MIDDLETOWN, Iowa -- At first glance, Brent T. Van Zuiden's 6-foot-2-inch frame looks like he could do damage in a wrestling ring. Or on a football field. Or inside a hockey rink.

But this industrial engineer at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant does damage with his fists and legs -- and the Army endorses his off-duty activities. Van Zuiden works as a Department of the Army civilian for Iowa AAP.

Van Zuiden, 31, is also a chief warrant officer and an 11-year-veteran with the U.S. Army Reserves. His passion is mixed martial arts and ultimate fighting. The Army agreed he can do both.

"The Army has a program that it supervises Soldiers in mixed martial arts and real hand-to-hand combat techniques," he said.

Van Zuiden fights in the Modern Army Combatives Program. According to its website, its mission is "to train leaders and Soldiers in close quarters combatives in order to instill the Warrior Ethos and prepare Soldiers to close with and defeat the enemy in hand-to-hand combat."

It also states the program started in 1995, although the mixed martial arts portion has gained in popularity over the last five years, according to Van Zuiden, who fights in the light heavyweight division.

"I enjoy the physical and the mental challenge of being a mixed martial artist. I know I can do a lot better. This is just a start. I know I can get better. I try to do my best to serve as an inspiration for guys in my unit who are 10-12 years younger than me."

During his first tournament at Fort Dix, N.J. in September, Van Zuiden won his first match before losing his second. However, the experience only ignited his desire to compete.

Van Zuiden is assigned to the 389th Engineer Company, located in Middletown, Iowa, where as it so happens, is also the location for Iowa AAP. Van Zuiden deployed with his unit in February 2003 to June 2004. He also previously deployed with the 45th Engineering Company, out of Rockford, Ill., in October 2009 to December 2010.

He recently took time off from his fights to heal from a tournament-related hip injury and while his wife prepared for the arrival of their second child, who was born in February.

His wife, Michelle, is very supportive of not only his Army career, but his fighting also.

"When I first told my wife (about my fighting), she was surprised but said, 'You have to do it. You don't want to pass up this opportunity and then always wonder how well you could have done. Go for it and give it your best. I'm sure you will do great!'"

Lt. Col. Michael Bruens, Iowa AAP commander, is also supportive of his fighting.

"Brent Van Zuiden takes part in Army-sponsored Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sporting events, through both his employment here at IAAAP as a Department of the Army Civilian, and through his Army Reserve Component position as a Chief Warrant Officer Two," he said. "I support his desire to compete in such sporting events and wish him continued success."

Van Zuiden was medically cleared on March 27 for his hip injury and will now have his next fight at Fort Dix, N.J. in July.

Iowa AAP is a subordinate organization of the Joint Munitions Command responsible for producing tank practice rounds, artillery rounds and 40 mm grenades, and for pressing missile warheads.

From its headquarters in Rock Island, Ill., JMC operates a nationwide network of conventional ammunition manufacturing plants and storage depots, and provides on-site ammunition experts to U.S. combat units wherever they are stationed or deployed. JMC's customers are U.S. forces of all military services, other U.S. Government agencies, and allied nations.