Alaska National Guardsmen to Compete in Combatives Tournament

By Staff Sgt. Karima TurnerMarch 17, 2011

3 Points
Sgt. Mathew Campbell, Military Police Officer and Combatives Instructor, 49th Missile Defense Bn., scores three points to a competitor during the 2010 Region 6 Best Warrior Competition held at Fort Greely, Alaska. The combatives team from Fort Greely... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

CAMP DENALI, Alaska-Alaska Army National Guardsmen based out of Fort Greely are scheduled to compete in the 4th Annual National Guard Combatives Tournament in Fort Benning, Ga., March 18-20.

The tournament brings the best of the best from across the United States and its territories. Nine Soldiers from the Alaska National Guard's 49th Missile Defense Battalion formed a team known as the Arctic Warriors to compete for the championship in each of seven weight classes and an overall team champion.

The tournament is open to all Army and Air National Guard warriors, regardless of prior combatives experience, to increase National Guardsmen's skills and promote the warrior ethos.

The tournament, also designed to build esprit de corps within the National Guard, has helped the services become more cohesive and more capable components.

Staff Sgt. Vincent Cruz, Warrior Training Center, non-commissioned officer-in-charge, said that it's inspirational to have states such as Alaska return year after year to compete.

"It's awesome to see Alaska competing again," Cruz said. "Every year they send exceptional warriors and competitors, which is impressive because often Guard Soldiers are working full-time and train to compete on their own time. It's outstanding."

While Alaska is bringing nine contenders to the mat and has the opportunity to do very well individually, there are larger teams in the competition that will have an advantage when it comes to the team competition.

"Maybe the only two teams that out-number Alaska are going to be Guam and North Dakota, which can hurt Alaska as far as the team competition goes because they won't have as many people to add points to the team score, so they may not come out on top as a team."

"Individually though, I expect great things from Alaska," Cruz said. "They have Staff Sgt. Larry Martin, who has experience under his belt, and Staff Sgt. Jeremy Christiansen, who is the current heavyweight champion; the fighters just keep evolving every year and getting better and better."

Another challenge for the Alaskans could be the climate change. The Arctic Warriors will be leaving temperatures with a high of 19 degrees and a low of minus 29 in the last two weeks to compete in Georgia where the temperatures are reaching a high of 75 and a low of 37.

"All of the teams are going to have challenges to conquer," Cruz said. "And aside from their numbers, I think the biggest thing they will have to overcome would be the heat here."

"I think we will do well," said Capt. Jeremy Shepherd, Arctic Warriors coach. "We have the reigning heavy weight champion, and the other guys on the team are really talented, but every state's team is becoming more and more competitive each year they come to the tournament. It's really very exciting to see."

Shepherd believes that the tournament is an important opportunity for Soldiers to improve individually and as a team.

"We would like to have more representation at the next tournament," Shepherd said. "We are really looking to put together a state-wide Army and Air Guard team next year to help showcase the talent and combatives capabilities of the Alaska National Guard as a whole, rather than just the 49th Missile Defense Battalion."

The National Guard Combatives Tournament will identify and prepare perspective National Guard Soldiers for the All Army Combatives Championship later this year.