Some people serve their country in uniform. Others continue serving long after the uniform comes off.

For Dr. Dustin “Biggs” Biggerstaff of AlignLife Chiropractic and Natural Wellness Center in Sugar Hill (https://alignlife.com/locations/sugar-hill-ga-chiropractor/), service has never been a chapter of life. It has become the foundation.

A United States Marine Corps veteran, chiropractor, husband, father, endurance athlete, and advocate for wounded veterans, Dr. Biggs embodies the spirit of resilience, sacrifice, and community that has defined America for generations. In a year when our nation reflects on the America 250 celebration, his story is a reminder that the American spirit is often found in ordinary people quietly doing extraordinary things for others.

“I think one of the biggest things is understanding that service never really ends,” Dr. Biggs says. “You just find different ways to continue showing up for people.”

That mindset has shaped every season of his life.

Growing up, Dr. Biggs says sports and mentorship programs helped redirect his life.

“I was a troubled kid growing up,” he shares. “Sports and Marine Corps JROTC mentoring really got me through some rough stuff.”

Graduating from high school in 2004 in the shadow of 9/11, he watched friends enlist and deploy. Some never came home. He was eager to enlist, but let his family persuade him to pursue a collegiate career right out of high school. But the sense of duty and desire to serve was strong.

“I couldn’t shake it,” he says. “I knew I had to enlist.”

In 2011, he joined the United States Marine Corps and entered one of the military’s most demanding career paths: Amphibious Reconnaissance. 

Recon Marines serve as the commander’s “eyes and ears” on the battlefield, operating in highly trained six-man teams capable of conducting specific missions behind enemy lines. They are tasked with surveillance, intelligence gathering, and specialized missions behind enemy lines. Dr. Biggs trained extensively in diving, airborne operations, and reconnaissance tactics. Whether arriving by sea, air, or land, their mission is simple but vital: see what others cannot and deliver information that can save lives.

“Knowing you were feet away from your objective and no one knew you were there, and you were effective in the entire battle, was pretty cool,” he says.

He served from 2011 to 2019, rising to the rank of Sergeant (E5). Along the way, he competed in elite military endurance events, including the Recon Challenge, where his team placed second in 2016 and first in 2019.

But his military career was also marked by a serious injury. In 2015, Dr. Biggs suffered a traumatic eye injury that nearly ended his service career. Determined to remain on active duty, he fought through rehabilitation and earned his way back into service.

“They wanted to medically retire me,” he says. “I wasn’t ready to stop serving.”

A second injury in 2018 forced his medical retirement from the Marines in 2019.

Running had always been part of Dr. Biggs’ life. He ran competitively in high school and college, and even before enlisting in the Marines, he had completed one major marathon.

“Running has always been my yoga,” he says.

After his injuries, adaptive sports became part of his recovery process through Semper Fi & America’s Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting wounded, ill, and injured service members, veterans, and military families. Founded in 2003 by military spouses caring for wounded troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, the organization now provides immediate financial assistance, case management, adaptive sports opportunities, and lifetime support for veterans and their families.

“When I was injured, they were one of the first organizations to reach out and ask, ‘How can we take care of you and your family?’” Dr. Biggs says.

What started as support during his recovery soon became a lifelong mission.

Today, Dr. Biggs has completed multiple major marathons while raising thousands of dollars for veterans’ causes. His fundraising efforts for Semper Fi & America’s Fund alone total nearly $20,000 directly, with an estimated $30,000 to $40,000 more raised indirectly through the people he has inspired to get involved.

This year, he was selected as one of only three charity athletes for the Tokyo Marathon through Semper Fi & America’s Fund.

“I was extremely honored and willing to do whatever it takes,” he says.

Not only did he complete the race, but he also exceeded his fundraising goal by nearly $2,000.

“The race was icing on the cake,” he says. “The real blessing was traveling alongside other veterans and raising money together for something bigger than ourselves.”

Few people have witnessed Dr. Biggs' journey as closely as Brent Petersen, Chief Outreach Officer for Semper Fi & America's Fund (https://thefund.org/). Petersen’s team supports fundraisers and helps expand awareness and support of the organization's mission. Petersen helps expand awareness of the organization's mission, strengthen connections within veteran and military communities, and ensure service members and their families have access to programs such as Team Semper Fi, which uses adaptive sports and community engagement to support recovery and lifelong wellness.

