AJ Pasciuti – Marine Scout Sniper on Hunting Juba, the Deadliest Enemy Sniper in Iraq | SRS #305
AJ Pasciuti grew up in Sunnyvale, California, the son of Italian and Argentine immigrants. After 9/11 reshaped his sense of purpose, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division — one of the most storied units in the Corps — where he served as a rifleman and team leader.
Over twenty-one years of service, he deployed three times to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, including the Battle of Fallujah. He led a Scout Sniper team that tracked and killed the most lethal enemy sniper in Iraq — a figure known as “Juba” — and recovered a stolen Marine sniper rifle in what was the first mission of its kind by an American service member since Vietnam.
He went on to serve with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion and 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company, deploying to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, during Operation Enduring Freedom and later with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. As an instructor, he taught at the Scout Sniper School at Camp Pendleton, created the Recon Team Leaders Course, and helped develop the Infantry Marine Course at School of Infantry–West, modernizing foundational training for enlisted Marines.
Selected for the highly competitive Marine Gunner program, he became an Infantry Weapons Officer and rose to Chief Warrant Officer 3 before retiring from the Marine Corps in 2023.
He holds a Master of Business for Veterans from the University of Southern California and a Master of Public Leadership from the University of San Francisco, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies at the University of San Diego. He is the host of the Combat Story podcast and the author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, releasing May 19, 2026.
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AJ Pasciuti Links:
WEB – https://ajpasciuti.com/about
IG – https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti/
YT – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ
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00:00 Meet AJ and Dark Horse
14:22 Immigrant Roots and Upbringing
34:36 Untold Sniper Story Begins
58:04 Growing Up in Northern California
01:18:47 Boot Camp and Early Challenges
01:53:17 Iraq Invasion and First Combat
02:20:50 Moral Injury and the Cost of War
02:45:55 Push to Baghdad
03:11:23 First Kills and Survival Mode
03:42:35 Scout Sniper Indoc
04:09:05 Fallujah and Chris Kyle
04:57:51 Fallujah Aftermath and Reflection
05:10:47 Hunting Juba
05:39:21 Juba Enters the Fight
06:14:23 The Bait Mission
06:47:52 Juba Revealed
07:15:19 Advanced Training and Afghanistan
07:42:43 Finding the Enemy Rear Area
08:09:11 Confirming the Fallen
08:24:15 Advice and Farewell
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I looked up AJ’s kills and it says AJ Pasciuti has killed over 140 individuals during his military service, specifically credited with pulling the trigger on the most lethal sniper in Iraq, Juba.
No of course there will not be a draft, remember every young man once they turn 18 they have to register for selective service, have we already forgotten about this and are now trying to call it a draft ???
SHAWN THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS FELLOW MARINE ON YOUR SHOW. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT CONTINUE TO DO. SEMPER FI TO ALL MARINES WATCHING THIS SESSION. SSGT L 80-91!!
lol.. they didn’t know the difference between canned food and canned dog food.
You don’t need to speak the language, if you see a dog on canned food, common sense would be… is this dog food or is this a dog meat inside.
Hardly 40 …… ?..
God, this guy is an A+++++ storyteller
It’s you guys on the top living the Legends that got to look out for the guys on the bottom that you stand on their shoulders. You got to bring them up
I think all branches of the service after 911 we’re trying to pump numbers and just push people through. I had a similar experience in the army in 2008.
I think Mark Billy Billingham would be a great get to come on.
Fuck this POWER Zionist!!! We fought on the wrong side in WW2 even Patton said the same thing and they had him killed
Not ur job to know why unfortunately
About 5 hours in, Shawn lets out an audible wet meat fart, AJ nods and takes in a deep breath through his nose….respect!
Saving this for work tomorrow! 12 hour shifts FLY BY!!
Following the SRS’s great content is becoming a full time job, 🤦
1:01:58 Paul Bilzerian. Damn lol… now we know Dan Bilzerian got daddy’s money. 😂😂
Mr Pasciuti was our Gunnar in 3/3 before he went to SOI. By far the greatest Marine/ Leader I have ever come across in my entire life. I’m excited to dive into this one, thank you for this episode Shawn.
I will never forget the day Gunner Pasciuti checked into 3/3. It was the day I was picking up my PCS orders to the Reserves. The Gunner’s office was next to the Career Planner.
He had a fierce glare in his eyes as he asked me what I was doing there, and he began to scan my uniform as I answered his questions. The outgoing Gunner laughed and pulled him into his office before he could find anything wrong with me.
(I had no idea who he was at the time.)
Im so happy you guys finally got together huge fan of you both
Such a fascinating interview! As always!!
Oh yeah dead body’s of woman and kids laying in rape rooms and we had no business being there huh Shawn Ryan same thing with Iran
I had the privilege of serving under gunner Pasciuti in 3/3 and he was the most solid leader we could’ve asked for. Surreal to see him on the show.
Paul Bilzerian Dan Bilzerian’s dad lol
TRY TO LISTEN TO YOU AT WORK BUT EVERY FIVE MINUTES OR SO I GOTTA PUT MY TOOLS DOWN TO FAST FORWARD THESE BULLSHIT ADS COME ON SHAWN DO BETTER
I needed this to drop before my trip from WA-AZ, I was running out of songs to listen to.
2:35:00 Shock and Awe!
Paaul bilzerian, dans dad lol
AJ needs to run for office again. 2029?
Why they didn’t play that out in the movie is beyond me…him blastin them fools in the car..then retrieving Tommy’s rifle
Everyone should watch this for Memorial day! To my Dad killed NOV 9 1967 on river boat patrol, My Dad
was with Capt Dick Godbehere on the this day .Look up Game wardens of Vietnam
I joined the marines in 74 participated in the evacuation of Saigon as a young Marine , Semper Fi AJ
Why do i have to see this at 12:06am. No sleep for me tonight 🤣
Is ed Eaton still around..? His story is one of the greatest
My husband served with AJ in the Scout Sniper platoon, he is a great man & friend! So proud to see him on the Shawn Ryan show!
The military better change it’s stance on ADHD and related meds if they plan on bringing back the draft. If not, there’s going to be a whole bunch of exempt “candidates”.
Madeline Allbright (not her real name) Gave Saddam the wink, wink, nod to drill at an angle at Iraq’s border into Kuwait and steal their oil. She set Saddam up for the fall. And we gave Saddam the WMD’s to fight Iran. Saddam has obeyed all orders to dispose of them.
Episode takes you from sunrise to sunset
Has Dr. Ron Paul been on the podcast? If not, can we see him anytime soon?
Thats a baddddddd mama jamma right there🫡🤟🥂🥂
This may be the two nicest guys ever talk to each other
Shawn Ryan needs to get Capt . Jim Gant on The show
100% shouldn’t have gone into Europe in ww2
Just tell the story dude. Dude gotta explain how fast the grass was growing jeez
dark horse was the name of my troop in 173rd. 1-91 CAV Darkhorse troop
Two service members who turned on the u.s.a.
They forgot why they served
Let’s hear from Tennessee governor candidate Monty Fritts!
Only 1% is by design. So that they have a reason to enact more use of a.I. in the military. Such a nightmare.
Never gonna look at a squeegee the same
All the men and women who died in Iraq for Isreal.
Both Americans and Iraqis.
I want to know how much of the 80 million dollars going to the Taliban is going back into the hands of our own government. Like who personally is getting that money because it’s somebody
This guy gives Gavin Newsome vibes. Interesting.
Oh Lord its great to see others talk about service to their country. So many people taking advantage of the sacrifice of others.