Combat Story

In Episode 2 of Reconnaissance Man, presented in partnership with Combat Story, we follow U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant James "Jim" Steele through two defining Cold War flashpoints: the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Dominican Civil War.

After returning from Vietnam and serving at Parris Island, Steele finds himself watching the Cuban Missile Crisis unfold from stateside. Unsatisfied with secondhand reporting and eager to understand what American forces were actually doing at Guantanamo Bay, he carries out an unauthorized mission of his own making, sneaking onto a military transport bound for Cuba during one of the most dangerous...

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Before Delta Force, before the Global War on Terror, and before the Berlin Wall fell, a small group of Green Berets operated inside one of the most dangerous cities on earth.

In this episode of Combat Story, AJ Pasciuti sits down with retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant...

How does a West Point graduate and Army Ranger go from military service to winning The Apprentice and building one of the most successful veteran-focused venture capital firms in America?

In this episode of Combat Story, AJ Pasciuti sits down with Kelly Perdew to discuss leadership, service, entrepreneurship, and the lessons that carried him from the U.S. Army to the national spotlight and beyond.

Kelly shares his journey through West Point, Army Intelligence, and Ranger School before discussing the experience of competing on—and ultimately winning—Season 2 of The Apprentice. He reflects on the lead...

What happens after the uniform comes off?

In this episode of Combat Story, AJ Pasciuti sits down with Army combat veteran, firefighter, MMA fighter, and author James McDevitt for one of the most honest conversations we've had about service, trauma, purpose, and the lifelong search for meaning after war.

James shares his journey from growing up in a military family to deploying to Iraq as an 18-year-old convoy gunner during some of the deadliest years of the war. He talks about football, failure, identity, and the difficult transition from combat deployments back into civilian life.<...

Today on Combat Story, we hear the story of Joshua "Josh" Shores — Marine infantry combat veteran, Purple Heart recipient, former Marine Raider, retired firefighter, entrepreneur, and author of Counting on Death: A Marine Infantryman's Journey from the Front Lines of Combat to the Fight for Peace.

Josh served with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines during some of the hardest fighting in Ramadi before later deploying to Afghanistan with Marine Special Operations. In this conversation, he takes us through the reality of combat as a 19-year-old Marine, the burden of surviving when others did not, and the lo...

Before Vietnam became the war America remembers, James Lyle Steele was already in it. In Episode 1 of Reconnaissance Man, "Good Morning, Vietnam," Steele takes us into the earliest days of America's involvement in the war, when the mission was still forming, the battlefield was still being understood, and the cost was already very real.

A retired U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel and one of the original generation of Marine reconnaissance men, Steele describes a brutal and fast-changing fight shaped by booby traps, poisoned bamboo, hidden tunnels, ambushes, helicopter assaults, and constant adaptation. This is not a...

Before the Iraq War officially began, a different fight was already underway.

U.S. Army Special Forces teams were operating in Northern Iraq, linking up with Kurdish fighters and preparing to open a second front against Saddam Hussein. What they built in those early months would shape the opening phase of the war.

In this episode, AJ Pasciuti sits down with retired Lieutenant Colonel Mark Grdovic, a Green Beret who led missions alongside Kurdish Peshmerga forces against Al-Qaeda affiliates in the mountains.

This conversation follows the full path, from early training and deployments...

What does it feel like to make a decision that saves your teammates… but stays with you forever?

In this episode of Combat Story, AJ sits down with Jeremy Rebmann, former FBI Special Agent, SWAT sniper, and author of Send Me, for a raw conversation about what really happens inside high-risk operations.

Jeremy spent over two decades in the FBI, including 21 years on SWAT, operating in some of the most dangerous environments in domestic law enforcement. From hostage rescues to manhunts to split-second lethal force decisions, he lived the responsibility of being the one others re...

Former U.S. Marine Scout Sniper Alexander Lemons joins AJ to talk about Iraq, the confusion and chaos of the initial invasion, and the hidden damage war leaves behind.

A Bronze Star recipient and co-author of War Body: A Marine Sniper and the Hidden Violence of Modern Warfare, Alex brings a raw, thoughtful perspective to combat, leadership, toxic exposure, and life after service.

