Combat Story - Ryan Fugit - TopPodcast.com

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Delta Force Operator Shot on Mission | Starting Coffee and Cigar Company | Brent Tucker - Round 2 Jan 06, 2024

Show notes

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

🎙️ 🎙️ Today we hear the second round of our insightful two part Combat Story with former Green Beret and Delta Force operator Brent Tucker. In this episode, Brent runs through deployments with The Unit, including what it feels like breaching a door on an objective and earning a Purple Heart (the last one on his team to earn one), after being shot and hit with grenade shrapnel.

Since leaving the military, Brent founded First Responder’s Coffee Company, which uses the tagline ‘Coffee with a purpose’ because it supports the First Responder community. We dig into the intent behind it’s sister entity, First Responder’s Cigar Company, and Brent’s recollection of cigars and coffee in the military.

Please enjoy this deep dive and wide ranging discussion with a former Tier 1 operator and all the ups and downs that come with that career…and maybe listen to this with a cup his Bourbon flavored coffee from FRCC!

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families.

👇 Show Notes:

00:00 - Introduction 00:54 - Guest Profile: 02:02 - Start of Interview 02:09 - First Responders Coffee and Cigar Company 10:37 - Smoking Cigars in Uniform 21:21 - Celbrating After A Mission 25:41- Mint Mobile Ad 26:53 - First Near Death Experience 38:42 - Losing a Teammate and Grief 46:54 - Loss of Purpose After Service and First Responders 01:05:02 - Getting Shot Story 02:02:02 - Existing Outside The Military 02:08:11 - First Responders Coffee Company Future 02:10:36 - Sentimental Items 02:15:01 - Would You Do It All Again? 02:17:47 - Listener Comments and Feedback

🔗 Find Ryan Online:

- Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

🔗 Find Brent Online: - First Responders Coffee Company https://frccoffee.com/

Thanks to our sponsor, Mint Mobile. To get the new customer offer and your new 3-month unlimited wireless plan for just $15 a month, go to www.mintmobile.com/combatstory. Additional taxes, fees, & restrictions apply.

Brent Tucker - ADA to ODA to Delta Force | Operations at the Tip of the Spear | Round 1 Dec 30, 2023

Show notes

Today we have round one of our two part Combat Story with an elite member of the Tier 1 community, Brent Tucker who completed over a dozen deployments with Special Forces and 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta (or more commonly referred to as Delta Force). Brent is now the founder of First Responder’s Coffee Company and First Responder’s Cigar Company, which uses the tag line ‘Coffee with a purpose’ because it directly supports the First Responder community.

In our first round interview, we cover Brent’s unlikely path into the military, to include bringing along his brother and somehow going from Air Defense Artillery to Special Forces to Delta. In this episode, we also delve into Brent’s first deployments with 20th Group, which sounds very similar to a former guest who many will recall who went from 20th Group into Delta: Bob Keller.

Brent is what many of us expect when we think of the Delta Operator as his experiences downrange, book recommendations, friendships, and approach to life show. Please enjoy this wide ranging discussion with a former elite operator, Brent Tucker.

👇 Show Notes:

00:00 - Introduction 00:52 - Guest Profile: 01:55 - Start of Interview 03:45 - Childhood and Sibling Relationships 10:23 - Fear Bfore and During Enlistment 14:44 - Family Business and Raising Kids 24:08 - Factor Meals Ad 25:27 - Family Discussions on Enlisting 27:11 - Recruiter Experience 30:45 - Deciding To Go Special Forces 38:01 - 1st Deployment and Going to Selection 52:52 - Raising Kids and Missing Missions 01:01:25 - Time in 20th Group 01:10:08 - Thinking of Quitting 01:18:34 - First Time in Combat 01:32:10 - Recommended Literature 01:51:35 - Experiences with Apaches 01:53:56 - Listener Comments and Feedback

🔗 Find Ryan Online:

🔗 Find Brent Online: - First Responders Coffee Company https://frccoffee.com/

This Combat Story was sponsored by Factor, America’s #1 Ready-To-Eat Meal Delivery Service. Use FACTORMEALS.com/combatstory50 and use code combatstory50 to get 50% off!

