Four career Marine scout snipers packed into one room, no script, no agenda — and what comes out of it is some of the funniest, most specific war stories you'll hear all year, sitting right next to a dead-serious reckoning with what their own community did to itself.

AJ Pasciuti sits down with three of his closest friends from the sniper and reconnaissance world — Mic Skinta, Roland LeBlanc, and Dagan Van Oosten — four storied careers in one conversation. Combined, this is decades in the Marine Corps sniper community: schoolhouses, deployments, instructor duty, and the fight to keep the program alive. As AJ puts it going in: some of it gets serious, most of it doesn't, and it's a solid few hours of the guys doing what they're actually best at.

That means this one runs the full range. Stories that only make sense to the four people who lived them — getting "hugged" in the sniper school stalking lanes, a prank war that turned an officers' briefing upside down, a care package of garage-sale He-Man toys that became a running joke on an FOB in Afghanistan for weeks. And then, without ever losing the room's energy, a real conversation about the three-star ultimatum that nearly ended Marine Corps sniper school, why they saved it, why it got cut anyway, and why they see the same pattern playing out with the Corps's scout program today. It closes on the case all four of them actually believe: invest in the person holding the rifle, not just the gear in their hands.

Chapters: 0:00 Cold open 1:01 Meet the Four Horsemen 2:26 Pig hugging: sniper school stories begin 29:46 A He-Man care package to Afghanistan 35:28 The BRC prank wars 44:16 The three-star ultimatum that could've killed sniper school 52:09 Rebuilding the course — and winning it back 59:30 What stalking never actually tested 1:06:44 How the sniper community wrote its own ending 1:35:28 Building the Infantry Marine Course 1:39:06 The refrigerator that said everything 1:45:29 Budget, standards, and the Ranger comparison 2:02:09 Today's fight: GRC, ARC, and a fear for recon's future 2:19:18 Invest in the human, not just the gear 2:20:07 Train smarter, not harder 2:28:26 Have we lost yet? 2:31:41 Closing thoughts

Guest Information — Dagan Van Oosten Dagan "Hoot" Van Oosten is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Reconnaissance Marine, and former Scout Sniper who deployed to Iraq before spending more than a decade in federal contracting supporting U.S. government operations overseas, including as a contractor for the CIA. Today he's an entrepreneur and co-founder of Nomadic Research, where he also hosts the Nomadic Research Podcast.

Find Dagan online: Nomadic Research: https://nomadicresearch.com/ Nomadic Research Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@nomadic-research-podcast Nomadic Research Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomadic_research_podcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dagan_van_oosten/

Guest Information — Mic Skinta Mic Skinta enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1995 and spent nearly three decades in the scout sniper community — sniper team leader, platoon sergeant, platoon commander, and instructor at Scout Sniper Instructor School and Scout Sniper School Kaneohe Bay — before being selected for the Marine Gunner Program and commissioning as an Infantry Weapons Officer. He deployed in support of Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Inherent Resolve (Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and Kuwait), closing out his career as Regimental Gunner at School of Infantry West before retiring in 2022. His decorations include the Legion of Merit and the Combat Action Ribbon with two stars. He's now Senior Business Development Manager, military division, at Ultimate Training Munitions.

Guest Information — Roland LeBlanc Roland LeBlanc served 20 years in the Marine Corps as a Reconnaissance Marine and Scout Sniper, including a stretch with 1st Force Reconnaissance Company as a Point Man and Scout Sniper. During a 2010 deployment to Afghanistan he was awarded two Purple Hearts and a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with "V" for valor. He went on to instruct at Recon Training Company and I MEF Special Operations Training Group, serve as a Platoon Sergeant with 2nd Force Reconnaissance Battalion, and work overseas as a senior advisor to Dutch special operations forces, earning the Meritorious Service Medal. He retired as a Master Sergeant in 2026 and is now in outside sales at MATBOCK.

Host Information — AJ Pasciuti AJ Pasciuti is a retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Infantry Weapons Officer (Marine Gunner), author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, and host of the Combat Story Podcast, where veterans and extraordinary individuals share honest, unfiltered stories of combat, survival, leadership, and life after adversity.

