18 Sep 2012

Soldiers from across the state compete in combatives tournament

By Staff Sgt. Kassidy L. Snyder, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs

SPRINGFIELD, IL (09/17/2012)(readMedia)-- Approximately 25 Soldiers from units throughout Illinois competed in the Illinois Army National Guard's third annual Adjutant General's Combatives Tournament at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Sept. 16.

The tournament was open to all Illinois National Guard Soldiers regardless of combatives experience.

"I didn't know what to expect," said Sgt. Zechariah Johnson of Oregon, a cavalry scout with Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment in Dixon. "It was a smaller tournament, but the Soldiers who showed up were motivated and made it a good competition."

Fighters competed individually in brackets based on weight class, while team points were awarded based on individual placement. The 33rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion received the overall team award.

The tournament was double elimination. The preliminary rounds were fought under Modern Army Combatives standard rules, which allows takedowns, joint locks and choke submissions. The championship bouts were fought under intermediate rules, which added open hand strikes to the head, punches to the body, and head to toe kicks.

Just before the end of the 10-minute light heavyweight championship round, Johnson defeated his opponent 1st Lt. Jarod Thomas of Decatur, with the 766th Engineer Battalion in Decatur, by a collar choke submission. Johnson said this was his first combatives tournament.

"He put up a really good fight and it was close," said Johnson. "I look forward to next year's competition."

Overall individual winners included: Bantamweight division (110 pounds and under): Spc. Ashley Hicks of Pickneyville, Company C, 33rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion in Carbondale

Flyweight division (110.1 to 125 pounds): Spc. Ricardo Brambila of Berwyn, Troop C, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment in Aurora

Lightweight division (125.1 to 140 pounds): Spc. Jacob Bultmann of Petersburg, Company B, 33rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion in Bloomington

Welterweight division (140.1 to 155 pounds): Sgt. Jacob Trigleth of Altamont, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment in Marion

Middleweight division (155.1 to 170 pounds): Spc. Allen Simmerman of Chillicothe, Company A, 33rd Brigades Special Troops Battalion in Marseilles

Cruiserweight division (170.1 to 185 pounds): Sgt. Ardel Buchanan of Cicero, 766th Engineer Battalion in Decatur

Light heavyweight division (185.1 to 205 pounds): Sgt. Zechariah Johnson of Oregon, Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment in Dixon

Heavyweight division (over 205.1 pounds): Spc. Jason Pilman of Johnsburg, Company A, 33rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion in Marseilles

Hicks was the only female competitor in this year's tournament. No other Soldiers weighed in at the bantamweight class, so she competed with Soldiers in the flyweight division.

"I liked the challenge of being the only female," said Hicks.

She recently completed the Tactical Combatives Course (Level 2) and decided to enter the tournament after hearing about it at the class.

The Modern Army Combative Program (MACP) uses competitions as a tool to motivate soldiers to train, build esprit de corps and to build confidence by testing techniques against a fully resistant opponent. MACP Instructors with the Illinois Army National Guard administered this year's tournament.

"I was really impressed by the raw determination I saw in many of today's Soldiers," said Staff Sgt. Nick Grant of Caseyville, tournament noncommissioned officer in charge and Combatives Course Manager for the 129th Regional Training Institute. "Even those that fell short certainly displayed a strong will to win. It was also very satisfying to see Soldiers I've personally trained in the past comeback and employ potentially live saving techniques they learned months or years ago."

Top tournament finishers will be considered to join the Illinois Army National Guard Combatives Team at future national competitions such as the All-National Guard and All-Army Combatives Championships.

For more information on Illinois' Combatives Program and updates on future competitions, please visit the Illinois Army National Guard Combatives Team's Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Illinois-Army-National-Guard-Combatives-Team/224254734272195

 

High resolution photos of all the winners are available. Contact the Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office at ngilstaffpao@ng.army.mil.

28 Aug 2012

Illinois National Guard officer candidates become second lieutenants

By Staff Sgt. Kassidy L. Snyder, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs

SPRINGFIELD, IL (08/28/2012)(readMedia)-- A crowd of more than 500 people gathered for 38 officer candidates who received their commission during the Illinois Army National Guard's Officer Candidate School (OCS) Commissioning Ceremony at Springfield High School in Springfield, Aug. 26.

"It's great to know we have a new generation of leaders stepping forward who are well trained to follow the great path our veterans have laid before us," said Maj. Gen. Dennis L. Celletti of Springfield, the Acting Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard.

Officer candidates from the traditional OCS Class 56-11 and accelerated OCS Class 56B lifted their right hands in front of fellow servicemembers, family and friends and repeated the Oath of Office to become second lieutenants.

To meet commissioning requirements, an officer candidate completes more than 500 hours of classroom and field instruction. Candidates are evaluated on leadership abilities, physical and mental tasks and tactical exercises.

"I'm very proud of my daughter," said 2nd Lt. Marivon Ampier's father John Niemeyer, a Vietnam veteran from St. Louis. "The ceremony was very professional and made me feel patriotic all over."

Each new lieutenant's gold bars were pinned on by family members, friends and fellow servicemembers most important to them.

Second Lt. Aaron Ritter of Oak Run, was pinned by his wife Sarah and his father Lou Ritter, a Vietnam veteran who served with the U.S. Army.

"I was glad he was able to be here," said Aaron. "I am proud of his service and look up to him as a father."

Following the pinning of their gold bars, the officers received their first salute from a subordinate.

Ampier of Fairview Heights, chose her father, who served as a technical sergeant with the Air Force and Aaron also received his first salute from his father.

Many of the Soldiers had a close relative or friend who served in the military and were a part of the ceremony.

At the conclusion of the commissioning ceremony, 2,198 Army officers have received their commissions from the 129th Regional Training Institute in Springfield.

"Don't worry about the next assignment or promotion," said Celletti. "It will be there if you continue to give 100 percent effort, maintain your civilian and military education and take care of your Soldiers as you would want to be taken care of."

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