Part March Madness. Part martial arts. Part bragging rights. Mostly, a morale boost for Marines in theater. Marines assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, took out some war-zone stress and showed off their martial arts skills the last two Saturdays, competing in a ground-fighting tournament that organizers hope will build camaraderie within the unit. Check out a full write-up and some more pics, all by Cpl. Alfred V. Lopez, here. According to the piece, the combatives exercises are just a part of the pseudo-Olympics set up by CLB 1. They’ve already had football, soccer and volleyball…
Browsing: Afghanistan
The New York National Guard’s newest soldier is bringing a bit of gold to the Army. Olympic gold medalist Justin Olsen enlisted during a ceremony Jan. 9 – and then flew to Europe to resume the World Cup bobsled season. Olsen, a private first class, will train as a human resources specialist. He also plans to apply for the Army World Class Athlete Program, which allows soldiers to juggle their military commitment with training and competitions. “I hope to be selected and, as a soldier-athlete, I hope that I can give back as much to the program as they are…
A former Naval Academy lacrosse player was one of the nine U.S. troops killed in a Black Hawk helicopter crash Tuesday in Afghanistan. Lt. Brendan Looney, a Navy SEAL and a 2004 Naval Academy graduate, was one of four sailors killed. The Defense Department officially announced Wednesday evening that Looney, Senior Chief Cryptologic Technician (Collection) (SW/FMF) David Blake McLendon, Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Adam Smith and Special Warfare Operator 3rd Class Denis Miranda were killed in the crash. Five Fort Campbell, Ky.-based soldiers were also killed. A native of Owings, Md., Looney was a graduate of DeMatha Catholic High…
A former stalwart inside the crease for the Air Force Academy hockey team was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions last fall that saved the lives of 72 servicemen. Before Capt. Mike Polidor earned his wings and started flying F-15s, he started in goal for the Air Force Academy’s hockey team from 2001 to 2004. Polidor and pilot Capt. Aaron Dove helped coordinate strikes by 19 aircraft in October against insurgents attacking a U.S. outpost in Afghanistan. They are credited for saving 72 soldiers in a firefight that claimed the lives of eight soldiers from Fort Carson’s 4th…
[brightcove video=”70038411001″ /] Inspired by the 2010 Winter Olympics in Canada, deployed service members in Iraq and Afghanistan held their own athletic competitions. At COB Speicher in Iraq, U.S. Division North held a “biathlon” for 40 soldiers, one sailor and one airman. The event had them run 3.7 miles out to a firing range where they had to shoot for score and then the same distance back to the finish line at COB Speicher. They were scored by a combination of run-time and their shooting score. The event was won by: • Spc. Douglas Long (US), Male Winner, 2/25th AVN…
If you think the Marine Corps Marathon is tough, try kicking up clouds of sand as you run 3,000 feet above sea level. That’s exactly what Maj. Lauren Edwards, who is assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 2 at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, and her fellow All-Marine Running Teammate, 1st Lt. Erin Demchko, have been training to do. After months of grueling training, Demchko returned to the U.S. last month, but Edwards remained behind working with Brigade headquarters Group, 5th Battalion, 10th Marines to receive approval for a satellite Marine Corps Marathon at Camp Leatherneck. Looks like her wish was granted. From…
Say hello to Saint Louis Rams cheerleaders Jayne, Michele, Megan, Kate and Mary Beth, who performed for 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines at Forward Operating Base Delaram, Afghanistan. While touring the base, the girls visited the mortar pits, attempted to carry a Marines combat load and hung out with Weapons Company scout snipers where they got to view the city of Delaram through high powered rifle scopes. After the tour, the cheerleaders performed for the Marines, but they also got to see a show of their own as Marines tried to one-up each other for “best touchdown dance” in the hopes…
