Rodolfo “Rudy” Reyes was born in 1971 on Richard’s Gebauer Air Base in Missouri while his father, a US Marine, was fighting in Vietnam. After his parents’ divorce, Reyes and his three brothers were raised by his grandparents, and later by the Omaha Home for Boys. Aged 26, a decorated martial artist, Reyes joined the United States Marine Corps and, after impressing in the recruitment phase, went on to become elite Recon Marine. Reyes became a highly decorated Special Forces operator, leading over 50 patrols behind enemy lines. He served one tour in Afghanistan and two tours in Iraq as a Recon Marine Team Leader and Scout Sniper. After leaving the marines, Reyes worked as a counter-terror contractor for the Department of Defense. After leaving the military, he spent time in Africa where he trained wildlife preserve rangers in anti-poaching tactics and later went on to found Force Blue, a Veteran Non-Profit which pairs former Special Operators with Marine Scientists to work on rebuilding and restoring coral reefs, saving turtles and working within the conservation community. He also competes and trains people for Adventure Racing and Martial Arts. In 2008, Reyes appeared as himself on the miniseries Generation Kill. He has worked on many survival shows, including Apocalypse Man and Ultimate Survivor Alaska. He was also one of the main contributors for multiple BAFTA nominated documentary series Once Upon a Time in Iraq.