One Bullet Away

The Making of Marine Officer

By: Nathaniel Fick

Narrated by: Nathaniel Fick

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.

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)

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.

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

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!

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.

Great book on the war experience of a Marine

I really enjoyed this book. I recommend it to anyone interested in what our troops are currently experiencing. It helped me to understand what U.S. troops go through and how much they sacrifice. Great book for any military guru.

Helpful understanding

Very interesting and gives good insight to Marine life. Just wish Nathaniel had been a better narrator. Thank you for him and all our Marines - Semper Fi!

Great book

Great book, but this was abridged. Highly recommend listening and getting the whole book. Fick also does a great job narrating

Semper Fi Memories of the Corps.

puts the reader in the field!Makes the pride real. Finished it in one sitting. Outstanding!

OORAH MOTHER FUCKERS! GET SOME AND BE READY TO DIE

disregard my title, this is a great read for anyone trying to get a little bit of an understanding of what its like to be a marine officer

The reason I’m a Marine today!!

I read this book 1 year before enlisting in the Marine Corps. This when I depth of my overall experience so far during my time in service. I haven’t been to war. But in the dark times we are living today if me and my Marines find ourselves in combat I would reflect on this book and everything I was taught from the Marine Corps.