Find AJ online: Darkhorse: https://www.ajpasciuti.com/book Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelo-pasciuti/ Website: https://www.ajpasciuti.com/

Andrew Sullivan led an Army infantry platoon through two tours in Iraq and commanded a company in Afghanistan — and says his own interpreter carried more risk, and more of the war, than he ever did. Today Andrew runs No One Left Behind, fighting to get America's wartime allies home before it's too late.

Andrew commissioned as an infantry officer out of Virginia Military Institute and served over nine years in the U.S. Army, deploying twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan, with a later posting to Latvia as tensions rose with Russia. He led a rifle platoon through a leadership crisis in Iraq's Mesan Province, ran the drawdown at Al Assad Air Base, and commanded a company working alongside the Afghan National Army in Zabul Province — where he grew close with his interpreter, Amodi, and first learned what the Special Immigrant Visa program actually promises the people who serve beside American troops. He's been fighting for that promise ever since: first as legislative director at With Honor Action, now as executive director of No One Left Behind.

The conversation covers Andrew's path to service after 9/11, Ranger School and where Army and Marine Corps training genuinely differ, the leadership mistake he says he still hasn't forgiven himself for, two deployments to Iraq — including the unglamorous work of shutting down a forward operating base — and a company command in Afghanistan defined by firefights, IEDs, and a 250-lb bomb that landed in the middle of six Afghan soldiers without detonating. It closes on the work he does now: what the SIV program actually requires, why it's stalled, and what's at stake for the tens of thousands of interpreters and soldiers still waiting on America's word.

Learn more or support the mission:

• Website: Nooneleft.org
• Donate: https://give.nooneleft.org/CombatStory

Guest Information — Andrew Sullivan

Andrew Sullivan served over nine years as a U.S. Army Infantry Officer, deploying twice to Iraq and once each to Afghanistan and Latvia. After leaving active duty, he became Executive Director of No One Left Behind, a nonprofit fighting to get Special Immigrant Visas issued to the Afghan and Iraqi interpreters and allies who risked their lives serving alongside U.S. forces. Under his leadership, NOLB has helped drive an approved backlog of more than 30,000 allies forward while operating almost entirely on private funding — the program currently receives $0 in direct government support. Sullivan continues to push for the visas, resettlement support, and follow-through the U.S. promised the people who fought beside it.

Find Andrew online:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-sullivan-a2a97755/
• NOLB LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-one-left-behind
• NOLB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoOneLeftBehindUS
• NOLB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nooneleftbehindus/
• NOLB YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGYfopN1o2D79z2xsWeyKnA/videos

Host Information — AJ Pasciuti

AJ Pasciuti is a retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Infantry Weapons Officer (Marine Gunner) with 21 years of service and multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is the author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life and the host and creator of the Combat Story Podcast, where veterans share honest, unfiltered stories of service, leadership, combat experience, and life after war. Through Combat Story, AJ's mission is to capture the real moments that shaped warriors—not invented drama, but the specific incidents and choices that define character—and to honor the lineage and lessons of military service.

Find AJ online:

• Book (Darkhorse): https://ajpasciuti.com/darkhorse
• Website: https://www.ajpasciuti.com
• Instagram: @ajpasciuti

Chapters: 0:00 – Cold open 1:52 – Introduction 3:54 – What called him to service, and 9/11 18:49 – Virginia Military Institute 23:16 – Commissioning and infantry training 27:40 – Ranger School 50:04 – First duty station and a last-minute orders swap 58:43 – First Iraq deployment begins 1:00:00 – A platoon's entire leadership gets fired 1:14:00 – The "manifesto" email — and the lesson that followed 1:27:00 – Second Iraq deployment: shutting down Al Assad Air Base 1:36:00 – Coming home 1:44:00 – Afghanistan: company command in Zabul Province 2:08:00 – The JDAM that didn't go off 2:25:00 – Meeting Amodi and what he learned about real sacrifice 2:30:00 – Inside the Special Immigrant Visa program 2:54:00 – How to help No One Left Behind

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Gunnery Sergeant Timothy Colomer was a decorated EOD technician in Iraq when a daisy-chain IED detonated directly beneath his truck. The blast broke his helmet in half. It should have sent him home. Instead, he made a choice that defined his character—he stayed deployed to lead his team.

But the war wasn't over when the deployment ended. Back home, Timothy faced something harder than combat: uncontrollable rage, traumatic brain injury, and the struggle to find purpose. Then, unexpectedly, he picked up a paintbrush.

