⚓️ FULLSEND FRIDAY: Navy SEAL Anthony Rivera on AI-Driven Transition, Cracking the VA Code, and the "Fog of Peace"
Release Date: 01/23/2026
⚓️ FULLSEND FRIDAY: Navy SEAL Anthony Rivera on AI-Driven Transition, Cracking the VA Code, and the "Fog of Peace"
The Two-Promises Podcast
What happens when the “Fog of War” turns into the “Fog of Peace”? In this comprehensive Full Send episode, Navy SEAL veteran and Vetivize CEO Anthony Rivera joins his BUD/S Class 267 classmate to discuss the tactical and psychological blueprint for a successful military transition. Anthony pulls back the curtain on the elite selection process, sharing raw stories from BUD/S Pool Comp and hallucinatory nights in Iraq’s Al Anbar province. He then reveals the “cheat code” he discovered in the CFR 38 that allowed him to turn around a VA disability claim in just 11 days. We explore...
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⚓ Anthony Rivera (Part 4): The Dawn of Agentic AI, Mental Health Reform, and the SOS Protocol
The Two-Promises Podcast
What does the veteran landscape look like five years from now? In the powerful conclusion of our series, Navy SEAL veteran and Vetivize CEO Anthony Rivera paints a vision of a future where technology and spirituality intersect to end the veteran suicide epidemic. Anthony challenges the current medical status quo, comparing the definitive testing for diabetes to the often "test-less" prescribing of mind-altering antidepressants in the VA system. He advocates for a shift toward "prescribing" community service, elite work ethic, and mentorship as the primary tools for recovery. We also get a dose...
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🛡️ Anthony Rivera (Part 3): The Identity Bridge—Health Vaults, Financial Gains, and Serving Others
The Two-Promises Podcast
Is your identity tied to your uniform, or is the uniform just something you wore? In Part 3 of our series, Navy SEAL veteran Anthony Rivera breaks down the ultimate Immediate Action Drill for the veteran identity crisis. Anthony explains how Vetivize acts as a secure, HIPAA-compliant Health Vault, allowing veterans to track their conditions quarterly so they never have to rely on a hit-in-the-head memory during a VA exam. We dive into the massive financial impact of veteran benefits: how the average Vetivize user increases their annual income by $14,400 tax-free, and why savvy employers are...
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⚓ Anthony Rivera (Part 2): Cracking the VA Code—AI, Automation, and the 11-Day Disability Turnaround
The Two-Promises Podcast
Why does military transition feel like "learning a new language"? In Part 2 of our 4-part series, Navy SEAL veteran Anthony Rivera explains how he applied the "Plan Your Dive, Dive Your Plan" SEAL ethos to the complicated world of VA benefits. Anthony reveals how he went from receiving conflicting advice to reading the "root source" documents—the CFR 38—and successfully turned his VA claim around in just 11 days, compared to the national average of 181. We dive deep into his new platform, Vetivize, which uses proprietary AI and automation to act as a "Yelp for Heroes," centralizing the...
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Anthony Rivera (Part 1): Mastery of Chaos—From BUD/S Pool Comp Failures to the "Wild West" of Iraq
The Two-Promises Podcast
How do you transition from the "Fog of War" to the "Fog of Peace"? In the premiere of this 4-part series, Navy SEAL veteran Anthony Rivera joins his BUD/S Class 267 classmate to relive the high-stakes selection process that forges an elite warrior. Anthony shares a raw and often humorous look at the mastery of chaos, starting with his unexpected failure in BUD/S Second Phase Pool Comp under a "chill" instructor and the overconfidence that led to his setback. We dive into the physical toll of elite training, including a "lawn dart" injury on the obstacle course that nearly ended his career, and...
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⚓️ Full Send Friday: Navy SEAL Aaron Peña on Real Estate Investing, The VA Loan "System," and Healing Invisible Wounds
The Two-Promises Podcast
Transitioning out of the elite special operations community is like "learning a new language." In this comprehensive Full Send episode, former Navy SEAL Medic Aaron Peña joins the show to share his blueprint for a successful post-service life. Aaron breaks down the exact system he used to turn his Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) into a real estate portfolio using the VA Loan. We dive deep into the technical side of property acquisition—including house hacking multi-family units and VA loan entitlement—before shifting to the raw, personal reality of service. Aaron opens up about his...
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⚓ Aaron Peña (Part 4): Building the FOB—Brotherhood, Invisible Wounds, and the Power of Surrender
The Two-Promises Podcast
What does it mean to be a committed leader when the mission shifts from the battlefield to the home front? In the final chapter of this four-part series, former Navy SEAL Aaron Peña gets vulnerable about the Invisible Wounds of a 20-year career. Aaron discusses the deep sense of loneliness that often follows a military transition and how he took purposeful action to build a Forward Operating Base (FOB) for SEALs in Northeast Florida. From managing the “rabid spider monkey” energy of community service to the harrowing story of a life-threatening spontaneous pneumothorax as a new guy,...
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🏠 Aaron Peña (Part 3): Triage in Real Estate—Translating SEAL Team Discipline to Negotiations and Risk Assessment
The Two-Promises Podcast
How does the intense triage mindset of a combat medic translate directly to managing complex, costly civilian transactions? In Part 3 of this four-part series, former Navy SEAL Corpsman Aaron Peña shares his approach to applying the high-stakes discipline of the SEAL teams to real estate sales and negotiations. Aaron discusses why real estate deals are "not high stakes" compared to the battlefield, detailing his Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for client management that instill Confidence and eliminate chaos. In a moment of levity, Aaron recounts a classic Failure and Resilience story...
