View allAll Photos Tagged Combatives
At the combatives pit, eight companies from the Class of 2014 received a four-hour block of instruction from a team of West Point cadets on a series of passes, sweeps and submissions. The training concluded with 90-second sparring session and a final best-of-platoon level competition. The cadre of 25 upperclass cadets trained four weeks to be qualified to train by the Department of Physical Education and was certified by the Master of the Sword. The cadre will also be instructing the Class of 2015 during Cadet Basic Training. Photo by Tommy Gilligan, West Point Public Affairs
At the combatives pit, eight companies from the Class of 2014 received a four-hour block of instruction from a team of West Point cadets on a series of passes, sweeps and submissions. The training concluded with 90-second sparring session and a final best-of-platoon level competition. The cadre of 25 upperclass cadets trained four weeks to be qualified to train by the Department of Physical Education and was certified by the Master of the Sword. The cadre will also be instructing the Class of 2015 during Cadet Basic Training. Photo by Tommy Gilligan, West Point Public Affairs
Spc. Ryan Jones, U.S. Army Garrison Baden-Wuerttemberg (left), and Spc. Cara Bennett, U.S. Army Garrison Livorno, compete in a level one combative exercise, May 2. Both Soldiers are vying to be IMCOM Europe 2011 Soldier of the Year. (U.S. Army photo by Molly Hayden)
I never had a political conversation with a Russian, the closest I came was with a young Polish businessman while we were on a boat standing in the rain. He sold chemicals worldwide. The company was owned by British but run from the US. His attitude was very much like some other Russians though. A sort of over heated capitalism I'd call it.
For instance, he told me of a trip to Iraq and said of the Iraqi's, "All they talk about is jihad, jihad all the time, I tell them why don't you do business with the Americans, they are good at it, but all they talk is Jihad." Drawing a parallel I said "Well how would you feel if your country was occupied by, say the Nazis? Would you do business with them? Surely that is what many Iraqis feel like. You know about the oil laws the US is pushing on the Iraqis.... ?" He seemed to take it under consideration but I felt he was about to say, "It's not personal, just business" I told him that many in the West had seen enough of this kind of capitalism.
In general, on the streets, Petersburg is more capitalistic than the US, and upon my arrival at JFK Airport on the way back I have to say it had all the trappings of a glitzy police state with uniformed army soldiers carrying M-16's on guard.
I think the Russians are essentially pragmatic if not cynical. Russian/Western history is senselessly combative for the most part. I'm not talking about the Bolsheviks and the Soviets but people to people. And I think this quote is still true:
"Russia has only heard applause from the West twice in the past century - and only when it committed suicide, accompanied by social disintegration and economic collapse: in February 1917 and December 1991."
-- Vyacheslav Nikonov
Their inferiority complex is the corollary to the West's superiority complex. It's worth keeping in mind when you encounter Russian boasting. A measure of respect for Russia's views from the West would go a long way in changing the atmosphere. One of the greatest tragedies of all time is the cost of the Cold War. Could a tempered pragmatism removed from straitjacket ideologies have changed the world with the resources, brains, and money saved while also softening hardened ideologies? I don't think this was entirely unplanned either, just as I don't think the current tension is "natural". I think there are forces who would have seen cooperation as deadly to their agenda.
My impression is that the Russians view politics as a vast zero sum game and prefer to avoid it. Putin is viewed with some suspicion, as a strongman, a boss, but he is also very highly regarded for his standing up to the Western powers and as a nationalist leader who looks out for Russia's interests. I do not think the Russians are anxious to see him go.
Personally I'm still uncertain about Putin, If I judge him only by his words he is one of the world's most rational, intelligent and clever leaders. If he is indeed a patriot I predict in time he will be viewed as one of Russia's greatest leaders.
Solzhenitsyn's full article deserves a read. I don't have any major disagreements with it.
www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,druck-496003,00...
And, Putin's performance at the G-8 is also worth the read:
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article17855.htm
and:
Sgt. Benjamin Standley (top), an infantryman with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry grapples with Spc. Tyler Brown, an infantryman with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry during the combatives portion of the 2011 Oregon Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition at Camp Rilea, Warrenton, Ore., March 13. Both Standley and Brown went on to win the overall titles of Oregon’s Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year, respectively. The three-day event pitted Oregon Citizen-Soldiers against one another as they competed for the title of Oregon’s Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. Other portions of the competition tested the candidates in Army aptitude, urban warfare simulations, board interviews, physical fitness tests, written exams, and Warrior tasks and battle drills relevant to today’s operating environment. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Eric A. Rutherford, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Oregon Army National Guard).