In this episode, AJ sits down with Timothy to explore his unlikely journey from bombs to canvas—and how a single painting of a female warrior reconnected a suicidal Marine with her daughter, leading her to therapy, recovery, and reconnection with her family. Timothy shares how his art went viral on cruise ships, how his work will be etched into marble at the Marine Corps EOD Monument at Quantico, and what it means when the tools that kept you alive in war become tools that destroy you in peace.

This is a story about transformation, the power of vulnerability, and finding a new way to serve.

Guest Information — Timothy Colomer

Gunnery Sergeant Timothy Colomer is a retired U.S. Marine EOD Technician who served multiple deployments including one combat deployment in Iraq. On December 11, 2006, he sustained severe blast injuries from a daisy-chain IED that fractured his helmet and caused traumatic brain injury—yet chose to remain deployed to lead his team. After leaving active duty, Colomer transitioned to professional artist, using his work to process trauma and support fellow veterans. His paintings have reconnected suicidal Marines with their families, gone viral globally, and will be permanently etched into marble on the EOD Obelisk at the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, Virginia (unveiling May 2027).

Find Timothy online: Art Portfolio: www.littledogartstudios.com Instagram: @littledogartstudioshouston

Host Information — AJ Pasciuti

AJ Pasciuti is a retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Infantry Weapons Officer (Marine Gunner) with 21 years of service and multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is the author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life and the host and creator of the Combat Story Podcast, where veterans share honest, unfiltered stories of service, leadership, combat experience, and life after war. Through Combat Story, AJ's mission is to capture the real moments that shaped warriors—not invented drama, but the specific incidents and choices that define character—and to honor the lineage and lessons of military service.

Find AJ online: Book (Darkhorse): https://ajpasciuti.com/darkhorse Website: https://www.ajpasciuti.com Instagram: @ajpasciuti LinkedIn: /angelo-pasciuti Combat Story Podcast: https://combatstory.com

Alex Lemons survived the Battle of An Najaf without a scratch from the enemy — and nearly died from friendly fire instead, when a young Marine mistook him for an insurgent and put six rounds past him from fifteen yards away.

This is Part 2 with Alex Lemons, a former Marine Scout Sniper, Iraq War veteran, and co-author of Warbody with environmental historian Joshua Howe. We pick up in Najaf and Fallujah in 2004, follow Alex through two more deployments including a year advising Iraqi and Polish forces under General Petraeus, and then get into why he and Josh wrote the book: the case that concussions, PTSD, and toxic exposure — lead, burn pits, contaminated water at Camp Lejeune — compound on each other in ways the military has never fully accounted for, and what that means for how we treat veterans of every generation who've served since.

This one's long, and it's worth sitting with. Especially if you've served, or you're close to someone who has.

Subscribe and follow Combat Story wherever you listen.

Guest Information — Alexander Lemons

Alexander Lemons is a former U.S. Marine Scout Sniper and Bronze Star recipient who served multiple combat deployments during the Iraq War, including Nasiriyah and Fallujah. He is the co-author of War Body: A Marine Sniper and the Hidden Violence of Modern Warfare, a powerful look at the hidden physical and psychological costs of combat and what war leaves behind long after the shooting stops.

War Body: https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324066330 Featured Article: https://www.hcn.org/issues/57-2/a-veteran-transforms-a-legacy-of-violence-into-a-campaign-for-restoration/

Host Information — AJ Pasciuti

AJ Pasciuti is a retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Infantry Weapons Officer (Marine Gunner), author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, and host of the Combat Story Podcast, where veterans share honest, unfiltered stories of service, leadership, and life after combat.

Find AJ online: Book (Darkhorse): https://ajpasciuti.com/darkhorse Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelo-pasciuti/ Website: https://www.ajpasciuti.com/

Chapters 0:00 – One round, twelve inches from his face 2:37 – Chasing a flyer into the sniper platoon 13:14 – A guerrilla war nobody upstairs would admit to 17:29 – Sniper school, and the partner he lost before he ever deployed 48:38 – Into the Battle of An Najaf 58:36 – The 1,600-yard shot, and the tank he had to call in 1:12:17 – Losing Sergeant Rochas — then almost losing himself to his own side 1:22:45 – Two stories through a roof: the injury that started the clock 1:26:16 – A second deployment, and leadership that nearly got them killed 1:41:19 – Walking away from the Corps to advise generals in Iraq 1:50:26 – Coming home to a Marine Corps — and a body — that didn't fit anymore 2:00:24 – The anorexia, and the lead he didn't know he was wearing 2:44:37 – Three forces: concussions, PTSD, and toxicants 3:19:47 – "The war is continuing in everybody's body"

He thought he was accepting a routine IT contract.