JSOC (Regimental Reconnaissance Company) OMEGA (JSOC-CIA Hunter Killer Teams) Expert Breacher and Free Fall Mike Edwards Round 2 Dec 23, 2023

Show notes

Today we have the second round of our two part Combat Story with Mike Edwards, a former Regimental Reconnaissance Company (RRC) operator and longtime Ranger with 18 combat deployments.

Mike was one of the few to serve in the Omega Program, which the Washington Post described as "units comprising CIA personnel and troops with JSOC…using co-mingled bases in Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen" and "mostly designed against specific high-value targets." Effectively, Omega was some of the best and most elite operators and intelligence officers paired up downrange to bring the full weight of both JSOC and the Agency.

Mike served alongside former Combat Story guest Rodney Brown, a former Navy SEAL and member of the Navy's Special Warfare Development Group (or DEVGRU which is often referred to in the press as SEAL Team Six). In this episode, Mike describes an operation taking on an entire Taliban camp with Rodney that Rodney also described in his interview. Be sure to go back and listen to Rodney's and Mike's account of this same operation to get a more complete picture of the event from two vantage points!

If you missed round one I would highly recommend listening to hear about Mike's start as an 11M and transition into Ranger Regiment, his combat jump into Iraq, and how he earned a Purple Heart and Silver Star. Once again, special thanks to our brothers Jack, Dave, and Dee at the Team House for introducing us to Mike! And with that, please enjoy this second interview with Mike Edwards.

For more information on the Omega program, check out the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/06/06/seal-team-6-the-cia-and-the-secret-history-of-u-s-kill-missions/) or Wired Magazine (https://www.wired.com/2011/09/cia-killing-machine/).

👇 Show Notes:

00:00 - Introduction 00:57 - Guest Profile: Mike Edwards Round 2 02:33 - Start of Interview 02:41 - Route to Regimental Reconnaissance Company 06:43 - Tough Ops. in Rangers 07:51 - Training and Selection for (RRC) 12:30 - Difficulties During Selection 20:14 - Skydiving and Freefalling 23:31 - Human Tracking 28:23 - Relationship with Rodney Brown 37:30 - Mike's MI-47 Helicopter Crash 41:54 - Interrogations 44:08 - Difference Deploying With A Child 46:39 - Mike's MP7 Op. 58:06 - Challenges With Mental Health and Religion 01:04:40 - A Tough Op. 01:12:15 - Battlefield Interogations 01:17:20 - Most Courageous Act 01:20:58 - Post Service Recovery 01:23:46 - Religious Community 01:26:54 - Exedous Relief 01:30:01 - Plans for the Future 01:34:18 - Sentimental Items 01:36:00 - Would You Do It All Again? 01:36:38 - Listener Comments and Feedback

🔗 Find Ryan Online:

- Ryan's Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

🔗 Find Mike Online: Project Exodus Relief Afghanistan https://www.proexodusrelief.com/

JSOC (Regimental Reconnaissance Company), OMEGA (JSOC-CIA Hunter Killer Teams), Expert Breacher and Free Fall, Plus Earning a Silver Star in Combat - Mike Edwards Round 1 Dec 16, 2023

Show notes

This episode was sponsored by HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/combatstoryfree and use code combatstoryfree for FREE breakfast for life!

Today we have part one of a two part Combat Story with Mike Edwards, a former special operations soldier and leader with 18 combat deployments with the Ranger Regiment, Regimental Reconnaissance Company (RRC), and as part of the Omega Program where JSOC and CIA personnel were paired together to form lethal operational units downrange.

The Washington Post described the Omega Program as "units comprising CIA personnel and troops with JSOC…using co-mingled bases in Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen" and "mostly designed against specific high-value targets."

In this first interview, we dive into Mike's entry into the military as an 11M and his first round of deployments with Ranger Regiment post-9/11, including earning what is often referred to as the mustard stain on his jump wings after a static line jump to seize an airfield at the outset of the Iraq war (he ends up very much like Shrek did on his first combat jump!). We dig into hunting the deck of cards, earning an EIB, then CIB, losing friends to a female suicide bomber, and then the intense operation in which Mike was awarded a Purple Heart and Silver Star.

Stay tuned for part two with Mike where we dive into some of Mike's more intense combat experiences, low vis tactical work, and fighting in Omega and RRC.