Peterson first met Dr. Biggs through Team Semper Fi, the adaptive sports program that became part of Dr. Biggs' own recovery journey following his military injuries. 

For Petersen, Dr. Biggs represents the very heart of the organization's mission. What began as support for a veteran evolved into a lifelong commitment to helping others.

"One of the beautiful things about his story is that he went from serving to being served to serving again," Petersen says. "He is a true servant."

Today, Dr. Biggs serves as an ambassador for Semper Fi & America's Fund, sharing his story through speaking engagements, fundraising efforts, and endurance events that bring awareness to veterans' needs long after their military service ends.

"People don't always realize veterans still need help years later," Petersen says. "It's hard for many veterans to ask for help, especially when time has passed. Dr. Biggs reminds people that it's okay to ask for help and that organizations like ours are here for them."

Petersen believes Dr. Biggs' impact reaches far beyond the dollars he has raised.

"When we say, 'Thank you for your service,' it can imply an ending," he says. "With Dr. Biggs, it is ongoing. He's an incredible husband and father. He serves his community, he serves his patients, and he serves fellow veterans. His influence is far greater than he realizes."

For Petersen, Dr. Biggs' willingness to share his own experiences has become a powerful source of hope for others facing challenges of their own.

"He is proof that you can bounce back from adversity," Petersen says. "His story shows that healing is possible, and that service doesn't end when you take off the uniform."

Dr. Biggs credits much of his success and healing journey to the support of his family and the people who have encouraged him along the way.

He and his wife, Briana (Bri), married shortly after boot camp and have built a life together with their two children, Breyden (12) and Nevaeh (10). Following his medical retirement from the Marines, the family relocated to Georgia, where Dr. Biggs continued exploring the chiropractic care that had helped him manage chronic injuries throughout his military career.

Originally encouraged by both his wife and his own chiropractor to pursue the profession, he eventually attended Life University before joining the team at AlignLife Chiropractic and Natural Wellness Center in Sugar Hill.

“The philosophy at AlignLife is very similar to the philosophy behind the veteran organizations I support,” he says. “It’s about genuinely caring for people and supporting the whole family.”

That commitment to service is woven throughout the culture at AlignLife. One of the practice's founders, Dr. Deb Cirone, often shares a quote from chiropractic pioneer B.J. Palmer: “We never know how far-reaching something we may think, say, or do today will affect the lives of millions tomorrow.” It is a philosophy that Dr. Biggs has embraced both professionally and personally as he continues to serve patients, veterans, and his community.

For Dr. Brandon Faieta, that spirit of service is what makes Dr. Biggs such a natural fit for the profession.

“From the discipline of military service to the precision of chiropractic care, his life has always been about protecting and restoring others,” says Dr. Brandon. “He used to have his country's back. Now, he has yours.”

The support Dr. Biggs receives from his AlignLife family has also helped fuel his fundraising and advocacy efforts. “The team at AlignLife has been 100 percent behind this,” he says. He jokingly refers to Dr. Joe Clarino as his "hype man" and credits Dr. Brandon and Dr. Shaleigh Faieta for continually encouraging him to push a little farther, whether that means one more mile on the road or one more dollar raised for veterans and their families.

As Dr. Joe puts it, “Every mile you log is a quiet lesson in what you give to the people around you: discipline, endurance, and the refusal to quit.”

Those qualities have become hallmarks of Dr. Biggs' life. Whether caring for patients in Sugar Hill, mentoring fellow veterans, or training for his next endurance challenge, he continues to live by the same principles that first led him to serve: commitment, perseverance, and a desire to help others thrive.

Dr. Biggs has no plans to slow down.

Over Memorial Day weekend, he participated in the Shepherd’s Men Foundation hike supporting the SHARE Military Initiative, a Georgia-based program helping veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries and PTSD.

In September, he plans to celebrate his 40th birthday by competing in a 100-mile endurance race while fundraising once again for Semper Fi & America’s Fund. 

“The sky’s the limit,” he says. “If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.”

But for Dr. Biggs, the miles are about far more than athletic accomplishment.

“It’s healing to tell the stories,” he says. “These organizations helped pull me out of some dark places. They genuinely care about veterans and their families. That kind of support changes lives.”

Perhaps that is the true American spirit this America 250 season seeks to celebrate. Not perfection. Not recognition. But people who quietly carry the weight for others continue to show up, day after day, mile after mile.