Instead, Peter Moore disappeared into captivity for 946 days.

In 2007, British IT consultant Peter Moore traveled to Baghdad believing he would be helping rebuild Iraq's Ministry of Finance from the safety of the Green Zone. Days after arriving, he and four British security contractors were kidnapped by an Iranian-backed militia.

Peter would spend the next 946 days as a hostage.

For more than two and a half years, he endured isolation, psychological torture, repeated mock executions, and the daily uncertainty of whether he would ever see his family again. The four men kidnapped alongside him never made it home.

This is Peter Moore's only long-form interview about his captivity.

In this extraordinary conversation, Peter shares the full story—from accepting what he thought was a routine overseas contract to surviving one of the longest hostage ordeals of the Iraq War. He reflects on the mindset that carried him through captivity, the routines that kept him alive, the power of hope and humor in the darkest moments, and what it means to rebuild a life after unimaginable trauma.

This isn't simply a story about being held hostage.

It's a conversation about resilience, perspective, and the extraordinary strength of the human spirit.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Peter Realizes He's Been Kidnapped 02:00 Introduction 03:02 Peter Moore's Background 10:14 The IT Contract That Changed Everything 15:11 Why He Accepted a Job in Baghdad 25:52 Arriving in Iraq 32:39 Day One in the Green Zone 40:28 The Kidnapping Begins 53:37 Life as a Hostage 1:06:58 The Mock Execution That Changed Everything 1:15:47 Deciding to Survive 1:27:41 Building Routines to Stay Alive 1:44:26 The Interrogations 1:58:11 Humor as a Survival Tool 2:10:54 Learning the Fate of the Other Hostages 2:24:37 The Day He Was Released 2:39:15 Returning Home After 946 Days 2:46:22 The British Embassy & The First Taste of Freedom 2:52:18 Life After Captivity 3:00:46 Final Reflections on Survival & Resilience

Guest — Peter Moore

Peter Moore is a British IT consultant who traveled to Iraq in 2007 to support reconstruction efforts following the Iraq War. Just days after arriving in Baghdad, he and four British security contractors were kidnapped by an Iranian-backed militia. Peter spent 946 days in captivity before being released in December 2009, making him one of the longest-held Western civilian hostages of the Iraq War. Today, he speaks about resilience, survival, and the mindset that carried him through one of the most extraordinary hostage experiences of the 21st century.

Host — AJ Pasciuti

AJ Pasciuti is a retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Infantry Weapons Officer (Marine Gunner), author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, and host of the Combat Story Podcast, where veterans and extraordinary individuals share honest, unfiltered stories of combat, leadership, resilience, and life after adversity.

Find AJ Online:

Darkhorse: https://www.ajpasciuti.com/book Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelo-pasciuti/ Website: https://www.ajpasciuti.com/

About Combat Story

Combat Story is a podcast featuring authentic, long-form conversations with veterans, intelligence professionals, first responders, and remarkable individuals whose experiences offer lessons in leadership, resilience, and service. Every episode goes beyond the headlines to explore the human stories behind extraordinary events.

Follow Combat Story wherever you listen to podcasts, and join us every other Sunday for conversations that preserve history, inspire leadership, and remind us what people are truly capable of when everything is on the line.

What happens after the writing is done and the book has to face the world?

Nearly two months after the release of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, the microphone changes hands.

Combat Story founder Ryan Fugit returns to interview current host AJ Pasciuti in a candid conversation recorded in New York City just days after the launch of Darkhorse. Together, they reflect on the journey from manuscript to publication, the emotional weight of sharing deeply personal stories, and why the mission has always been bigger than a single book.

The conversation explores the lessons behind Darkhorse, the Marines and mentors who shaped AJ's life, the realities of publishing a memoir, and the future of Combat Story as a community dedicated to preserving the stories of those who have served while inspiring leadership, resilience, and service beyond the military.

