DiscoverCombat StoryHe Couldn't Get Hired, So He Bought a Plane Ticket to Darfur | Finding Purpose Before the Military
He Couldn't Get Hired, So He Bought a Plane Ticket to Darfur | Finding Purpose Before the Military

He Couldn't Get Hired, So He Bought a Plane Ticket to Darfur | Finding Purpose Before the Military

Update: 2025-10-25
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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 UN flight to the refugee camps. Despite being interrogated by local authorities, Nate's perseverance paid off, and he was put to work—an experience that transformed his life in ways he never imagined.

This powerful, two-month journey ignited Nate's passion for service and ultimately led him to enlist in the U.S. military. A must-listen story about the warrior spirit, rising to the occasion in a time of crisis, and choosing action over complacency.

 

🎙️ About Ryan Fugit:

Ryan is the creator and host of Combat Story, a podcast that captures the firsthand accounts of combat veterans, and Restricted Handling, which explores authoritarian activity and international security through conversations with world-class experts. Check out the Retricted Handling podcast at www.restrictedhandling.com

🔔 Subscribe for more interviews with military veterans, intelligence professionals, and leaders shaping the future of national security.

 

 

Find AJ Online:

📸Instagram:   / ajpasciuti

📘 LinkedIn:   / angelo-pasciuti

 🔗Personal Website & Book Pre-Order ("Darkhorse"): https://www.ajpasciuti.com/

👉Combat Story Podcast (Part 1 – USMC Sniper & Force Recon in Fallujah):
 https://open.spotify.com/episode/4aqn

👉Combat Story Podcast (Part 2 – Sniper vs Sniper Battle):
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast

👉Urban Valor Facebook Feature:
  / 602000529075284

👉DVIDS Video on Infantry Marine Course:
https://www.nationalguard.mil/Leaders


Find Ryan Online:

🎙️ Ryan's Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory

🔗Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats

🛒 Email ryan@combatstory.com

📸 Instagram @combatstory   / combatstory

📘 Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial

Check out the Retricted Handling podcast at www.restrictedhandling.com

📖 Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial

✔ Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus

🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle


📘 Chapters:

00:00 Introduction
00:30  Nate's Journey to Darfur
02:10  Challenges and Experiences in Darfur
04:30  Joining the Military: From Darfur to the Army
14:49  Family Reactions and Early Military Days
29:25  Special Forces Training and Deployment
35:04  Reflecting on Physical Fitness and Aging
36:26  Deployment to Iraq: A Journey Through History
38:19  Experiences and Challenges in Iraq
40:36  The Complexities of War and Foreign Policy
46:34  First Missions and Initial Encounters
57:49  Training and Selection of Iraqi Soldiers
01:03:41  Balancing Military Service and College Football
01:06:47  Internships Abroad and Early Deployments
01:07:01  Experiences in Afghanistan
01:07:17  Combat Encounters and Reflections
01:09:36  Returning Home and Transitioning to Football
01:10:10  Balancing Military and Football
01:11:02  Challenges of Transitioning from Military to Civilian Life
01:23:19  Veterans Help Group and Support Systems
01:28:09  Merging Vets and Players (MVP) Initiative
01:33:05  Personal Reflections and Future Plans
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He Couldn't Get Hired, So He Bought a Plane Ticket to Darfur | Finding Purpose Before the Military

He Couldn't Get Hired, So He Bought a Plane Ticket to Darfur | Finding Purpose Before the Military