In this episode of Combat Story, AJ and Alex unpack Alex's path into the Marines, what it felt like to enter war as a young infantryman, and how those early experiences shaped...

A downed U.S. helicopter in Afghanistan. Forty-five knot crosswinds. No power margin.

In this episode of Combat Story, AJ Pasciuti sits down with Isaac G. Lee, a retired U.S. Marine Corps CH-53 heavy lift pilot with seven deployments and multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Isaac flew more than 140 named combat missions, became a Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI), commanded a Marine helicopter squadron, and led one of the most dangerous recovery missions of the war — lifting a downed Night Stalker aircraft near the Pakistani border with almost no margin for error.

0321 Day is more than a date. It's a gut-check, a brotherhood check-in, and a reminder that no Recon Marine (and no Recon family) is ever alone.

In this Combat Story Special Edition, AJ Pasciuti sits down for a two-way conversation with Randall Parks (USMC, Ret.) the West Coast organizer of 0321 Day—to break down what the day means, why it's grown into a tradition, and how the Marine Reconnaissance Foundation (MRF) directly supports Recon Marines, enablers, SARCs, and, most importantly, Gold Star families.

You'll hear the story behind the event's partnership with Ballast Point Brewing, wh...

Before the first bombs hit Iraq in 1991, seven B-52s quietly lifted off from Louisiana on a mission so classified most of the crews hadn't known it existed months earlier.

In this episode of Combat Story, AJ Pasciuti sits down with Trey Morris, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and former B-52 Electronic Warfare Officer, to break down Operation Senior Surprise—nicknamed Secret Squirrel—the 35-hour, 14,000-mile strike that helped launch Operation Desert Storm.

This wasn't just another bombing mission. It was the first combat use of GPS-guided cruise missiles, the longest combat sortie in hist...

In this episode of Combat Story, AJ Pasciuti sits down with Matt Cavanaugh, retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, combat veteran, strategist, endurance athlete, and living kidney donor, for a conversation about what service really looks like when nobody's watching.

Matt is the author of Best Scar Wins: How You Can Be More Than You Were Before, and his story goes far beyond combat. We start with his experiences in Iraq and the weight of leadership under pressure, then move into the harder-to-talk-about parts of life after war: grief, identity, responsibility, and the quiet choices that shape...

In this episode of Combat Story, Joe Troutman takes us inside one of the most intense and least-documented firefights of the Iraq War — a 10-hour urban fight in Mosul where Blackhawk Company, 1-23 Infantry, held ground without air support, under sustained RPG, machine-gun, and IED attacks.

Joe served 18 years on active duty in the U.S. Army as a 13F Fire Support Specialist and Forward Observer, deploying multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan. From the early days after 9/11, through the birth of the Stryker Brigade, to the brutal street fighting that followed, Joe's story captures what combat ac...

In this episode of Combat Story, we sit down with Michael D'Angelo — a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who turned a turbulent childhood, military service, and hard-earned life lessons into a career built on laughter and connection. Raised in a rough environment where stability was never guaranteed, Michael found in the Marine Corps something he didn't have growing up: structure, purpose, and a way out. Serving as a Marine machine gunner, the Corps gave him direction — and later, perspective — on both pain and resilience. After leaving the military, Michael found a new mission through comedy, using humor as a tool f...

In this episode of Combat Story, we sit down with Elliot Ackerman—former Marine infantry officer, CIA paramilitary operations officer, journalist, and bestselling author.

Elliot takes us inside some of the most intense moments of modern warfare, from the brutal urban combat of Fallujah in 2004 to special operations deployments in Afghanistan and later transitioning into the CIA. He walks us through a harrowing platoon-level fight where his unit was surrounded, badly wounded, and forced to blow their way out under fire—starting the day with 46 Marines and ending with just 21 combat effective.

But this conversation goes...

In this episode of Combat Story, we sit down with Azad, known overseas as "Mike," whose life represents one of the most extraordinary and unlikely journeys to come out of the post-9/11 wars.