Whether you've been with Combat Story since Ryan hosted the show or recently discovered it through AJ, this special episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes conversation about where Combat Story began, how it has evolved, and where it's headed next.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro 02:46 The Fear of Publishing a Memoir 04:46 Arnold Schwarzenegger's Endorsement 07:50 Writing a Memoir Without Sounding Like a Narcissist 10:20 Breaking Into Publishing 12:02 Who Is Darkhorse For? 13:50 Fact-Checked by the Director of the Marine Corps Museum 18:35 Cold Calling the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps 20:20 The Weight of Carrying Combat Story 22:10 The Desert Storm Podumentary 25:36 The Darkhorse Ethos 34:14 Reading the Comments After the Big Podcasts 36:10 The Push Behind Darkhorse 38:22 Ryan's New Podcast: Restricted Handling 40:07 Ryan Reveals His Book

AJ Pasciuti

AJ Pasciuti is a retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Infantry Weapons Officer (Marine Gunner), author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, and host of the Combat Story Podcast, where veterans share honest, unfiltered stories of service, leadership, and life after combat.

Find AJ Online:

📕 Darkhorse: https://www.ajpasciuti.com/book 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelo-pasciuti/ 🌐 Website: https://www.ajpasciuti.com/

Ryan Fugit

Ryan Fugit is the founder of Combat Story, a former U.S. Army AH-64 Apache pilot, former CIA Operations Officer, and host of Restricted Handling, where he explores geopolitics, intelligence, and national security with experts from around the world.

Find Ryan Online:

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-fugit 🎙️ Restricted Handling: https://www.restrictedhandling.com

Follow Combat Story wherever you listen to podcasts, and join us for new episodes every other Sunday.

What does it take to lead one of the largest air assault operations in military history?

Retired Army Colonel Frank Hancock joins Combat Story to share a firsthand account of planning and executing the historic 101st Airborne Division air assault during Operation Desert Storm. From intelligence preparation and mission planning to leadership under fire and the evolution of Army doctrine after Vietnam, Frank provides an inside look at one of America's defining military campaigns.

AJ and Frank also discuss mission command, the role of intelligence in combat, how military leaders make decisions in uncertain environments, and why the lessons of Desert Storm continue to shape modern warfare today.

Whether you're interested in military history, Army aviation, leadership, or Special Operations, this conversation offers valuable insights from someone who helped lead one of the most significant operations of the Gulf War.

In This Episode

• Frank Hancock's journey into Army Aviation
• Rebuilding the Army after Vietnam
• Planning the 101st Airborne's Desert Storm air assault
• Intelligence failures—and successes—that saved lives
• Leadership under extreme pressure
• Mission command and decentralized decision-making
• Lessons from Desert Storm for today's leaders

This episode is part of Combat Story, where veterans and leaders share the experiences that shaped them in combat and beyond.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction 02:34 Frank Hancock's path into Army Aviation 09:42 Learning leadership as a young officer 17:26 Building the 101st Airborne after Vietnam 27:11 Preparing for Operation Desert Shield 38:54 Planning the largest air assault of Desert Storm 52:37 Intelligence that changed the mission 1:05:48 Launching deep into Iraq 1:18:42 Leadership under uncertainty 1:31:57 Mission command and battlefield decision-making 1:44:23 Lessons from Desert Storm that still matter today 1:57:36 Advice for the next generation of leaders 2:05:18 Final thoughts

Guest — Frank Hancock Retired U.S. Army intelligence officer, Desert Storm veteran, and author of Operation Desert Storm: How Two Young Intelligence Analysts and an Infantry Battalion Changed the War in Iraq. Frank brings firsthand experience from one of the most successful military campaigns in modern history, offering a rare insider perspective on intelligence, leadership, and warfare.

📘 Operation Desert Storm https://www.amazon.com/dp/1036130437

✍️ Signed Copies https://www.whistlestopbookshop.com/operation-desert-storm

📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579963121498

Host — AJ Pasciuti Retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Marine Gunner, author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, and host of Combat Story.

📕 Darkhorse https://ajpasciuti.com/Darkhorse

📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti/

🔗 Website https://www.ajpasciuti.com/

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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 moments in modern history.

