Whitewater paddling has done more than introduce me to the outdoors. It has saved my life, given me a sense of belonging, and helped me find purpose after years of struggling to figure out where I fit in.
I grew up on the streets of Chicago, moving in and out of shelters and experiencing poverty firsthand. At the time, joining the Army infantry felt like my only real opportunity to build a better future. My military service eventually led me into active combat roles as a team leader. While those experiences shaped who I am, they also left me with physical injuries and emotional struggles that followed me long after returning home.
Like many combat veterans, I had a difficult time adjusting to civilian life. For years, I turned to self-medication while traveling around the country playing and managing music. Although the music industry gave me some incredible experiences, it also surrounded me with alcohol and other substances that made it easy to avoid dealing with the lasting effects of war.
My first experience running whitewater was honestly terrifying. I never imagined that something so intimidating would eventually become one of the most important parts of my recovery. When I attended raft guide school in 2020, something finally clicked. I was hooked, and for the first time in years, I felt like I had found a place where I belonged.
Being on the water became an important part of learning to live with my postwar injuries. The physical challenges helped me rebuild confidence in my body, while the mental focus required to navigate whitewater gave me an opportunity to be completely present. On the river, I wasn’t dwelling on the past or worrying about what came next. I was focused on the water, my crew, and the challenges directly in front of me. Just as importantly, the paddling community gave me camaraderie, trust, and a sense of purpose that I had been missing since leaving the military.
Since 2020, I have logged more than 10,000 river miles across the American West while guiding for Mild to Wild Rafting & Jeep Tours. What began as a personal outlet has grown into an outdoor career. Today, I guide, teach, and mentor new river guides, and am pursuing a master’s degree in Outdoor Leadership and Education.
Whitewater hasn’t erased my injuries or everything I experienced during combat, but it has completely changed how I live with them. It has given me a healthier way to face life’s challenges, a community I am proud to be part of, and an opportunity to help others discover what the outdoors can offer. I am incredibly grateful for what paddling has brought into my life, and I hope some of you find that same sense of freedom, healing, and belonging on the water.
Thank you to my wife Kelly, and my daughters Charlotte and Venus, for allowing me the opportunity to find my true calling.
About the Author
Dylan Ozier is a combat veteran, outdoor educator, and senior river guide with Mild to Wild Rafting & Jeep Tours. After serving as an infantry team leader in combat with A Co. 1-36 U.S. Army Infantry in Iraq, Dylan discovered whitewater paddling as a way to manage his postwar injuries and reconnect with a sense of purpose. His background includes whitewater rafting, backcountry guiding, Wilderness First Responder (WFR) training, and swiftwater rescue. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Outdoor Leadership and Education while continuing to guide, teach, and mentor new river guides, and he is passionate about making outdoor recreation accessible and helping others find the same healing, community, and belonging he found on the water.
This story is published as part of the 2026 ACA Story Project, a month-long collection of stories written by ACA members. Without opportunity, these stories wouldn’t exist. That’s what the ACA does. Through education, stewardship, competition, and club support, we create opportunities for paddlers of all abilities. Your gift helps write the next chapter. Help us raise $25,000 by December 1 for the next paddler, and the one after that.