Special thanks to our brothers Jack, Dave, and Dee at the Team House for introducing us to Mike! And with that, please enjoy this first episode with Mike Edwards.

👇 Show Notes:

00:00 - Introduction 00:48 - Guest Profile: Mike Edwards 02:06 - Start of Interview 02:38 - Childhood 05:15 - Serving with Family 09:53 - Path to the Military 10:55 - Decision to Enlist 14:50 - Start of Career and Korea 22:35 - HelloFresh Ad 23:50 - Switching to Ranger Battalion 27:06 - Overlap of Special Forces and Regiment 30:35 - Welcome into the Ranger Community 36:40 - Welcome into the Unit 41:42 - First Deployment 47:57 - First Combat 52:30 - Coming Back After First Deployment 54:07 - Injury During Operation 01:08:25 - Realizing Invinciblity 01:15:25 - Learning from Gunfights 01:17:25 - Strykers 01:18:30 - Snot Story 01:20:46 - Listener Comments and Feedback

🔗 Find Ryan Online:

This episode was sponsored by HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/combatstoryfree and use code combatstoryfree for FREE breakfast for life!

Day of Infamy | Pearl Harbor Attack Stories and Background by Parks Department Tour Guide David Kilton Dec 09, 2023

Show notes

On today's Combat Story we dive into stories of a handful of the brave men who were at Pearl Harbor during the tragic December 7th, 1941 attack that changed the course of history. These are stories of action, selflessness, and courage that few of us can imagine, but sound right at home with the stories we often hear on Combat Story and should not be forgotten.

[Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families.]

This episode includes Joe George, who was locked in the brig of a ship when the attack started and was released to save himself and then became a hero when he disobeyed orders to save the lives of other sailors.

We also hear about a long term friendship between a US sailor (Richard Fiske) who was attacked and a Japanese service member on the other side. Then we hear about a family member of a longtime Combat Story listener who was there at Pearl Harbor during the attack.

In this episode, we start by setting the context for the events of Dec 7th and the lead up to the war so we can better appreciate the very unique stories of service members who step up when the attack starts.

To help bring these stories to life, we went to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Hawaii and sat down the National Park Service's David Kilton, who is the Chief of Interpretation at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial (his job is to bring these stories to life).

Prior to the Pearl Harbor Memorial, David worked at Rocky Mountain National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Golden Spike National Historic Site, and Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site (which memorializes the desegregation of that school).

Please enjoy these intimate stories of service and sacrifice in one of the most momentous days in American history.

Learn More About Pearl Harbor Online: - Joe George and Don Stratton https://www.nps.gov/perl/learn/historyculture/joe-george.htm - Pearl Harbor Background https://www.nps.gov/perl/index.htm

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro 00:49 - Guest Introduction (David Kilton) 01:53 - Interview begins 02:15 - WWII Political background 05:22 - Japanese Preparation for Pearl Harbor attack 11:10 - Sunday morning on Oahu 16:00 - Pearl Harbor Geography 17:29 - Security before Pearl Harbor 21:26 - Pearl Harbor Attack 27:12 - The Joe George Story 31:41 - The Richard Fisk Story 43:14 - The Walter Sealock Story 49:50 - Closing Thoughts 51:23 - Listener comments and shout outs

Ambushing the Taliban; Four BUD/S Attempts; SDV, DEVGRU and ASOT III; Protecting Tom Cruise; Kingsman Anti-Human Trafficking - Rodney Brown Dec 02, 2023

Show notes

🎙️ Today's Combat Story: Navy SEAL, SDV Team One, and DEVGRU 🎙️

Today’s Combat Story focuses on both Navy SEAL, SDV Team One, and DEVGRU member Rodney Brown and his connection to an upcoming guest, Mike Edwards. I asked Mike, in preparation for a future interview, who I could talk to about Mike’s time downrange. Surprisingly, Mike, an Army Ranger, referred me to Rodney, a Navy SEAL. After talking to Rodney, however, it’s easy to see why and how this brotherhood was created.

Rodney spent years with SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One and then several years providing intel support and advanced special operations techniques with Naval Special Warfare Development Group (or DEVGRU and what the press will often refer to as SEAL Team Six).

During his time downrange, Rodney fought side by side with Mike and a host of other international and national forces, and other government agencies (or OGAs). He would go on to handle sources and provide tactical HUMINT for coalition forces, at times rolling outside the wire with just an interpreter!