Born Kurdish in Baghdad, Azad was still a child when the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq began. His first exposure to Americans didn't come from movies, television, or Western culture — it came from U.S. soldiers operating in his hometown, at a time when alliances were fragile and the cost of being seen as a collaborator could be fatal.

Driven by curiosity, su...

The Second Battle of Fallujah — also known as Operation Phantom Fury — was one of the most intense urban combat engagements fought by U.S. forces since Vietnam. In this gripping documentary, real Marines, soldiers, and corpsmen recount the chaos, courage, and sacrifice that defined Fallujah, Iraq, in November 2004.

This is not a scripted Hollywood war story. These are the firsthand voices of men who fought house to house, clearing buildings block by block in what became a defining moment of the Iraq War. Through raw interviews and authentic battlefield audio, this film captures the human side of mode...

This is an invite to watch the Premiere of a Combat Story special episode titled Dauntless Courage focused entirely on combat stories taking place during the Battle of Fallujah II.

To join the premiere later today, go to YouTube at https://youtu.be/iO0-BJXWWJE and click notify me. The Premiere starts on Nov 8 at 8pm EST / 5pm PST.

Ryan and AJ will be in the chat watching the video live with everyone, including other Marines who fought in Fallujah!

In this incredible episode, Mark Wales, a former Australian SAS officer, opens up about his military journey. From his initial days in the Australian infantry to transitioning into the elite Special Forces, Mark reflects on his most pivotal experiences, including dangerous combat missions and the mental and physical toll of war. He shares intimate details about his service, his motivation to join Special Forces, and the challenges of losing friends in combat.

Mark's story isn't just about the highs of military life; it's also about the realities, the struggles with PTSD, and the transition back to civilian...

Sponsored by Veterans Help Group — supporting veterans navigating VA benefits.

In this incredible, unconventional story, Nate reveals how he discovered his life's purpose by taking a radical leap of faith.

In 2004, feeling adrift and disturbed by the ongoing genocide in Darfur, Sudan, Nate knew he had to do something. Rejected by countless NGOs due to his lack of a college degree and "special skills," he refused to accept "no" for an answer.

With nothing but determination and a bold elevator pitch, he bought a plane ticket to Chad and found a way onto a...

🎖️ From Marine Sniper to Army Special Operations Veteran | Erick Miyares' Unbelievable Combat Story 🇺🇸. In this powerful episode, we sit down with Erick Miyares — a retired Special Operations soldier who began his journey in the U.S. Marine Corps and went on to serve in the Army's 7th Special Forces Group and an Army Special Missions Unit under U.S. SOCOM. Eric takes us deep into the realities of war, from the jungles of Central and South America to the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq. He opens up about taking a life, losing brothers, living with post-traumatic stress, and finding healing and p...

Marine Raider LtCol Ivan Ingraham (USMC, Ret.) takes us deep inside one of the most intense firefights of the Afghanistan War — when his convoy rolled into the Green Zone and an RPG bounced off the hood of his Humvee before exploding behind him.

In this unforgettable episode of Combat Story, Ivan shares what it really feels like when all hell breaks loose. From the chaos of a full-blown ambush to the calm, deliberate decisions that saved his Marines' lives, this story captures the courage, clarity, and leadership forged only through combat.

Ivan spent 24 years in th...

In this episode, we sit down with Ryan Fugit — former Army attack helicopter pilot, CIA Directorate of Operations officer, and host of Combat Story and Restricted Handling for an inside look at a life spent on the front lines of America's wars and intelligence operations.

Ryan shares raw and insightful stories from his time flying AH-64 Apache helicopters in Afghanistan and from his years conducting global operations with the CIA's Directorate of Operations. From the intensity of combat to the complexity of modern intelligence work, Ryan reflects on the lessons, challenges, and defining moments that shaped his ap...

✈️ A-10 Fighter Pilot Combat Story – Kim "Killer Chick" Campbell

In this episode, we sit down with Col. Kim "KC" Campbell (USAF, Ret.), a decorated A-10 Warthog pilot and true combat veteran. Known by her legendary call sign "Killer Chick," Kim shares her incredible story of surviving a surface-to-air missile strike over Baghdad and pulling off a harrowing emergency landing that few pilots could ever attempt. This is a raw, inspiring deep dive into leadership, resilience, and what it takes to fly and fight in one of the most iconic aircraft in U.S. Air Force history.

