Special Operations Forces Veteran Finds Healing and Recovery—and a New Business—in the Water

By Allison Stevens

Shannon Daniel never liked the water. In fact, he hated it.

But today, he’s gearing up for his fifth Annual Swim for SOF, a 3-mile, open-water swim fundraiser in the San Diego Bay held by The Honor Foundation, which helps Special Operations Forces (SOF) Veterans transition into civilian life.

He’s also the founder of a business built around the very thing he once avoided: cold water. His journey from reluctant swimmer to cold plunge entrepreneur is a story of service, sacrifice and the search for purpose after the uniform comes off.

Daniel joined the military after graduating from high school in 2001 and, after 5 years as an aircraft mechanic, shifted to explosive ordnance disposal (EOD)—a high-stakes field that demands precision, courage and calm under pressure.

Stationed in San Diego, and later in Florida, Daniel worked with dolphins to detect and disarm underwater mines. He enjoyed the work, but after 2 decades of service, he faced an unaccompanied deployment overseas.

Daniel chose instead to stay near his wife and sons during their last years at home and dropped his retirement papers. The civilian job market was daunting—and, like many who transition out of service, and particularly those in the elite special forces—he struggled to find a good-paying job that capitalized on his skills and also offered meaning and purpose.

Commitment and community

The Honor Foundation helped Daniel navigate that uncertainty—not just with resume rewrites and interview tips, but with a formal professional development program and a committed community of support. “I’d been serving the country and listening to everybody else for 20-plus years,” Daniel said. “They wanted to know what I wanted to do.”

The nonprofit’s extensive career-transition program, including one-on-one support from an executive coach, pulled him out of “the darkest place” of his life, he says. “I would absolutely not be here if it wasn’t for the foundation.”

During his first year in the program, he learned about the foundation’s open-water swim event—and dove right in, despite a lack of long-distance swimming experience or time to prepare (the event was 3 days away). “I’m not a swimmer,” he says. “I sink like a rock.”

But Daniel thrives on physical and mental challenges.

He completed the swim, an experience that was at once miserable and thrilling. Support from the foundation, and his fellow swimmers, propelled him to the finish line. “It’s such a bonding moment, doing hard things that are outside of your comfort zone,” he says.

The cold plunge revelation

Other memorial workouts supported by the foundation—including one to honor the 137 EOD technicians who have died in service—inspired him to start a regular men’s exercise group that quickly ballooned in size.

The physical exertion was taking a toll, causing so much pain that he could barely make it down a flight of stairs. A buddy suggested cold plunging, but Daniel resisted. “No man, I hate cold water,” he told his friend. “I’m good.” But a few days later, he hopped into his friend’s 45-degree pool and instantly felt better. “I felt like I was 18 again.”

That feeling is backed by scientific evidence. From ice-bucket challenges to polar plunges, cold water therapy has been shown to reduce inflammation and soreness, and may also build resiliency, restore balance and improve cognitive function and mood.

So it was for Daniel, who plunged every day for a week that December—and found himself not only invigorated but pain-free. He was sold: With help from the foundation’s network and support, he launched Tribe Cold Plunge near San Diego. A year and a half later, the business—which offers heated sauna sessions in addition to ice water baths—is thriving.

“The Honor Foundation helped me find my why,” said Daniel, one of thousands of foundation alumni across the country, from Tampa to Virginia Beach.

Daniel also credits his credit union, which has supported him throughout every stage of life since becoming a member during bootcamp. “Navy Federal has been there for everything,” he said, noting that it covered the $1,500 Swim for SOF entry fee last year and will do so again during this year’s event, to be held on Sept. 13.

"We see the invaluable impact that The Honor Foundation has on our members and transitioning Servicemembers within our local community," said Richard Allen, VP, Corporate Accounting and San Diego Operations Executive at Navy Federal. "Through the partnership, our philanthropic dollars help members find joy, purpose, community and financial wellness. It's an exemplary investment in our people and mission."

For the past 5 years, Navy Federal has contributed Financial Health and Wellness curriculum to support The Honor Foundation’s Waypoint Journal, a tool that enhances financial and career readiness for transitioning Servicemembers. This year, the credit union’s San Diego campus more than doubled its impact by sponsoring the water station at the event and covering entry fees for 2 local swimmers: Daniel and an Active Duty SEAL.

The event may not be fun, exactly, but Daniel is confident it will be worth it.

“You get out there at 6 am; it’s freezing. You’re standing outside, wearing these stupid little shorts; you just feel ridiculous. But the best part is there’s 150 other people doing the same thing. And when you line up and you’re 5 or 6 rows deep and there’s 200 American flags—there’s something about it.”

Learn more about how Navy Federal Serves Veterans and military communities.