Rodney was one of those who went to BUD/S multiple times, persevering to earn his Trident on the fourth attempt. He would support DEVGRU, work with the elite in the special operations community, create his own company, provide security for Tom Cruise and other celebrities, and give his personal time to help fight human trafficking.

Be sure to stay tuned until the end for a few rapid fire questions and outtakes with Rodney and, of course, listen in for his stories about Mike Edwards ahead of our upcoming interviews with Mike where we’ll ask Mike about the same events to see how two operators remember these events.

📸 Visual Aids Thumbnail is Navy Divers and Navy SEALs Conduct PRODEV Training [Image 19 of 19], by PO1 Trey Hutcheson.

👇 Show Notes:

00:00 - Introduction 00:52 - Guest Profile: Rodney Brown 02:49 - Start of Interview 05:16 - Childhood 05:59 - First time with a weapon 12:10 - Time in Alaska 16:53 - Path to the SEAL Team 29:16 - Responsibilities During SEAL Training 31:02 - Lessons learned in Training 32:55 - BUDS Reputations 40:10 - Meeting Mike Edwards 42:47 - SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1 48:25 - First Deployment With SDVT1 51:22 - Advanced Special Operations Techniques 56:12 - First Time Outside The Wire 01:02:18 - Time in Green Platoon Course 01:07:16 - A Challenging Operations 01:12:55 - Taking Life 01:17:57 - Experiences With Mike Edwards 01:19:49 - Clearing A Room With Mike Edwards 01:31:04 - Questions for Mike Edwards 01:38:38 - Relationship to Mike Edwards 01:40:10 - Most Courageous Act 01:42:00 - 53-26 Consultants 01:44:30 - Security Tom Cruise 01:48:15 - Kingsman 01:51:26 - Retiring Young 01:53:25 - Sentimental Item 01:56:36 - Would You Do It All Again? 01:57:27 - Closing Thoughts 01:57:45- Listener Feedback 02:01:23 - Bonus Content

🔗 Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

🔗 Find Rodney Online: - 5326 Consultants https://www.5326consultants.com/

Show notes

🎙️ Today's Combat Story: Training Dogs for SEAL Teams and Founding the Warrior Dog Foundation🎙️

Today we have the second portion of a two-part crossover Combat Story with former Navy SEAL, NY Times Best-Selling Author, Trikos Founder, and founder of the Warrior Dog Foundation: Mike Ritland. Many will, of course, know Mike as the host of the long-running Mike Drop podcast. I traveled out to Texas to interview Mike in-person and then he returned the favor.

For those who missed part one, Mike described growing up in Iowa and, while still undersized, was bullied at school and had to sit in the same class as his attackers. He vowed to never let that happen again and immersed himself in a Karate Kid-like experience in the martial arts studying under an old school sensei who helped send him on his path to the Teams. In the Teams, Mike would largest operation in the history of Naval Special Warfare when SEAL Team 3

Mike would contract an illness that would take him out of the door-kicking side of the teams but also allowed him to follow a passion training dogs for west coast SEAL teams. He followed this path to build a successful business in Trikos training working dogs for clients and creating the Warrior Dog Foundation, among other ventures.

Mike has done so much to find purpose and continue serving after hanging up the uniform in a way that will, undoubtedly, be motivating to people seeking their own purpose and next chapter. With that, please enjoy this episode with Mike Ritland.

👇 Show Notes:

00:00 - Introduction 01:04 - Guest Profile: Mike Ritland 02:09 - Interview Begins 02:14 - Background of Navy Seal Dogs book 3:55 - Aftermath of Oil Rig Operation 13:36 - New Mission Cycles 15:52 - Gulf War Veterans for Iraq War 20:36 - First Leave and Becoming a K-9 Trainer 25:54 - Contracting Fungal Lung Infection 30:36 - Interest in K-9 Handling 32:51 - Mentors and Experience in K-9 Training 43:19 - Human and Dog Psycology 50:03 - Proudest Accomplishment 53:53 - Biases Against Former Warrior Dogs 57:16 - Sentimental Items 58:11 - Would You Do It All Again? 01:01:04 - Downtime 01:08:05 - Listener comments and shout outs

