October 28, 2009 www.dvidshub.net (search phrase: Expeditionary Times) Vol. 2 Issue 43 Retrograde Combatives level two classes at JBB STORY AND PHOTO BY SP C . JOHN STI M A C EXP E DITION A RY TIM E S ST A FF JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – Service members on Joint Base Bal- ad, Iraq, may soon be able to learn attack skills ranging from punching to placing opponents into submission. Level two combatives class- es, which are tentatively sched- uled to begin in December at JBB at the East Gym, teach Normandy cleans up combatants intermediate at- tacking and defensive tech- niques, said Spc. Nigel Davis, Page 9 noncommissioned officer in charge of the combatives pro- Air Force Senior Airman Catherine West, with the 532nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron and a Lumber- ton, N.C., native, explains each step of her takedown techniques to the instructor during the level one combatives gram, with the 80th Ordnance class. This procedure is mandatory to pass the class Battalion. Look out below Davis, a Brooklyn, N.Y., na- week classes that start Nov. 9. certified can also be a puncher to be as flexible as possible.” tive, said the goal of the train- Level two classes build on in the level one combatives Davis said the training ing in level one and two com- the skills learned in level one, class, and is allowed to be an consists of a basic format of batives is not to learn to fight, teaching more intermediate assistant instructor,” he said. ground-fighting techniques but teach service members to defense and attack positions, Level one is a 40-hour and stand-up fighting. protect themselves and their said Davis. course, completed in a five- “We’ve also changed the battle buddies. “Level two gives more op- day period and the level two outlook on mentally training “This is not a school where tions on how to get out of course is 80 hours, or two the Soldiers as well,” he said. we train fighters,” said Davis. situations and how to remain weeks, said Davis. “The students watch videos of Level one combatives class- calm when put in stressful sit- “We also understand that live professional bouts and see es have been at JBB for roughly uations under close combat,” some personnel are not able how level one techniques are a year – the November sched- he said. to train the full five days, so being used and standardized ule for the Army combatives Davis said level two also some people can do half days,” in their matches.” level one training certification teaches officiating in a mixed he said. “If possible we try to Standardized physical train- classes was released Oct. 21 martial arts match. accommodate the participants ing does not properly prepare and will consist of three, one “Anyone who is level two around their schedules and try 37th Eng. Bn. performs SEE CLASS ON PAGE 4 St. Michael’s Jump Page 12-13 Mississippi Guardsmen ramp up excess equipment turn in at Q-West Family ties STORY AND PHOTO BY Contingency Operating Loca- Iraq,” said Goodman, a native The battalion also staffs the CAPT . MURRAY SHUGAR S tion Q-West, Iraq. of Meridian, Miss. “We’re turn- base defense operations center 2/198TH CAB Lt. Col. Kerry Goodman, the ing in over seven years’ worth and the mayor cell that over- commander of 2nd Battalion, of accumulated equipment and sees basic life-support needs. CONTINGENCY OPERAT- 198th Combined Arms out of vehicles, which the Army can Additionally, the Mississippi- ING LOCATION Senatobia, Miss., inspected redistribute where it’s needed ans provide three convoy secu- Q-WEST, Iraq — four company areas, including most, such as in Afghanistan.” rity companies, said Goodman. In preparation for motor pools and maintenance The excess turn in is an These convoy security com- the drawdown of shops, scattered across the added duty for a busy battal- panies will become much U.S. forces and base. ion. The 2/198th CAB provides busier as the transportation Fathers, sons equipment from “We have to get all non- Q-West with a force protection of equipment and supplies in- deploy together Iraq, the commander of a Mis- mission-essential equipment company that runs the main en- creases during the drawdown, sissippi Army National Guard off our property books to sup- try control point, fields a quick so it is important for the Mis- battalion conducted an excess port a responsible drawdown reaction force and secures off- sissippians to turn in their own Page 15 property inspection Oct. 11 at of personnel and equipment in post missions, said Goodman. SEE EXCESS ON PAGE 4 PAGE 2 EXP E DITIONARY TIM E S October 28, 2009 Balad Blotter JBB platelets travel to Afghanistan September 30 - October 6 STORY AND PHOTO BY AIR FORCE SENIOR AIRMAN ANDRIA J. ALLMOND SEIZED PROPERTY/CONTRABAND: 332ND AEW PUBLIC AFF A IRS A complainant telephoned the law enforcement desk and reported a third country national with JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq –In support of Opera- contraband that consisted of a black thumb tion Enduring Freedom, the Air Force drive. The complainant detained the subject Theater Hospital platelet apheresis lab and transported him to the law enforcement at Joint Base Balad began dispatching desk. The subject was later released to his su- blood platelets to Afghanistan Oct. pervisor. 