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🩺 Aaron Peña (Part 2): Triage Under Fire—How a SEAL Medic's Grit Translates to Complex Real Estate Deals
The Two-Promises Podcast
How does the grit, urgency, and disciplined focus of a combat medic translate into the world of real estate? In Part 2 of this four-part series, former Navy SEAL Corpsman Aaron Peña shares the story of his military identity—how he became a healer in a community of warriors—and how those high-pressure skills now shape the way he navigates complex real estate deals. Aaron talks about the academic firehose of the Joint Special Operations Combat Medic (JSOCM) course, the struggle to prove wrong those who said he couldn’t pass without a college degree, and the kinetic learning style that...
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🏠 Aaron Peña (Part 1): Going from the Trident to Deeds—Leveraging the VA Loan for Financial Reinvention
The Two-Promises Podcast
How do you find your Identity and next purposeful mission after decades of service? In Part 1 of this four-part series, we sit down with former Navy SEAL Corpsman Aaron Peña to discuss his strategic career pivot from elite medic to successful real estate investor and advisor. Aaron reveals why he made the tough decision to pull his Warrant Officer package and Surrender a 30-year career goal to prioritize his family's needs. He shares the foundational secrets to his financial growth, detailing exactly how he used the VA loan early in his career to convert his Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)...
info_outlineWhat happens when the “Fog of War” turns into the “Fog of Peace”? In this comprehensive Full Send episode, Navy SEAL veteran and Vetivize CEO Anthony Rivera joins his BUD/S Class 267 classmate to discuss the tactical and psychological blueprint for a successful military transition.
Anthony pulls back the curtain on the elite selection process, sharing raw stories from BUD/S Pool Comp and hallucinatory nights in Iraq’s Al Anbar province. He then reveals the “cheat code” he discovered in the CFR 38 that allowed him to turn around a VA disability claim in just 11 days. We explore the future of veteran healthcare through Agentic AI, why “emotionally flat” medications are often prescribed without baselines, and the tactical SOS Protocol for managing life’s overwhelming waves. This is a masterclass in identity reinvention and systemic reform.
Key Topics & SEO Insights
• The 11-Day VA Claim Blueprint
How understanding the CFR 38 Rating Schedule can bypass the national 181-day average wait time for benefits
• Mastery of Chaos
Lessons from Navy SEAL training (Pool Comp and the Tread) that apply to high-stakes civilian entrepreneurship
• The Future of Veteran Tech
Implementing Agentic AI to handle mundane bureaucratic tasks, allowing veterans to focus on spirituality and community service
• The ROI of Veteran Benefits
How the average Vetivize user increases their annual tax-free income by $14,400 and how this saves corporate America millions in healthcare premiums
• The Suicide Antidote
Why “Service to Others” is the most effective prescription for the identity crisis and post-service emotional flatness
• The SOS Protocol
Stop, Seek Center, Orient, Signal — a tactical framework for navigating mental overwhelm and high-stress transitions
Episode Timestamps
01:32 Class 267 Reunion — Reliving the cold, miserable days in the Coronado surf zone
04:34 Pool Comp Failures — Overconfidence under a “chill” instructor
10:10 The Lawn Dart Injury — Breaking a shoulder and collarbone two weeks before graduation
14:54 Iraq Hallucinations — Dancing dragons after two weeks of combat sleep deprivation
24:22 Lord of the Flies — Burning the Ubaidi base during closure
32:28 Hypercapnia Blackout — Passing out during the BUD/S Tread
36:37 Entering the Fog of Peace — Transitioning out after 11.5 years and the identity crisis
38:52 Cracking CFR 38 — Ignoring peer advice and reading the source regulations
41:14 The Birth of Vetivize — Using AI to connect veterans and nonprofits
49:19 The BDD Program — The six-month pre-separation claims window
54:40 Migraines and IBS — Symptoms veterans normalize but shouldn’t
64:13 The $14,400 Raise — Financial impact of correct benefits integration
68:51 Startup Hell Week — Daily fires of entrepreneurship with a SEAL mindset
75:06 Community as the Antidote — Spirituality and service as suicide prevention
81:55 The Identity Trap — Letting go of rank-based self-definition
89:26 Diabetes vs Mental Health — VA medication critique without baselines
93:27 Safety Brief Humor — The joke that broke the platoon
100:32 Burn the Boats — Going all-in on the next mission
About the Guest
Anthony Rivera is a retired Navy SEAL and founder of Vetivize. After navigating his own high-speed transition, Anthony dedicated his career to helping over 7,000 veterans access their earned benefits. Vetivize uses proprietary AI to centralize the fragmented veteran nonprofit ecosystem and provides a secure Health Vault for service members.
Connect with Anthony Rivera:
Website: https://vetavize.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyriveraexecutiveleader
Success isn’t about never failing. It’s about the grit to re-engage.
If you’re navigating the VA black hole or wrestling with who you are after service, remember this, If it’s not alright, it’s not the end.
Call a buddy. Re-enter the arena.
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