What he finds at Gitmo surprises him.

Despite the world standing on the edge of nuclear war, Steele sees defensive preparations that fall far short of what he expected. The experience reinforces one of his lifelong lessons: reconnaissance means seeing for yourself.

The episode then follows Steele to the Dominican Republic during Operation Power Pack, where U.S. forces intervened during the Dominican Civil War. There, Steele serves as an aerial observer, helps locate a hidden enemy tank, calls in fires, and reflects on the poverty, instability, and human suffering beneath the larger Cold War struggle.

This chapter of Reconnaissance Man is about initiative, risk, Cold War tension, and the instincts of a Marine reconnaissance officer who was never content to stay on the sidelines.

CHAPTERS

00:00 The Cuban Missile Crisis Begins 01:44 Introducing James "Jim" Steele 03:01 A Hard-Charging Marine Instructor 07:29 Sneaking into Guantanamo Bay 11:20 Life Inside Gitmo During the Missile Crisis 13:53 What Steele Found Defending Guantanamo 16:52 Cold War Technology and Burst Communications 17:56 The Cuban Missile Crisis Comes to an End 19:43 The Court-Martial That Never Happened 21:40 Operation Power Pack Begins 24:23 Deploying to the Dominican Republic 27:58 Hunting an Enemy Tank from the Air 31:53 The Reality Behind the Headlines 34:17 Fighting Poverty, Not Just Rebels 36:02 How the Dominican Civil War Ended 36:54 Episode 3 Preview: Back to Vietnam

Created by investigative journalist Ashly McGlone in collaboration with the Marine Reconnaissance Foundation (MRF), and visually brought to life by Combat Story, Reconnaissance Man is a nine-part limited series following Steele's extraordinary 30-year military career through Vietnam, the Cold War, and beyond.

🎙️ Guest — James Lyle Steele

James Lyle Steele is a retired U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel whose 30-year career carried him through Vietnam, the Cold War, and beyond. A member of the original generation of Marine reconnaissance men, Steele's story offers a rare firsthand look at war, survival, and service across decades of American military history.

Ashly McGlone is an investigative journalist and the creator of Reconnaissance Man. As Steele's granddaughter, she pairs reporting, narration, and historical context with family connection to bring his extraordinary story to life with depth and care.

🔗 Find Reconnaissance Man and Ashly McGlone Online:

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reconnaissanceman/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashlyreports/ ✖️ X (Reconnaissance Man): https://x.com/ReconManPod ✖️ X (Ashly McGlone): https://x.com/AshlyReports

🎙️ Host — AJ Pasciuti

AJ Pasciuti is a retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Infantry Weapons Officer (Marine Gunner), author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, and host of the Combat Story Podcast, where veterans share honest, unfiltered stories of service, leadership, and life after combat.

🔗 Find AJ Online:

📕 Darkhorse: https://www.ajpasciuti.com/Darkhorse 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti/ 📘 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelo-pasciuti/ 🔗 Website: https://www.ajpasciuti.com/

🔔 Watch. Listen. Follow.

If you value real stories and honest perspectives from those who lived it, follow Combat Story wherever you get your podcasts.

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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 Officer 4, former Green Beret, former U.S. Foreign Service Political Officer, military historian, and author James Stejskal to explore the little-known story of Special Forces Detachment A Berlin, a classified Cold War unit tasked with operating behind Soviet lines in the event World War III broke out.

James shares his journey from Nebraska to the 82nd Airborne, Special Forces selection, and 10th Special Forces Group before pulling back the curtain on life inside divided Berlin. He explains how Green Berets prepared for sabotage missions, resistance operations, intelligence gathering, clandestine identities, and counterterrorism missions while surrounded by Soviet and East German forces.

Along the way, we discuss Cold War espionage, unconventional warfare, the evolution of Special Forces after Vietnam, early counterterrorism operations before Delta Force, and the lessons modern operators can learn from a generation that spent decades preparing for a conflict that never came.

This is a fascinating look at one of the most secretive units in Special Forces history and the men who stood ready to fight World War III from behind enemy lines.

