'Wings of Lightning' shows warrior spirit with MACP

Photo By Master Sgt. Tyrone Marshall | Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Wells (far right), chief combatives instructor, Headquarters Support Company, 209th Aviation Support Battalion, and Staff Sgt. Edward Durant, assistant instructor, Headquarters, and Headquarters Company, Combat Aviation Brigade, watch as two students roll during level one combatives certification at Wheeler Gym, Aug. 22, 2008. The two are part of a team of certified instructors that lead the 25th CAB's combatives program, which welcomes Soldiers from across Army Hawaii.  

UNITED STATES

08.22.2008

Story by Staff Sgt. Tyrone Marshall 

25th Combat Aviation Brigade

By Staff Sgt. Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
25th Combat Aviation Brigade

WHEELER ARMY AIRFIELD, Hawaii – Soldiers from the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade demonstrated their warrior spirit during a challenging week of training in Modern Army Combatives at Wheeler Army Airfield, from Aug. 18 – 22, 2008.

Combatants from all four of the 25th CAB's battalions, and a Soldier from the 500th Military Intelligence Brigade, descended upon Wheeler Gym to learn level one combatives which required 40 grueling hours of training and indoctrination before certification.

Led by Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Wells, a level four certified instructor from Headquarters Support Company, 209th Aviation Support Battalion, and a team of level two and three certified instructors, Soldiers received step-by-step training of the intense program as outlined by the U.S. Army Combatives School at Fort Benning, Ga.

The students practiced simple yet intricate steps to each drill. Their fluid movements belied the strength, endurance and mental toughness required to complete the 40-hour course. The students cited their toughest challenge as conditioning.

"The most challenging part of this training would definitely have to be conditioning," said Staff Sgt. Roberto Diaz-Bogart, from D Co., 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment. "You're rolling out there all day on the mats and you're sweating and always out of breath."

Another challenge for the warriors was the extensive set of moves they were required to master. In their first day of training, Soldiers had to quickly learn to gain dominant position, stand in base, guard mount, rear mount, side control, arm trap and roll, and passing the guard among other moves. The class was assisted by guest instructor, Master Sgt. Trey Corrales, a level three certified instructor, from 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th ID.

"The reason why we do it the way we do is ... in 40 hours we're telling these people to go teach Jujitsu moves," said Wells, who became level four certified earlier this year. "Usually, it takes so many years to make a belt in Jujitsu and you still can't teach until you're a black belt. We're taking the easiest steps at the bottom and teaching them step-by-step by the numbers so regular Soldiers can take it back to their units and actually get it right."

The students remained unphased by the challenges and saw the benefits of such a program.

"Since we're an elite unit and our mission is constantly changing, I would say that this training will not only make us physically fit but improve our overall combat readiness in the sense that we already know our jobs," said Sgt. Bruce Wise, avionics technician, D Co., 2-25 Avn. Regt. "But a lot of us aren't trained to be infantrymen. I believe this training would help us if we were forced into hand-to-hand combat."

He also added, "I would highly recommend the 25th CAB evolve this program into a lot more, because I honestly believe that the Soldiers could use this training. It'd be a great asset to our brigade."

Diaz-Bogart also felt the same about instituting combatives.

"This training will definitely help the Soldiers in the CAB by introducing something new to the physical training program instead of the same push-ups, sit-ups, run and little variations," said the Miami native. "This will get Soldiers interested and they'll actually want to put in that 100 percent and be more motivated."

The chief instructor for the training explained the benefits of 25th CAB Soldiers learning combatives prior to deploying for combat.

"A lot of people have the misconception that all [aviation Soldiers] do is turn wrenches and that's not true," said the Snyder, Texas native. "When I went down range ... a majority of my Soldiers spent a majority of their time guarding the gate and walking around the perimeter and I had a few people on the [Quick Reaction Force]. They were actually going outside the wire in trucks and had a couple of improvised explosive devices go off on them. They were chasing people into buildings and stuff, so this training can be beneficial for any Soldier because you never know what you could be doing."

Wells pointed out that not only is it a great motivational tool, it was mandated by the former Chief of Staff of the Army.

"It should be part of the training schedule, and we should have Soldiers doing combatives once a week," he said.

Following the training, the students of the first graduating class were presented certificates by the brigade command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Jesus Ruiz, during a short ceremony. The pride in their accomplishments was undeniable.

"I feel confident that I can go back to my unit and train them up and get them physically fit and combat ready," said Wise.

"And I believe that I will be able to go to my unit and institute this type of training into my company," added Diaz-Bogart. "I have another non-commissioned officer that came out here with me. We could definitely go out there and make something like this happen."

Any Soldier wishing to join these combatives classes need only contact their S-3 and see the Wheeler Gym Staff.

"The only thing we need is mats, space and Soldiers," said Wells. "If we have the mat space I'll train them."

• Date Taken: 08.22.2008
• Date Posted: 08.25.2008 20:39
• Story ID: 22872
• Location: US