One Bullet Away Audiobook By Nathaniel Fick cover art

One Bullet Away

The Making of Marine Officer

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One Bullet Away

By: Nathaniel Fick
Narrated by: Nathaniel Fick
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About this listen

A former captain in the Marines' First Recon Battalion, who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq, reveals how the Corps trains its elite and offers a point-blank account of twenty-first-century battle.

If the Marines are "the few, the proud", Recon Marines are the fewest and the proudest. Only one Marine in a hundred qualifies for Recon, charged with working clandestinely, often behind enemy lines. Fick's training begins with a hellish summer at Quantico, after his junior year at Dartmouth, and advances to the pinnacle, Recon, four years later, on the eve of war with Iraq. Along the way, he learns to shoot a man a mile away, stays awake for 72 hours straight, endures interrogation and torture at the secretive SERE course, learns to swim with Navy SEALs, masters the Eleven Principles of Leadership, and much more.

His vast skill set puts him in front of the front lines, leading 22 Marines into the deadliest conflict since Vietnam. He vows he will bring all his men home safely, and to do so he'll need more than his top-flight education. He'll need luck and an increasingly clear vision of the limitations of his superiors and the missions they assign him.

Fick unveils the process that makes Marine officers such legendary leaders and shares his hard-won insights into the differences between the military ideals he learned and military practice, which can mock those ideals. One Bullet Away never shrinks from blunt truths, but it is an ultimately inspiring account of mastering the art of war.

©2005 Nathaniel Fick (P)2005 Simon & Schuster Inc. All rights reserved. AUDIOWORKS is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division.
Military Military & War Wars & Conflicts War Veteran Inspiring

Critic reviews

"Candid and fast-paced....Like the best combat memoirs, Fick's focuses on the men doing the fighting and avoids...sensationalism." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about One Bullet Away

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Captures both the heroism and frustration

If you're looking for support of your view on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, this is not the book to find it. Rather it is a compelling listen from a dedicated Marine who begins his career with idealistic patriotism, and sees it morphed into a love of his comrades. You'll witness the journey from gung-ho officer candidate to combat leader to sober veteran. I finished this book with a greater appreciation for the dedication and sacrifice we ask of our military men and women, not only in terms of the risk to their lives, but the cost to them after their part in the wars are over. This book toned my political rhetoric down a few notches and it just might yours.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Training of USMC Officer an combat leadership

Very well written book about the expectations, requirements and responsibilities of USMC Officer's in combat and here at home in USA.!!!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 #GoMarines

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    5 out of 5 stars

Moving

As I apply to Marine OCS, this give me a quick insight on what to expect while there. Also, he does a great job portraying what TBS is like as well as infantry officer school. Definitely worth the read/listen!

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    5 out of 5 stars

Simply amazing!

As a retired Marine Officer, I’ve read this story, but listening to him via audiobook is the way to go!

I don’t know if the author actually reads these reviews; I wanted to thank him for sharing his story. I’ve never met Nathaniel Fick, but I’ve served with many he knew from 1st Reconnaissance Bn.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Eye opening

Wonderful book. Easy to put yourself in the authors shoes, helped me further understand and respect close friends who recently returned from deployment

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Excellent

I was recommended this book by a friend who is a Marine. Great book. It was awesome.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed it on a long drive

It's a pretty interesting read. I enjoyed the authors candor. I Wish it wasn't abridged.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Inspirational

I'm leaving for OCS in 10 weeks and am grateful for this book. I appreciate the heads up of what to expect when I get there. Very humanizing book too.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An actuaMarine story about the job without the bluster.

A true and clear synopsis of the journey from an 03 trained warrior and gentlemen. A delight to listen as the journey begins until release from active duty.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Intelligent and compassionate close account

Nate’s personal account was so human and insightful. His love of history so eloquently laid down over a messy world marked by historical suffering in Iraq, a place marked by strong arm leaders. America’s leap into this arena had a tiny chance of making it better if executed well. Nate’s account on the ground offers insight into the challenges of accomplishing good with the blunt instruments of war.

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