🔗 Find Ryan Online:

🔗 Find Mike Online:

- Warrior Dog Foundation https://warriordogfoundation.org/about-us/

- Navy SEAL Dogs: My Tale of Training Canines for Combat https://www.amazon.com/Navy-SEAL-Dogs-Training-Canines/dp/1250049695 - Mike Drop Podcast https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNZR15cy3w1fzGXgI5oy5aA

Surviving the Largest Naval Special Warfare Combat Operation | Mike Drop | Navy SEAL | Gifted K-9 Trainer | Warrior Dog Foundation - Mike Ritland Nov 18, 2023

Show notes

🎙️ Today's Combat Story: Training Dogs for SEAL Teams and Founding the Warrior Dog Foundation🎙️

Today we have a cross over Combat Story with former Navy SEAL, NY Times Best-Selling Author, and Trikos Founder Mike Ritland who many will also know as the host of the Mike Drop podcast. I traveled out to Texas to interview Mike and then he returned the favor.

For those who don't know Mike, he earned his Trident pre-9/11 and found himself on the largest operation in the history of Naval Special Warfare when SEAL Team 3 simultaneously took control of two oil terminals and a control facility on sea and land as the Iraq war kicked off.

Mike would contract an illness that would take him out of the door-kicking side of the teams but also allowed him to follow a passion training dogs for west coast SEAL teams. He followed this path to build a successful business in Trikos training working dogs for clients and founding the Warrior Dog Foundation, among other ventures.

👇 Show Notes:

00:00 - Introduction 01:04 - Guest Profile: Mike Ritland 02:05 - Start of Interview 03:05 - Settling in Texas 07:45 - Leaving the SEALs 11:20 - Transition to Dog Training 12:57 - Confidence and Success 23:25 - Siblings and Military Path 25:49 - Fighting During Youth 36:11 - Martial Arts Training 43:53 - Path to joining the Teams 47:00 - Ultra Competitive Nature 54:13 - Almost Quitting 59:26 - Largest Naval Special Warfare Op. 01:11:19 - Kicking off the Iraq War 01:19:37 - Listener Feedback

🔗 Find Ryan Online: - Ryan's Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

🔗 Find Mike Online: - Warrior Dog Foundation https://warriordogfoundation.org/about-us/

- Navy SEAL Dogs: My Tale of Training Canines for Combat https://www.amazon.com/Navy-SEAL-Dogs-Training-Canines/dp/1250049695

Sniper vs Sniper Battle - Killing the Enemy's Most Lethal Sniper | Force Recon | AJ Pasciuti (RD 2) Nov 04, 2023

Show notes

This episode is brought to you by Nutrisense. Visit nutrisense.com/combat and get $30 off your first month and one month of board certified nutritionist support. When they ask how you learned about Nutrisense make sure to tell them it was the Combat Story podcast.

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This is the second round of our two part Combat Story with former Force Recon, Scout Sniper, and Marine Rifleman AJ Pasciuti who recently retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 (Gunner) and passed on more lucrative careers in the defense industry to keep a promise he and his fellow Marines made after losing some of their closest friends in combat to lead a purpose- and service-driven life as he runs for public office in his hometown of San Jose, California.

AJ was an unlikely candidate to be the Marine Corps sniper who, as part of a team, was responsible for killing the most lethal sniper in Iraq (known as Juba) who took the lives of, potentially, 140+ Americans using a US sniper rifle taken off the bodies of a fallen Marine Corps sniper team. AJ is credited with ultimately pulling the trigger on Juba but, in true Marine Corps fashion and very much in line with AJ's character, he has forever eschewed the spotlight and attributed the work to the team of Marines that stopped Juba (who was personified in the movie American Sniper) from terrorizing other US forces.

In a very sad and emotional but inspiring turn of events, AJ would lose a coin flip in which his closest friend's team would take the decisive position on a particular operation in Afghanistan while AJ's team served a supporting role. During the fight, AJ would lose this Marine and confidant during a multi-hour gunfight.

When you hear his story of loss and sacrifice, it's no surprise that AJ chose to continue serving in his post-military career, running for office in northern California. He's a great reminder of the type of people we all want in office, even when these office's tend to undervalue the integrity and dedication to others that he embodies.

