Gilbert Rios is a former sheriff's deputy and Marine Corps veteran and founder of Resilient Responder Coaching who now serves first responders nationwide. As the host of the Fit for Duty podcast and author of Breaking the Blue Wall, he brings a unique perspective on fitness & confronts the stigma of mental health. Gilbert blends combat fitness and aesthetics with mental resilience to help first responders drop fat, regain energy and stay mission ready without crash diets, burnout or unsustainable methods so they can be fit for duty & fit for life.

His fitness journey began at 14 when he first picked up a pair of weights. By 16, he was coaching his first paid client. Eager to learn, he trained under IFBB Pro Les Kaminski and coach Jeff Schneider, gaining hands-on experience in both bodybuilding fundamentals and core nutrition principles.

He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2010, graduating as the Honor Graduate from his MOS school in 29 Palms. Gilbert held dual Military Occupational Specialties: Communications and Marksmanship Coach, earned his black belt in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, achieved multiple expert rifle/pistol qualifications and deployed twice to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was also awarded the Battalion Iron Man for physical fitness. Gilbert’s early exposure to combat fitness and conditioning laid the foundation for his hybrid performance-aesthetic style he still practices today.

Gilbert later transitioned into law enforcement, where he was recognized as the top shooter in his academy class. He went on to serve as a SWAT Operator, Detective, Recruit Training Officer, and Task Force Investigator with a three-letter federal agency. In 2018, his actions in the line of duty earned him the department’s Silver Star for Valor.

After seeing firsthand how the job impacts the physical and mental well-being of first responders, Gilbert shifted his mission. In 2020, he launched

Revein Training (now Resilient Responder Coaching LLC)—initially working with busy parents, then transitioning to coach first responders full-time. Today, he merges tactical fitness with mental resilience to help them stay mission-ready for life.

His goal is to help first responders get fit for duty—without restrictive dieting, burnout or unsustainable methods through my Rapid Response Method. Clients are guided through a structured 4 phased method designed to help them lose weight, keep it off, and sustain their results long term. Now, through his signature 8 Weeks to Fit for Duty program, he coach first responders through a hybrid system that blends combat conditioning with performance-driven aesthetics The program is built on four core pillars:

Performance:

Physical readiness to meet the demands of the job

Mental Resilience:

Because fitness is just as much mindset as it is muscle

Sustainability:

This isn’t a crash diet—it’s a comeback for life

Longevity:

A foundational plan designed to create lasting, real-world results