Spc. Marcus Holstine, an assistant combatives instructor assigned to Regimental Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2d Cavalry Regiment corrects his students as they go through the steps of a rear naked choke hold during the Regiment's first certified combatives class at the Memorial Gym located on Rose Barracks, Germany, Mar. 18, 2015. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. William A. Tanner/released)
The 2009 Fort Riley and 1st Infantry Division combatives teams and coaches are pictured after the second day of the all-Army combatives tournament in Fort Benning, Ga.
SSN wanted to have a picnic away from the orphanage to say goodbye to Aakriti. A charming idea. They rented a big van and picked us up. There were nine kids and seven adults.
The picnic was needed by the SSN staff. Aakriti was the second child when the orphanage began and she is only the third to leave. All the didis had their pictures taken with Aakriti and then did some group shots (note: I'm not the photographer for those, but took this during a groupshot).
I utterly failed to understand how hard this would be on Aakriti. While I had some concerns, they were mainly that she would spurn me during the picnic and then we'd get back to normal. I underestimated the impact of a second "separation" on her!
When they first dropped us off back at the hotel, Aakriti was distraught and sobbing. She calmed after a bit and we went outside as she wanted, then more sobbing and some combativeness. Screaming through the hotel lobby a second time, back to the room again (along the way, Nepali women occasionally take Aakriti to comfort her -- exactly the opposite of what she needs or I want, but culturally inexplainanble -- Aakriti is generally not comforted and reaches back for me, a good sign that, in the moment, consoles no one).
During the next stint in the room, there was an incredibly tender moment that would get me through the night. Aakriti was fairly exhausted and sitting on my lap playing quietly. Suddenly, she stood up, turned around, very deliberately kissed me on the lips, and then turned back around and resumed her seat on my lap.
The hours that followed were largely inconsolable sobbing. Aakriti did not want to be on the hotel grounds; she would direct me out to the street where the van had been. She would direct me this way and that and when I did not comply, she screamed horribly. I got my share of suspect, even hateful, looks on the street.
Back in the room, more struggle. Ultimately, she would fight to get out of bed and go sit by the door to the room, screaming when I came near her. I finally had to physically hold her in bed until, after about 45 minutes, she fell asleep at 10:00 p.m.
Fortunately, this morning, things are back to where they were. Smiles, play, and lovingness. I'm not sure I could have endured much more of last night (hopefully it will just be a memory).
Aakriti is napping now, being, understandably, rather exhausted. We went to the embassy and received her visa and other travel documents today. We are now all set to return home Saturday!
Soldiers from U.S. Army Europe's 2nd Cavalry Regiment pose with former Major League Baseball players and Fox Sports Girls following a combatives session t the Rose Barracks Memorial Fitness Center in Vilseck, Germany. Several MLB players are vsiting the U.S. Army Garrison Grafenwoehr community this week with Fox Sports as part of a three-day visit to help reinforce a "ready and resilient" Army and inspire, motivate and educate Army in Europe Soldiers, civilian employees and family members about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. During the visit sponsor Fox Sports is a short film that showcases the Army in Europe community and the resiliency and spirit of its members and their contributions to national defense. (Photo by Richard Bumgardner)
The Missouri National Guard 311th Brigade Support Battalion, Co. A out of Nevada, recently went through a combative self-defense class instructed by Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Franklin and Sgt. Ryan Herda. Franklin explained that the class involves a combination of muay thai, kickboxing and wrestling. With the help of Herda, Franklin conducted his planned lessons that involved Soldiers practicing strikes, take downs, and submissions. At the end of the day, the Soldiers tested their new skills by teaming up in groups of two against Franklin. In the test, the Soldiers were required to prevent Franklin from crossing into their territory and were forced to take him down if he persisted. (Photo Spc. Sarah Vasquez)
U.S. Army National Guard Soldier of the Year Spc. Ryan Lindberg, with the North Dakota National Guard's 817th Engineer Company (Sapper), lunges backward while executing a rear takedown on U.S. Army Medical Command Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Staff Sgt. Ilker Irmak during their bout at the Department of the Army Best Warrior Competition combatives tournament on Ft. Lee, Va., Oct. 7, 2011. The double-elimination combatives tournament was the final event in the week-long Best Warrior competition.
