medically retired.

Transition was harder than expected. “When you get out of the military, you lose your adrenaline, your purpose, and your tribe,” Taamir said. “I was doing pretty bad.” Therapy helped, as did friends who made sure he wasn’t isolating. The steadying force, though, came with a service dog.

His first dog, Dimos, was trained and placed through a nonprofit that works with the special operations community. The bond was immediate. “He makes me feel safe. He watches my back. I don’t have to be wound so tight because I know he’ll give everything for me.” Hypervigilance eased. Structure returned. And for the first time in years, Taamir felt comfortable showing up in crowded community spaces—school dances, baseball games, local events—with Dimos at his side.

Living with a service dog also revealed how many barriers remain for veterans. Taamir explained that misunderstandings about rights are common, from being asked for “paperwork” that doesn’t exist to skepticism about service dogs trained for PTS or anxiety. The VA does not provide consistent coverage for service dogs outside of narrow categories, leaving many veterans to rely on nonprofits or pay out of pocket. Education and access remain the largest gaps.

That’s why legislation like the SAVES Act matters. The bill is designed to make it easier for veterans to connect with accredited programs and receive the support they need, especially for conditions like post-traumatic stress. If passed, it would help address the lack of clear pathways Taamir and so many others have faced, creating consistency across the system so veterans aren’t left to navigate alone.

Rather than stop at his own experience, Taamir went a step further and began training dogs for others. Together with his son Mario, he works with German Shepherds, Giant Schnauzers, and other breeds, teaching obedience, stability, and readiness for public spaces. The work has become both therapy and connection. “Because of the dogs, me and my son are probably the closest we’ve ever been. Motorcycles, cars, dogs—that’s our thing.”

Today, Taamir manages a full pack: Dimos, Aries, Atlas, and Thanos, along with a steady stream of dogs he and Mario train for veterans and neighbors. Each one learns balance—discipline and reward, caution and calm. The goal is the same every time: to have dependable partners who rise to protect when called upon and bring calm when the moment passes.

Taamir’s role at Mission Roll Call now gives him the chance to amplify what he has lived—sharing his story, training alongside his son, and advocating for other veterans who could benefit from the same support. If you ask him what service dogs provide, he’ll keep it simple. Fewer nightmares. A reason to get up and keep a routine. A sense of safety that opens the door to being social. Stronger ties with his son, and the satisfaction of training dogs that go on to serve other veterans.

He also carries with him a favorite line about their nature: “Dogs have beauty without vanity, force without insolence, bravery without ferocity, and all the virtues humans have without any of the vices.”

On National Service Dog Awareness Day (Sept. 20), we celebrate veterans like Taamir who have found stability and purpose through service dogs, and the organizations and legislation working to expand access. Share your story with Mission Roll Call and help us build the awareness and action needed to ensure every veteran has a clear path to a trusted partner at their side.