Warrior transforms minds, bodies into steel

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Whitney Houston | Staff Sgt. Lonny Steele, a native of Honolulu, who is assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 225th Brigade Support Battalion "Mongoose," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Warriors," 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, teaches the proper arm bar technique during a combatives class at Camp Taji, northwest of Baghdad, Aug. 27, 2008.  

TAJI, IRAQ

09.03.2008

Story by Sgt. Whitney Houston 

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

By Sgt. Whitney Houston
2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – The vibrant and multi-talented Soldier leads many Soldiers to reach their full potential through instruction and example.

It is his mission, as an Army combatives instructor for his battalion, to help his fellow Soldiers overcome the many physical and psychological barriers associated with these combat systems.

The combatant instructor who so diligently commits his time to guiding his fellow Soldiers is Staff Sgt. Lonny Steele, a native of Honolulu, who serves with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Brigade Support Battalion "Mongoose," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad,

"[Staff] Sgt. Steele's leadership style always motivates Soldiers and drives them to be the best," said Spc. Daniel Randall, a native of Chicago, who is assigned to HHC, 225th BSB. "He leads by example, and he's not afraid to get his hands dirty."

His leaders also recognize the valued contributions Steele provides for his fellow troops.

"He helps Soldiers overcome what psychologists call the universal human-phobia, which is doing violence upon another human – especially in hand-to-hand combat," said Lt. Col. Mark Collins, a native of Phoenix, Ariz., who is the commander of 225th BSB. "If you look at the difficulty of killing in proximity to distance, the closer you get, the more difficult it becomes to do violence to another human being, and he helps bridge that psychology gap through his close-combat training."

Despite the many challenges of teaching people, Steele said he gains a sense of pride and accomplishment through finding ways to share his knowledge with his fellow Soldiers in his weekly combatives class.

"I like training the Soldiers," said Steele, "A lot of them come here with the attitude that they don't want to learn it, or that it's boring, but by the end of the day, they are glad that they came – and they can't wait to come back next week – and I like that I can give something back to the Soldiers."

Not only does he teach combatives, he teaches Soldiers in such a way that they are able to teach others.

"I don't expect them to just learn the moves," said Steele. "They have to learn to be the trainer for other Soldiers."

Army combatives is one of many of Steele's strong points; he also serves as Collins's personal security detachment non-commissioned officer in charge.

"He's an outstanding [non-commissioned officer] and he enables me to do a lot of things," said Collins. "Of course, as NCOIC of my PSD, he keeps me out of trouble when we are dismounted during operations."

As if combatives instructor and PSD NCOIC weren't enough to manifest the worth of this exemplary Soldier, Steele's strong Polynesian roots have landed him doing a lot of artistic tribal wood work for his battalion as well.

"I got started doing woodwork when we performed a dance called Toa O Taji, which translates from Samoan to 'Warriors of Taji,'" said Steele, "So, I made the tribal sticks, and they liked them. From there, I branched off to warrior weapons, picture frames and whatever you can think of."

Regardless of a heavy workload, Steele said he feels privileged to have gained his knowledge through the military and looks to a bright future.

"I was fortunate," said Steele, "to go to all of these schools and be certified in different things. I'm very happy where I am."

Steele's versatile personality has shown through his military career and will continue to benefit the lives of many as he continues to mentor and lead through his many talents.

• Date Taken: 09.03.2008
• Date Posted: 09.03.2008 11:43
• Story ID: 23165
• Location: TAJI, IQ