(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Sean K. Harp/Released)
At the combatives pit, eight companies from the Class of 2014 received a four-hour block of instruction from a team of West Point cadets on a series of passes, sweeps and submissions. The training concluded with 90-second sparring session and a final best-of-platoon level competition. The cadre of 25 upperclass cadets trained four weeks to be qualified to train by the Department of Physical Education and was certified by the Master of the Sword. The cadre will also be instructing the Class of 2015 during Cadet Basic Training. Photo by Mike Strasser, West Point Public Affairs
The 2013 Fort Hood Combatives Tournament Feb. 23 at Abrams Physical Fitness Center at Fort Hood, Texas. (U.S. Army Photo by Daniel Cernero, III Corps and Fort Hood Public Affairs)
Photo by Pfc. George Rivas
Spc. Jennifer Jones, a Soldier with the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, catches her competition slipping and delivers a match ending arm-bar during the second round of the Bantam weight class during the 2nd Annual JBLM Combatives Tournament. Jones, who took first place overall, now has the opportunity to compete for the All-Army Combatives Team.
Located in the heart of the Pacific Northwest's Puget Sound region, Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) is the Defense Department's premiere military installation on the West Coast.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) provides world-class installation support to the joint base warfighters, Family members and the surrounding community.
For more information about Joint Base Lewis-McChord, visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/JBLMGarrison or read the article at www.nwguardian.com.
David Mason (top), III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas, wins by submission against Viktoriya Varpakhovich, Fort Wadsworth, N.Y., in a preliminary bout July 21 at Fort Hood, Texas. (U.S. Army photo by Daniel Cernero, III Corps and Fort Hood Public Affairs)
Sgt. Simon Pequeno (red), 41st Fires Brigade, and Pfc. Casey Gonzalez (blue), 1st Brigade Combat Team, fight in the tactical enclosure in the championship bout of the bantamweight division during the finals of the 2013 Fort Hood Combatives Tournament Feb. 23 at Abrams Physical Fitness Center at Fort Hood, Texas. Pequeno won the match by submission in the first round. (U.S. Army Photo by Daniel Cernero, III Corps and Fort Hood Public Affairs)
Several Soldiers donned protective gear to play the enemy and force others to react using level three combatives techniques at Fort Sill's Cerrone Combatives Facility Nov. 3, 2010. (Army photo by Marie Berberea)
Col. Neil Hersey and Command Sgt. Maj. Todd Vance, the 21st Cavalry Brigade (Air Combat) command team, take on Col. Maria Zumwalt and Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Graham, the 48th Chemical Brigade command team, in a one-minute exhibition bout during the 2013 Fort Hood Combatives Tournament Feb. 23 at Abrams Physical Fitness Center at Fort Hood, Texas. (U.S. Army Photo by Daniel Cernero, III Corps and Fort Hood Public Affairs)
Staff Sgt. Robert Martin, violinist with The U.S. Army Band, and Master Sgt. Brian Archer, audio engineer for The U.S. Army Band, train Soldiers from 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment “The Old Guard” in Army Combatives
Members of the audience, including Commanding General Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and Military District of Washington Michael S. Linnington, second left, watch Senior Airman Michael McDonnell, 32nd Intelligence Squadron, Fort Meade, Md., compete against Staff Sgt. Megan Lomonof, The United States Army Band, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, during the Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and Military District of Washington 5th Annual Combatives Tournament’s welterweight championship bout at the JBM-HH Fitness Center April 18, 2013. Sands went on to win the championship for his weight class. (Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall PAO Photo by Rachel Larue)
U.S. Army National Guard Soldier of the Year Spc. Ryan Lindberg lunges backwards with a hold on the head of U.S. Army National Guard Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Sgt. Guy Mellor during their bout at the Department of the Army Best Warrior Competition combatives tournament on Ft. Lee, Va., Oct. 7, 2011. The double-elimination combatives tournament was the final event in the week-long Best Warrior competition.
(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Sean K. Harp/Released)
Spc. Tania Calderon-Griek, from the 82nd Airborne Division's Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, grapples with Sgt. Joshua J. Wright, a fire support noncommissioned officer with 3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, 18th Fires Brigade (Airborne), during the All American Week combatives tournament, May 21, 2013. Calderon-Griek is the first woman to earn her way into the final round in the tournament's history.
(U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Bethany L. Little)
Staff Sgt. Walter Mobley, chokes out Staff Sgt. Dustin Wells, 8th Security Forces, during combatives training Jan. 27. The 8 Security Forces members’ will do 10 hours of combatives training based off the Army’s Modern Army Combatives Program to refresh on their basic ground fighting techniques.
U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jonathan Steffen