Nathaniel Fick is a former captain in the First Reconnaissance Battalion of the United States Marine Corps. In this vividly told memoir, he recounts his training and years of service in Afghanistan and Iraq. From the classroom to the heat of combat, this contemplative account of one man's transformation from civilian to soldier abounds with action and intellect. Retired Marine Corps General Anthony C. Zinni, coauthor of Battle Ready, hails this "superb account of the challenges that confront a young officer in today's conflicts."