Nick Viall Hopes to Teach His Kids to Be 'Heroes and Warriors' Like Staff on “Special Forces” (Exclusive)

The former 'Bachelor' star is currently expecting his first baby with fiancée Natalie Joy

Matt Winkelmeyer/2021 MTV Movie and TV Awards/Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS Natalie Joy and Nick Viall are currently expecting their first baby together
Matt Winkelmeyer/2021 MTV Movie and TV Awards/Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS Natalie Joy and Nick Viall are currently expecting their first baby together

Nick Viall is hoping his time on Special Forces: World's Toughest Test will help him become a better parent.

While speaking to PEOPLE about his experience on the show, the former Bachelor star, 43, revealed the parenting advice he got from the directing staff (DS) on Special Forces as Viall prepares to welcome his first baby with fiancée Natalie Joy, 24.

"They're all great men and guys who have great character," Viall tells PEOPLE of Rudy Reyes, Jason "Foxy" Fox, Mark "Billy" Billingham and Jovon "Q" Quarles. "We can talk about parenting tips, but I think they all taught us aspects of life and facing challenges."

"These guys have looked to death in the face multiple times, and they're literal heroes and warriors. And if I can teach my child to have some of the characteristics that they have, I'll be glad I did."

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Related: Nick Viall Felt 'Guilty' Leaving Pregnant Fiancée for Boot Camp — But Wanted to Make His Child 'Proud' (Exclusive)

Viall also commented on leaving Joy alone to film Special Forces just a few weeks after learning that she was expecting the couple's first baby together.

"It was really new," Viall says of Joy's pregnancy. "And it was a bit nerve-wracking just because Natalie had just started morning sickness, or for her, it was more like all-day sickness. So I felt pretty guilty about that."

"We had our first doctor's appointment coming up, so it was hard to be away from her. And thankfully, I had her support and I knew that she really wanted me to do well."

Although Viall knew he could count on Joy's support back home, he says it actually complicated his feelings about the show.

"But there were moments where it almost made it harder," he says. "When you got to your breaking point, you started thinking of reasons of why it was okay to quit. It's like, 'I don't need to be here.' And for me it was like, 'Well, I need to be home and I need to be at the doctor's appointment,' and things like that."

"I just kept thinking about Natalie, and I knew I had her support. I knew that she wanted me to do well, and these guys kept me going," Viall continues, referring to friends JoJo Siwa and Tyler Cameron.

"But it was definitely a challenge, but at the same time, I just kept thinking like, 'Someday my daughter,' I didn't know the gender at that point, I just kept thinking like, 'Someday my child's going to be able to watch this, and I want to make them proud.'"

"And that definitely helped me get through it as well."

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Read the original article on People.