New Mexico Minuteman - Summer 2011 - Keep Trees

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By Staff Sgt. Anna Doo, 200th PAD CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo - A shiver runs up your spine. That little voice deep inside your subconscious says to be careful, be cautious, be aware. You instinctively look around for what may be causing your senses to react and see a large fi gure loping toward you with malicious intentions. You automatically react by establishing a solid base with which to fi ght back as the human fi gure is already too close for you to run away. The training and repetition of techniques learned in a self defense class unconsciously kick in and you are able to successfully fi ght off a would-be attacker and run for safety and assistance. The training techniques that coursed through the potential victim’s veins were learned in a women’s self defense class taught on Camp Bondsteel April 12 and 14 by members of Task Force Falcon, Combat Arms Training Company. The highly skilled instructors hold qualifi cations as military combative instructors as well as a wealth of civilian certifi cations for martial arts, self defense techniques, and numerous other law enforcement and personal protection training. Females wishing to build a skill set to ward off a potential attacker took the time to attend the training. During the self defense class instruction, Staff Sgt. Kevin Johnson, CAT-C instructor, 6 NEW MEXICO Minuteman / Summer 2011 began by discussing methods to prevent such attacks by making oneself a so called “hard target.” This means walking the streets and alleys of Camp Bondsteel in groups, trekking with an air of confi dence, and being aware of the surroundings at all times. But when an attacker is totally bent on following through with an assault, students learned multiple techniques to employ in order to fi ght to get away. Johnson mentioned that there are multiple methods of self defense and students need to fi nd techniques that work for them. He said the techniques he teaches are based on Army training mixed in with training received from numerous civilian sources. “My way is not the only way; it’s just another way,” said Johnson. “You need to learn techniques that you can put into practice should anything bad happen to you.” He added the importance of learning multiple techniques so that women have an arsenal of options to fall back on. Johnson said that every person is different and will react differently, but to fi nd and utilize the skills that work best for each individual. He also said that practice is the key to success. “The more you practice the basic skills taught in this class, the more confi dent you should feel. You have to be able to simply Spc. Anastasha Fox, a team member of Liaison Monitoring Team, practices knee kicks while Staff Sgt. Eric Solano, CAT-C instructor, holds a cushioned pad. Fox and about 20 other females participated in a self defense class held on Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo. react in a situation instead of stopping to think about what you should do,” Johnson said. According to the Department of Defense Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military for fi scal year 2010, there were a total of 3,158 reports of sexual assault involving service members. Employing basic preventive measures and being prepared if an attack should occur are two ways that could bring those numbers down. The self defense class is designed to do exactly that — keep the numbers of sexual assaults on Camp Bondsteel non existent. Students that attended the class were made aware of prevention tactics and learned how the moves taught during the class can work against an assailant. “There are quite a few new techniques that I had never seen before and some useful awareness tips,” said Sgt. Patricia Salazar, 75th Combat Support Hospital ground ambulance noncommissioned offi - cer in charge. “It was helpful that the male instructors interacted with us. That usually doesn’t happen. But you could get that strength and positioning where you could actually see how the moves really do work. It’s very helpful. I was very surprised!” Salazar also recommended this class to all females stationed here. “I think once they came here they’d see it’s not wrestling or ground fi ghting techniques. I think they would be somewhat surprised,” said Salazar. CAT-C will be offering additional self defense classes throughout the deployment as well as multiple combative style classes to include Level 1 and Level 2 combatives.
GUARD HOSTS ANNUAL BATAAN FESTIVITIES By Sgt. Suzanna Dominguez, State Public Affairs NCO, JFHQ The New Mexico National Guard hosted the annual Bataan Ceremony April 9, 2011, at the Bataan Memorial Building in Santa Fe, N.M. This ceremony is held every April 9 and was established to honor the survivors of the Bataan Death March and to commemorate the surrender of American Soldiers to the Japanese forces on April 9, 1942. What made this year’s ceremony different was the exceptional contribution from the Offi - cer Candidate School Class 54-11. The night prior to the annual ceremony the OCS class was hosting their annual Dining In, a long standing tradition in the OCS program where commanders have an opportunity to meet the anticipated future leaders. This year a new tradition was established to integrate the two ceremonies to accomplish a two-fold mission: teach young leaders the history of our Bataan veterans and celebrate their long-standing service and honor their lives. The OCS Candidates were tasked to interview and speak about the life of each veteran giving insight to their accomplishments and interests. Veterans and their families were invited to share in the ceremony and partake in the festivities. “We had the privilege of welcoming Bataan veterans and their families,” said Offi - cer Candidate Carlos Chavez. “The Bataan veterans got a great feel for tradition being kept in the new era of the Guard, while a continued effort to bring the New Mexico National Guard components together and building a comraderie that will go a long way.” Members of the New Mexico National Guard’s 200th and 515th Coastal Artillery units were among those who surrendered on the Bataan peninsula in the Philippines. Soldiers endured a forced march approximately 65 miles to prisoner of war camps where they endured degrading and barbaric treatment while battling diseases and malnourishment. Of the 1,816 men identifi ed from the 200th and 515th Coast Artillery, 829 died in battle, while prisoners or immediately after liberation. There were 987 survivors, many of whom were from New Mexico. This year’s events honoring the veterans’ sacrifi ces began March 27, 2011, when over 6,300 people from all over the country attended the 22nd Annual 26.2-mile Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range in Las Cruces, N.M. Among the participants was 93-year-old Ben Skardon, a survivor of the original death march over 69 years ago. This year, with his family by his side, Skardon completed one third of the memorial march. Despite the dreadful weather this year, many New Mexico National Guard Soldiers and Airmen still made the event to honor their legacy. “It is an honor every year to go out there and honor the men who made the ultimate sacrifi ce,” said 1st Lt. Tabitha Baker, a participant in this year’s Bataan Memorial Death March. “It was really windy, it seemed like for every one step forward, we took two steps back. But when you compare it to what the Bataan veterans went through we had it easy.” Guardsmen and veterans were joined again two weeks later at the Bataan Memorial Building for the annual ceremony. Veterans who were able to attend the ceremony were recognized as well as those that have passed on since the last ceremony. At the end of the day the veterans returned home to their respective states with the promise that New Mexico will never forget the Battling Bastards of Bataan and their service to our great state and nation. Summer 2011 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 7
Page 3 and 4: Governor Susana Martinez Bob Ulin P
Page 5 and 6: Colonels earn one star By Sgt. Suza
Page 7: Cadre includes: Col. Michael Montoy
Page 11 and 12: (Above) 1st Sgt. Charles Bouyer and
Page 13 and 14: By 1st Lt. Brian Raphael, 150th Fig
Page 15 and 16: JOINT AGENCY TRAINING By Sgt. Suzan
Page 17 and 18: The fi rst fi ve training scenarios
Page 19 and 20: AS ENERGY COSTS INCREASE, USE MUST
Page 21 and 22: CSM retires after 39 years of servi
Page 23 and 24: “ The 150th has always been good
Page 25 and 26: Service before Self: A way of life
Page 27 and 28: Summer 2011 / NEW MEXICO National G
Page 29 and 30: Pfc. Alfredo Salazar, C Company, 1s

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