The Underdogs

Benito Olson should have been a statistic. That's what seems to happen to children when their father heads to prison. Others considered Olson an underdog. Too scrawny. Too young. He let that mindset sink in—for a moment. Ultimately, he chose to follow another path, which the military provided. As a United States Navy master-at-arms, he discovered a new passion that eventually led him to work with the elite SEAL Team -----. There, Olson met his partner, a Belgian Malinois military working dog named Digo. Some considered Digo too scrawny, too crazy—another underdog. A dog so incorrigible that one SEAL team had given up on him. However, Olson had the patience, resolve, and talent to redirect the dog's spirit, making the pair one of the most effective handler/dog teams in modern combat. Olson overcame many obstacles and thrived on serving his country with Digo. Then, it all came crashing down. Quite literally. How would he survive? How would he come back from another tour as an underdog? Benito Olson's story promises a raw insight into the human spirit and a roadmap for how perseverance and brotherhood can help you climb the most insurmountable mountain.

Benito Olson should have been a statistic. That's what seems to happen to children when their father heads to prison. Others considered Olson an underdog. Too scrawny. Too young. He let that mindset sink in—for a moment. Ultimately, he chose to follow another path, which the military provided. As a United States Navy master-at-arms, he discovered a new passion that eventually led him to work with the elite SEAL Team -----. There, Olson met his partner, a Belgian Malinois military working dog named Digo. Some considered Digo too scrawny, too crazy—another underdog. A dog so incorrigible that one SEAL team had given up on him. However, Olson had the patience, resolve, and talent to redirect the dog's spirit, making the pair one of the most effective handler/dog teams in modern combat. Olson overcame many obstacles and thrived on serving his country with Digo. Then, it all came crashing down. Quite literally. How would he survive? How would he come back from another tour as an underdog? Benito Olson's story promises a raw insight into the human spirit and a roadmap for how perseverance and brotherhood can help you climb the most insurmountable mountain.

Benito Olson began his naval career as a master-at-arms serving in Bahrain and Kingsville, Texas. His work with military dogs opened the opportunity of a lifetime to serve with SEAL Team ----- for multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. He earned a reputation as a go-to handler for dogs at the tip of the spear and earned multiple decorations such as a Bronze Star with Valor and Purple Heart. After medical retirement from the navy, Olson started Patriot Dog Training for law enforcement, estate protection, and household pets.