14. The AFTH has functioned as SEIZED PROPERTY/CONTRABAND: the sole platelet provider in Iraq. Now, it is the first A complainant notified Defender Control of a in-theater medical facility to send platelets col- third country national with cell phone contra- lected in one operational area to another, said Lt. band at complainant’s location. Patrols arrived Col. Thomas Jordan, 332nd Expeditionary Medical on scene and made contact with the witness. Group apheresis chief. Army Sgt. Jason Westlund, C Company, 7th Battalion, The witness stated via statement of witness “When I first arrived, I noticed there was a need 158th Aviation flight medic with the Oregon National form she was searching a vehicle at her loca- (for platelets) in Afghanistan,” said Jordan, who is Guard, places a package of blood platelets into a UH-60 tion when she discovered property in the driv- deployed here from Carswell Air Force Base, Texas. Black Hawk helicopter for transfer to another contin- gency operating location Oct. 19. The Air Force Theater er’s side door. The patrol seized property via “Sometimes we collect more platelets then we need Hospital collects the blood component for use in medi- Department of Defense form 4137. The patrol to meet the demand in Iraq. Right now we’re at 56 cal facilities throughout Iraq and Afghanistan. transported the subject to the law enforcement to 62 units a week. Since some of those units don’t desk for questioning. HST arrived on scene and get applied – and inevitably must be destroyed if conducted a non custodial interview with sub- not used within their shelf life – we wanted to fig- “Right from the beginning, we noticed that even if ject. The subject said he found property while ure out a place we could utilize the excess.” we got the platelets there, the medical facility in Af- cleaning a warehouse. The subject said he Master Sgt. Philip Monk, platelet apheresis lab- ghanistan wouldn’t be able to sustain them because made three calls to his father and then placed oratory flight chief, said while injuries requiring they didn’t have an incubator,” Jordan said. “I looked the cell phone in the vehicle where it was found platelet transfusions have decreased in Iraq, there around here and found that we had an (extra) one. So, by the witness. The subject refused to make a is still a need for the condensed clotting agent in we figured out a way to get it to Kandahar. They vali- written statement. Afghanistan. dated the effectiveness of that instrument and then “Our sole purpose here is to provide platelets put it into use.” PATROL RESPONSE/FOUND PROPER- where they’re needed,” said Monk, the senior NCO, The process has been a joint effort between the Air TY: deployed from Andrews AFB, Md. “So, we targeted Force, Army and Navy. While the platelets are collect- A complainant telephoned the law enforcement (Afghanistan), and we weren’t gonna be stopped. ed by the Air Force, the Navy runs the Kandahar hos- desk and reported finding property at location We made sure we got them there.” pital and the Army handles the weekly shipments. with no known owner in the area. A patrol was Jordan and his team ran into a series of chal- Army Sgt. Jason Westlund, a C Company, 7th Bat- briefed and dispatched. The patrol arrived on lenges getting the platelets to the OEF theater, he talion, 158th Aviation flight medic who helps trans- the scene and made contact with the complain- said. port the boxes of blood products, was excited about ant who stated via a statement of complainant “(Platelets) don’t like to be above 73 degrees the new mission. form that he was told that property was left Fahrenheit or they die off,” he said. “So we have “We’re here to support Warfighters on the front behind at the individual drop-off point at his to keep them at a certain temperature for the en- lines,” said the Oregon National Guardsman. “And location. The complainant further said he im- tire life of the platelet. This proved to be a difficulty the thought that we may be a part of the process that mediately contacted the KBR inc.