Minimize the threat, win the battle
Contributed by: SSG Liesl Marelli on 1/12/2009
Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Liesl Marelli, 3rd Battalion, 157th Field Artillery Public Affairs Officer
Jan. 11, 2009
It’s a worst-case scenario for Soldiers in combat to have close-quarter encounters with enemy forces; however, it may very well be a reality for deploying Colorado Army National Guard Soldiers.
The leadership of Battery B, 3 rd Battalion, 157 th Field Artillery of Aurora, Colo., is taking no chances with their Soldiers’ lives. Arming them with all the required training is a start, but they are kicking it up another notch by including world champion fighters as combatives trainers.
Training with A1 Boxing and Fitness in Aurora, Colo., owned by Glen Goodson, more than 30 Colorado Guardsmen turned out for a day of free combatives training dressed in their Army Combat Uniform, Individual Body Armor and a mouth piece.
Joe Montalvo, a certified mixed martial arts instructor for A1 Boxing and Fitness, said donating his time to train Colorado Guard Soldiers was his way of serving his country.
Other instructors were Jeff “Big Diesel” Ford, Paul “Chino” Sanchez, George “The Tower of Power” Ashauer, Josec “Panda” Robles, Luke “Skywalker” Johnson, Nate “The Blade” Earley, and brothers Joaquin and Andrew Aldaco, most of whom are renowned fighters ranging from winning statewide to international competitions.
On the first day, Montalvo and Ford split the group of Soldiers in two and conducted their own hour-long training.
Montalvo stressed to Soldiers to train in the gear they will operate in.
“Wear your [IBAs] and use the plates. Get used to wearing it and moving with it,” he said.
Montalvo’s training focused on grappling techniques, which included weapons training (a dummy knife), foot traps and double leg takedowns.
Ford, the lead instructor in the other class, taught his group about a proper fighting stance and methods to keep combatants at bay.
“It just shows us how we need to condition our bodies much more,” said Sgt. Tyrone Short of Aurora, Colo. “[Training] like this should be a part of our regular routine,” he said while vowing he’ll begin incorporating this training in his daily routine beginning today.
Day two’s training incorporated more advanced techniques for Soldiers and was done as one large group - lead once again by Montalvo and Ford.
Culminating the training was a five-on-five man battle. Allowed to move only on their knees, the Soldiers had to incorporate the training Ford and Montalvo taught them to defeat the opposing team.
The rules were simple - Soldiers could cause one another to submit with arm bars and chokes; striking was off limits. Once someone tapped out, they had to get out of the ring. Teaming up against the other team was allowed.
That scenario worked against the one remaining Soldier from Bravo team.
Sgt. 1 st Class Warren Baker was the only one left from his team. The four remaining Soldiers from Alphateam were trying to get Baker to tap out - but despite their best efforts, they were unsuccessful. Baker, crediting the neck guard on his Individual Body Armor, managed to avoid getting choked and even escaped from 1 st Lt. Matt Jester’s attempted rear-naked choke hold. Before the four men were able to make Baker submit, Montalvo ended the round.
“The Soldiers took the training seriously, but also had fun with it,” said Battery B Commander Jim Forester. “I could tell the instructors had our best interest in mind and cared about us learning what they had to offer before we go to war.”
The unit is scheduled to begin their mobilization training for Operation Iraqi Freedom in early February.
Although they will conduct a minimum of 24 hours of combatives training before deploying to Iraq, many Soldiers will continue using the services of A1 Boxing and fitness until they deploy like Pfc. Steven Gerdjikian.
Gerdjikian is actually the Soldier responsible for the training with A1 Boxing and Fitness.
“Pfc. Gerdjikian mentioned the training to me so I went to check out the facilities and speak with the staff,” said Jester, 2 nd Platoon Leader of Battery B.
After getting the training approved through the battery and battalion leadership, they were able to make it all possible during the unit’s drill weekend.
“Private Gerdjikian had excellent initiative,” Forester said. “He and Lieutenant Jester were responsible for coordinating the combatives training, which resulted in a successful weekend of lifesaving tactics I hope the Soldiers will rely on when in combat.”