PETER NEALEN stepped on the yellow footprints at MCRD San Diego in 2003. A year and a half later, he began training to be a Reconnaissance Marine. After graduating the Basic Reconnaissance Course, he deployed twice to Iraq as a Recon Marine with Bravo Co, 1st Recon Bn, before moving on to what was to become the reconstituted Force Recon Company, I MEF. By the time he finished his active service, he had qualified as a Combatant Diver, Navy/Marine Corps Parachutist, Marine Scout/Sniper, Scout/Sniper Team Leader, and Combat Tracker. He is now a Tactical Tracking Instructor, a freelance writer and contributor for SOFREP.com, and the author of the thrillers Task Force Desperate and Hunting in the Shadows.