In This Episode:

• Growing up in Nebraska and joining the Army
• 82nd Airborne and Special Forces selection
• Robin Sage and earning the Green Beret
• 10th Special Forces Group
• Special Forces Detachment A Berlin
• Cold War espionage and clandestine operations
• Sabotage plans against Warsaw Pact targets
• Counterterrorism before Delta Force
• Life behind the Berlin Wall
• Military history, writing, and preserving hidden stories

Guest: James Stejskal

James Stejskal is a retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4, former Green Beret, former U.S. Foreign Service Political Officer, military historian, conflict archaeologist, and author of 12 books.

He served 23 years in U.S. Army Special Forces and special mission units before continuing his government service overseas. He is the author of Special Forces Berlin: Clandestine Cold War Operations of the US Army's Elite, Masters of Mayhem, and The Snake Eater Chronicles Cold War espionage series.

Website: https://www.jamesstejskalauthor.com

Host: AJ Pasciuti

Retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Marine Gunner, author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, and host of Combat Story.

Darkhorse: https://ajpasciuti.com/book Website: https://www.ajpasciuti.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction 01:08 Meet James Stejskal 05:35 Growing Up in Nebraska 13:42 Becoming a Green Beret 24:10 Life in 10th Special Forces Group 34:22 The Road to Berlin 44:05 Special Forces Detachment A 56:48 Inside Cold War Berlin 1:08:14 Preparing for World War III 1:18:37 Sabotage and Unconventional Warfare 1:28:21 Espionage and Tradecraft 1:39:52 Resistance Networks Behind Enemy Lines 1:49:46 Counterterrorism Before Delta Force 2:00:33 The Soviet Threat 2:10:18 Lessons from the Cold War 2:18:55 From Green Beret to Historian 2:26:48 Preserving Hidden History 2:34:10 Leadership and Service 2:41:30 Final Thoughts

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 leadership lessons he learned in uniform, how military experience shaped his approach to business, and why veterans often possess unique advantages as entrepreneurs and leaders.

The conversation also explores startup failures, venture capital, the founding of Moonshots Capital, and the importance of backing mission-driven founders who can thrive in uncertain environments.

Throughout the discussion, Kelly offers practical insights on leadership, resilience, accountability, and what it takes to build successful teams both inside and outside the military.

In this episode, we discuss:

• West Point and Army leadership development
• Ranger School and lessons in perseverance
• Winning The Apprentice Season 2
• Transitioning from military service to business
• Entrepreneurship, startups, and failure
• Building Moonshots Capital
• Investing in veteran-led companies
• Leadership under pressure
• The value veterans bring to the private sector
• Creating impact after military service

Whether you're a veteran navigating transition, an entrepreneur building a company, or simply interested in leadership and personal growth, Kelly's story offers valuable lessons from both the military and business worlds.

Chapters

00:00 Leadership Wins Everywhere 01:12 Meet Kelly Perdew: West Point, Ranger & Apprentice Winner 06:22 Why Military Leadership Translates to Business 12:54 Choosing West Point and the Path to Service 23:23 Ranger School and Learning to Embrace Hardship 29:56 UCLA, Entrepreneurship & Building His First Startup 48:10 Inside The Apprentice: How Kelly Won Season 2 58:39 From Reality TV to Venture Capital 1:05:42 The ID.me Story and Betting on Veteran Founders 1:18:23 Building Moonshots Capital 1:30:29 Why Veterans Make Exceptional Entrepreneurs 1:35:46 Transitioning Out of the Military Successfully 1:41:14 Leadership, Service & Leaving a Legacy 1:45:56 Final Advice for Veterans and Founders

🎙️ Guest — Kelly Perdew

West Point graduate, Army Ranger, entrepreneur, author, winner of *The Apprentice* Season 2, and co-founder of Moonshots Capital. Kelly has spent his career leading teams in the military, building and scaling companies, investing in founders, and helping veterans successfully transition into business and entrepreneurship.

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyperdew

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyperdew

𝕏: https://x.com/kperdew

🚀 Moonshots Capital: https://moonshotscapital.com

📘 Book — Take Command: Leadership Principles from the Military to Business:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1596980001

🎙️ Host — AJ Pasciuti

Retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Marine Gunner, author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, and host of Combat Story.

📕 Darkhorse: https://ajpasciuti.com/Darkhorse

📸 AJ Pasciuti Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti

🔗 Website: https://www.ajpasciuti.com