Marine Sniper Turned Special Ops: The Untold Story of Eric Ez Miyares
About This Episode
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 purpose after decades in the shadows.
This is more than a combat story — it’s about resilience, identity, and redemption. Eric’s transition from elite soldier to PhD student in Cyber Psychology shows how warriors continue to serve even after the battlefield.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
The truth about life inside Special Operations How elite warriors process trauma and rebuild What it’s like to order a kinetic strike — and live with it Lessons in discipline, humility, and healing from a 30-year veteran The mindset of those who operate in the world’s most dangerous environments
About Eric Ez Miyares: Retired U.S. Army Special Operations veteran Former Marine Corps sniper Served in Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Afghanistan, Iraq, and beyond Now a PhD candidate in Cyber Psychology, studying cognitive resilience Advocate for mental health and veterans’ reintegration
Support & Resources:
If you or someone you know is struggling with post-traumatic stress, reach out for help. You are not alone.
Visit VeteransHelpGroup.com or call (855) 231-6144.
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 Erick Miyares:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erick-miyares/
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):
Combat Story Podcast (Part 2 – Sniper vs Sniper Battle):
Urban Valor Facebook Feature: / 602000529075284
DVIDS Video on Infantry Marine Course:
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:
Chapters
- 00:00Intro
- 01:00Marine Corps beginnings & escaping the streets of Miami
- 02:00Lessons learned from the Corps: discipline and humility
- 03:00The weight of pulling the trigger and ordering strikes
- 05:00Facing death in the Middle East and processing fear
- 07:00Living with Post-Traumatic Stress (without the “D”)
- 08:30Opening Pandora’s Box: therapy and healing
- 10:00Rediscovering purpose through resilience and service
- 11:00Sacrifices of family life during decades of deployments
- 13:00Cognitive fatigue and the toll of 20 years at war
- 14:30Finding brotherhood, connection, and purpose after combat
- 15:30The dual life: operator and intelligence professional
- 17:00The veteran bond and the humor that keeps them going
- 18:00The lighter side: local food, culture, and MRE memories
- 20:00Healing, time, and reflecting on legacy
- 21:30Lessons learned and why he’d serve again
- 23:00Closing reflections on purpose, family, and discipline