🎥 D...

In remembrance of the attacks on September 11th, 2001, we have a special guest on the show, and for the first time in our Combat Story community, we'd like to introduce Darin Kinder — Former Secret Service Agent • 9/11 Survivor.

Darin Kinder brings a rare blend of courage, clarity, and conviction from years spent navigating the world's most high-pressure moments. As a former Secret Service Agent and survivor of the 9/11 attacks, he uses his story to help individuals and leaders live with bold purpose and unwavering resilience.

Author of Bury Me in a Dirty Suit: Discovering Man's Valiant Purp...

This is the Podumentary with former guest Mike Sarraille, former Marine Recon and a SEAL Team leader who served 20 years in the special operations community, earning a Silver Star, multiple Bronze Stars with Valor, and more. He finished his career in the Teams with Naval Special Warfare Development Group (or DEVGRU).

Mike served in multiple leadership roles to include the Battles of Ramadi and Sadr City, to name just a few. Since retiring from service, Mike founded and is the CEO of Talent War Group, a specialized executive search firm and talent advisory; he’s co-author of ‘The...

🌍 Welcome to the RH Podcast! In this special preview, host Ryan Fugit sits down with Glenn Corn — a veteran of 34 years in the CIA, State Department, and U.S. Army. Glenn has served as a multi-time Chief of Station and senior intelligence officer, bringing decades of experience from the frontlines of national security and diplomacy.

🚨 Want to get the full episode?
This is just the beginning. Catch the rest of the conversation exclusively at
👉 https://restrictedhandling.com/youtube or head to our RH Spotify version here

Don't miss Glenn and Ryan's full take on geopolit...

Welcome to Combat Story. Today, I'm joined by retired Marine First Sergeant Randall Parkes—a parachute rigger in Recon, founding member of MARSOC, Drill Instructor extraordinaire, and now a leader in both real estate and defense tech—plus everyone's favorite podcaster, the man who started it all.., Ryan Fugit.

Randall's career spans from enlisting in July 2001 to a remarkable 20 years of service that took him to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa on four combat deployments. As a founding member of the 1st Marine Raider Battalion, he helped shape the early years of Marine Special Operations and was named MARS...

Welcome to Combat Story. For the first time, I'm joined by my new co-host AJ Pasciuti as we sit down with Will Bardenwerper—former 1-36 Infantry and Civil Affairs Officer, Princeton grad, and acclaimed author.

Will shares his journey from a finance career in Manhattan, inspired to serve after 9/11 and the example set by Pat Tillman, to boots on the ground in the Sunni Triangle during a 13-month deployment in 2006. He opens up about the realities of war, the loss of close friends, and the challenges of Civil Affairs in Iraq.

After the Army, Will be...

Get a daily intel brief delivered directly to your email (for free) covering all things Russia, China, Middle East, and more at https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ 

 In this episode of the RH Podcast, former CIA officer 🎖️ Ryan Fugit and multi-time Chief of Station Glenn Corn (34 years at CIA) break down the high-stakes Trump–Zelensky meetings in Washington, DC 🇺🇸 following Putin's Alaska summit 🇷🇺.

 👉 Here's what you'll learn:

🔹 Why Putin skipped a key lunch with U.S. Treasury & Commerce officials 🍽️

🔹 The hidden "carrot & stick" strategy behind Trump's negotiations 🥕🔨

🔹 What Russia really wants before agreeing to a ceasefire 🚫🕊️

In this unfiltered Combat Story episode, we go deep with Jason Lilley — Recon Marine, MARSOC Raider, CIA Global Response Staff, and co-creator of Savage Actual. Jason opens up about his path from a turbulent youth to serving in some of the most elite units in the U.S. military, facing the chaos of Iraq and Afghanistan, and building a new life as a creator and veteran advocate.

