At nineteen, Snyder enlisted in the United States Army, beginning a career that would span twenty-five years. He served in both infantry and airborne units and was deployed during the Gulf War in 1991 and again during Operation Iraqi Freedom in the early 2000s. His service record reflected discipline and determination, earning him two Bronze Stars, the Legion of Merit, and numerous other commendations. Within the ranks, Snyder became known for his uncompromising toughness, eventually earning the nickname “Skullcrusher.” During his military service, he held roles as a Ranger instructor, a survival and tracking instructor, and a drill sergeant, teaching soldiers how to operate in the harshest environments imaginable. By the time he retired as a sergeant major in 2009, Snyder had built a reputation as both a warrior and a teacher, respected for his ability to push others beyond their perceived limits.

After retiring from the Army, Snyder shifted his focus toward the world of television and public instruction, bringing his survival expertise to a broader audience. His first small on-screen roles appeared in 2008, when he portrayed Redfern in the television series Lost, followed by a self-portrayal in the documentary "Patton 360°" in 2009. These early experiences introduced him to the mechanics of production and storytelling, but his real breakout came in 2013 when he joined the cast of Naked and Afraid.

Snyder’s debut episode, which aired on July 7, 2013, was filmed in the Serengeti region of Tanzania. Paired with Kellie Nightlinger, he faced 21 grueling days of exposure, extreme heat, dehydration, and constant threats from wildlife. The two navigated treacherous terrain, suffered illness and injury, and lost significant weight before finally completing the challenge and being extracted by helicopter. That first appearance introduced Snyder’s combination of skill, discipline, and raw endurance to a global audience. He quickly became one of the show’s standout personalities, returning for additional challenges later that year, including an episode filmed in the Amazon rainforest. With those performances, Snyder became the first person in Naked and Afraid history to complete two full challenges.

- EJ Snyder enlisted in the United States Army at 19

- Snyder was deployed during both the Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom

- Snyder served as a Ranger instructor, a survival and tracking instructor, and a drill sergeant

- EJ Snyder retired from the US Army in 2009 as a sergeant major

- In 2013, Snyder participated in Naked & Afraid in Tanzania, surviving the full 21 days

- In 2015, Snyder participated in Naked & Afraid XL, where he had to survive 40 days in the jungles of Colombia

The following year, in 2016, Snyder co-hosted Season 9 of Dual Survival alongside Jeff Zausch, another Naked and Afraid veteran. The premise placed the two survivalists in extreme environments around the world, testing their ability to adapt and improvise while relying on one another’s strengths. For Snyder, the experience was an opportunity to showcase real-world survival applications and teamwork rather than competition. The partnership between Snyder and Zausch brought a renewed sense of authenticity to the long-running series, as both men brought firsthand knowledge of hardship and endurance.

In 2019, Snyder returned for Naked and Afraid Season 11, filmed in the remote mountains of Bulgaria. Unlike his previous appearances, he faced this 21-day challenge entirely alone, enduring freezing nights, steep terrain, and scarce food sources. Local hunting restrictions forced him to rely on foraging and small catches from nearby streams, while wolves prowled the area at night. Despite the constant danger and isolation, he completed the full challenge, losing more than fifty pounds and earning a Primitive Survival Rating of 10.6; one of the highest ever recorded. Snyder later called it the hardest test of his life, saying that “Bulgaria tried to spit me out every day,” yet he refused to quit.

In 2021, Snyder returned to Naked and Afraid XL for Season 7, set in the swamps of Louisiana’s Atchafalaya Basin. This season extended the challenge even further, tasking participants with surviving for 60 days in an unforgiving environment of dense wetlands, oppressive humidity, and dangerous wildlife. During the ordeal, Snyder fell from a tree and sustained a serious laceration to his groin. The medical team came in to assess the injury and put in eight stitches, after which Snyder chose to stay. Both of his partners chose to leave the challenge early, but he pressed on alone, completing the full 60-day duration. His determination under those conditions became one of the most talked-about moments of the series and a defining example of his ability to endure through sheer willpower.

- In 2016, Snyder co-hosted Season 9 of Dual Survival with Jeff Zausch (pictured above)

- In 2019, Snyder competed in Season 11 of Naked & Afraid, where he survived for 21 days in the remote mountains of Bulgaria

- In 2021, Snyder participated once again in Naked & Afraid XL, where he had to survive 60 days in Louisiana's Atchafalaya Basin