With that, please enjoy a story that was made for the big screen from the son of an immigrant to one of the Marine Corps' most lethal shooters: AJ Pasciuti.

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Find Ryan Online: - Ryan's Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find AJ Online: - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/posts/angelo-pasciuti_the-pathway-to-public-representation-continues-activity-7044775065183272960-wyMZ/ - Washington Post aricle on Juba https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/01/22/iraqi-sniper-the-legendary-insurgent-who-claimed-to-have-killed-scores-of-american-soldiers/

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Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 01:00 - Guest Introduction (AJ Pasciuti) 02:39 - Interview begins 02:55 - Nickname 05:02 - Thespian 09:35 - What goes into a hunt 13:50 - The Juba Sniper hunt 35:06 - Nutrisense Ad 36:21 - The Juba Sniper hunt cont. 01:02:43 - Aftermath of Juba 01:06:30 - Matthew Ingham and Award Qualifications 02:05:40 - Sentimental items 02:09:22 - Would you do it all again? 02:09:42 - Closing thoughts 02:10:07 - Listener comments and shout outs

USMC Sniper & Force Recon in Fallujah | Shooting w/ Chris Kyle | American Sniper | AJ Pasciuti (Rd1) Oct 28, 2023

Show notes

Check out this week's sponsor AUSA's podcast Army Matters. Amplifying the voices of the Total Army: https://www.ausa.org/podcast This episode is brought to you by Nutrisense. Visit nutrisense.com/combat and get $30 off your first month and one month of board certified nutritionist support. When they ask how you learned about Nutrisense make sure to tell them it was the Combat Story podcast. =======

This is part one of one of our best Combat Story's with former Force Recon, Scout Sniper, and Marine Rifleman AJ Pasciuti. He recently retired from active duty and decided to pass on lucrative post-career defense contracting roles to, instead, continue serving in the name of several fallen Marines by running for public office in his hometown of San Jose, California.

AJ left northern California as an 18 year old in response to 9/11 with little military family background and an immigrant's mentality having never touched a weapon and would go on to be a lethal sniper and Force Recon Marine, eventually instructing at the Scout Sniper school and helping to evolve the Marine Corps' fundamental education system when he retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 (Gunner).

He would go from city life to Iraq in OIF I crossing the berm with Third Battalion, Fifth Marines Regiment, of the First Marine Division; then, as a sniper in Fallujah, he would find himself in a building providing overwatch for Marines when a SEAL named Chris Kyle happened to occupy the same building as AJ and Chris' sniper teams competed to keep the Marines safe as they cleared the battlefield. He would later find himself fighting in Ramadi in 2005/2006 with another team of snipers.

This is a two-part interview with AJ. Stay tuned for our part two with AJ and his story of hunting, trapping, and killing Iraq's most lethal sniper: Juba (personified in the film American Sniper); and AJ's story of losing his best friend in combat as a result of a coin toss.

AJ's reputation speaks for itself and his perspective on service and overcoming odds is simply inspiring. His take on what "Service" truly means will have you looking for ways to do more in your own community and lives. With that, please enjoy part one of one of our best Combat Story episodes with Force Recon Marine AJ Pasciuti.

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Find Ryan Online: - Ryan's Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find AJ Online: - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/posts/angelo-pasciuti_the-pathway-to-public-representation-continues-activity-7044775065183272960-wyMZ/ - - Washington Post article on Juba https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/01/22/iraqi-sniper-the-legendary-insurgent-who-claimed-to-have-killed-scores-of-american-soldiers/

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Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 01:03 - Guest Introduction (AJ Pasciuti) 02:56 - Interview begins 03:40 - Military connections and Childhood 10:25 - Boyscouts 14:45 - 9/11 18:20 - First Deployment and Choosing the Marine Corps. 21:15 - Life if not the Military 24:04 - AUSA Ad 25:59 - First time outside the wire 33:25 - First time in contact 41:57 - Calling home 44:48 - Second Deployment and Sniper Indoc 53:50 - Nutrisense Ad 55:05 - Ricky Jackson 01:00:00 - Fallujah Pt.1 01:14:50 - Sniper Instructor 01:17:32 - Fallujah Pt. 2 01:26:47 - 3rd deployment 01:31:18 - A difficult situation 01:35:17 - Listener comments and shout outs

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