In this episode:

🎙️ Time-Sensitive RH Intel: Trump-Putin Alaska Summit Analysis 🌍🇺🇸🇷🇺

Join Ryan Fugit and Glenn, both seasoned former CIA officers 🕵️‍♂️, as they unpack the high-stakes Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska 🏔️—a pivotal moment for US-Russia relations and the Ukraine conflict. This timely episode dives deep into international diplomacy, geopolitical tensions, and the shifting dynamics of the global security landscape.

Get a daily intel brief delivered to your email at https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ to get a curated set of insights and reporting on Russia, China, Iran, the MIddle East and more from a national security perspective.

With decades of intelligence experience, Ry...

🔥 New Podcast Drop! This exclusive crossover episode introduces my brand-new show Restricted Handling 🔒 — hosted by me - Ryan Fugit - and former CIA Chief of Station Glenn Corn 🕵️‍♂️.

🎯 Combat Story fans — don't worry. That show will continue strong under decorated Marine Sniper & Recon Operator AJ Pasciuti 🦅. But if you crave deeper dives into intelligence, military operations, and high-stakes geopolitics, Restricted Handling is your new must-listen.

In the Intelligence Community, "Restricted Handling" refers to certain intel only shared with those who absolutely need it. Here, you'll get human-enabled + AI-powered daily briefings plus exclusive deep dives with former CIA offic...

Delta Force Veteran Derek Nadalini: Unfiltered Combat Stories, Hard Truths, & the Battle for Redemption

Step inside the untold world of America’s most elite warriors. In this explosive episode of Combat Story, we sit down with Derek Nadalini, a former Delta Force operator, veteran of Joint Special Operations Command, Army Ranger, and Navy serviceman, for a raw and riveting conversation about the realities of modern war and the fight to find peace after the guns go silent.

Check out our Newsletter

Derek Nadalini’s Journey:

This is a unique Combat Story and part of a new Podumentary series where we interview some of our fan favorite guests and go even deeper on the moments in combat that forged them. This week we have Tom Satterly, former Delta Force Sergeant Major whose first battle was in Operational Gothic Serpent (Black Hawk Down) and his last was some battlefield in the post-9/11 era. Many will recall our original interview with Tom on Episode #11.

Tom co-founded and runs the All Secure Foundation with his wife Jen. All Secure helps save vets who are dealing with...

Today we have a great interview with 24 year retired Marine and best selling author of Echo in Ramadi, Scott Huesing. Scott led the "magnificent bastards" of 2/4 Marines during one of the most brutal periods of the post-9/11 war from 2006 into 2007 during the Surge.

Scott went from self-described terrible high school student to enlisted Marine to Mustang (a Marine Officer who was formerly Enlisted), serving on 10 deployments in multiple countries. 

In this episode, Scott takes into an intense fight to extract several pinned down Marines that included bringing M1A1s along to losing his first c...

Today we have our second round interview with retired USASOC Sergeant Major Sean Hagerty. Sean retired only a few years ago after close to 25 years in service that included combat with the Ranger Regiment in both Afghanistan and Iraq followed by many years in the Tier 1 community. 

Sean is releasing his second book, Cabal, in the Dane Cooper series following the success of his first book Jones Point. We discussed Jones Point as well as some of Sean’s more direct combat experiences in our first round interview that you should definitely check out. 

The Dan...

Today we have a once in a lifetime interview with Medal of Honor recipient Ryan Pitts, who truly earned this prestigious award in the mountains of Afghanistan fighting off a very dedicated, organized, and determined enemy force. Ryan and I connected thanks to the National Medal of Honor Center for Leadership, a non-profit helping to share lessons of leadership from Medal of Honor recipients and the values they live by with people who lead at any level.

In this episode, we dive into Ryan's near death experiences (there are several) while downrange but we never venture far...

Today we have a fascinating Combat Story with Jake Harriman who is one of those guys who makes you feel incredibly lazy for not helping hungry people in Africa (seriously) and helping to heal the divide in America, one person at a time. It's no surprise that Jake served alongside Todd Opalski (who long time fans of the show will know as the enlisted Marine Sniper who became a Marine officer, Force Recon leader, and was then invited to serve in the most elite unit in the US Military). You can't help but do great things if you worked...