Self graduated from West Point in 1998 . At West Point , he was part of the lightweight football team . After becoming an Infantry officer Self deployed to Kosovo and was then selected to serve in the 75th Ranger Regiment . As a platoon leader in the Rangers , he deployed to Afghanistan shortly after 9/11 as part of a Special Operations task force with a mission to kill or capture Taliban and al-Qaeda 's top leaders . Self commanded a Quick Reaction Force to rescue a missing Navy SEAL during the Battle of Takur Ghar mountain . For his actions during the battle he was awarded the Silver Star , Bronze Star and a Purple Heart and was invited to attend the 2003 State of the Union Address . Following a tour in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division , where he wrote and directed daily operations and trained Iraqi Security Forces , Nate commanded a rifle company before leaving the Army in 2004
9/11
September 11 attacks
Nate Self