Meet Your Military
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PHOTO: Marine Corps Sgt. Lawanda Ruiz, left, instructs Sgt. Bryan Mack, right, and Cpl. Steven Myint, center, during their Marine Corps Martial Arts Program final field exercise at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, June 26, 2014. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Leslie KeopkaCAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti – Street lights shine down on a tent in a turf field as Marines of all ranks gather inside, night after night, to learn crucial skills that could someday save their lives. These Marines not only are learning important martial arts tactics, but also are learning how to be martial arts instructors. “One mind, any weapon,” is the motto for the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, meaning that a Marine is a weapon, even without carrying one. Marine Corps Sgt. Lawanda Ruiz, administration chief for the Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa personnel office here, has dedicated more than 400 hours as an MCMAP instructor trainer, both here and at her home station of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
The martial arts program combines mental, physical and character discipline. Marines must have a balance of honor, courage, commitment, professional military education, determination, and physical and mental strength, Ruiz said. Ruiz, a native of Anniston, Alabama, graduated seven new instructors last month. The course was three weeks long, six days a week, and its 120 hours of instruction covered tactics, nutrition and Marine Corps history. “The thing that we wanted to do during the Martial Arts Instructors Course was let everyone get away from the mixed martial arts mindset and put it into a combat mindset -- full fighting gear,” Ruiz said. “Utilizing this course, I was able to show the Marines that regardless of their job, they might be called upon to take charge and ensure the safety of military, diplomatic and civilian personnel.” Ruiz completed the seven-week Marine Corps Center of Excellence Instructor Trainer’s Course in March.
Read more: Meet Your Military: Martial Arts Instructor Teaches With Passion
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PHOTO: Air Force Staff Sgt. Jesus Yanez at his post at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, July 2, 2014. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Evelyn ChavezBAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Air Force Staff Sgt. Jesus Yanez is the only member of his family to pursue the profession of arms. That’s not unusual. But Yanez, deployed here from the Texas Air National Guard’s 204th Security Forces Squadron in El Paso, Texas, has answered his nation’s call not just once, but four times, first as a Marine, then as a sailor, then as a soldier, and now as an airman. “It sort of just happened, being in all four branches,” said Yanez, a 455th Expeditionary Base Defense Squadron defender. “I didn’t even think about it until one of my friends mentioned it. From the Marine Corps to the Air Force, every branch has taught me something different.” Each branch of service has been a steppingstone for Yanez. He started his military career in 1993 as a Marine at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, as a logistics Marine in charge of storing, distributing equipment and moving personnel. “The Marine Corps instilled discipline and has influenced the way I am now. What I learned there I have applied to every branch that I have served. But each branch has also given me an attribute that has made me the person I am today.” Although he enjoyed serving in the military he left the Marines after completing his four years of service. Two years later, he joined the Navy Reserve in his hometown of El Paso.
He served from 1999 to 2001 as a master of arms, where he performed force protection duties that would later help him with his Air Force career. After he completed his time in the Navy, he looked for other opportunities to challenge him as an individual. “I am the type of person who looks for challenges every day That is the reason why I joined the military.” His next two opportunities were with the Army Reserve and the Air Force. While serving from 2001 to 2006 in the Army Reserve in Fort Bliss, Texas, as a heavy wheel mechanic, Yanez learned about the Air Force’s 204th Security Forces Squadron. “I was asked if I would be interested in an active Guard-Reserve position with the Air Force,” he said. “This is something I was really interested in, and it would allow me to stay in my hometown. As a single father, this was a better option, because it avoided moving my kids to another place.” Throughout his service in all branches, Yanez learned there are more similarities than differences. “The camaraderie is the same. Regardless of branch of service, everyone always works together to get the job done. I have also learned that anywhere you go, if you take care of the people below you, they will take care of you.”
Read more: Meet Your Military: Airman Serves in His Fourth Service Branch
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PHOTO: Army Maj. Gen. Terry Ferrell, left, 7th Infantry Division commanding general, administers the re-enlistment oath to Army Staff Sgt. James Owens, center, and Army Sgt. Brook Owens, right, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., July 10, 2014. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Chris McCulloughJOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – Choosing to serve the nation is an honor and a privilege for many, although it is not without its hardships, such as long hours, deployments to faraway places, and time away from loved ones. For one married couple, Army Staff Sgt. James Owens and Army Sgt. Brook Owens, both with 3-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division, their desire to continue serving the Army was on display here July 10 as they chose to re-enlist together. Army Maj. Gen. Terry Ferrell, 7th Infantry Division commanding general, said the opportunity to re-enlist the couple was an honor and a privilege. "As a husband-and-wife team serving our nation, it is very humbling. … You're part of the less than 1 percent of the American population that do what we do,” Ferrell said. “[That's why] it's even more important to know that we have soldiers like you that are willing to carry on the tradition.”
Ferrell had some words of wisdom for the couple gained from his 30-year military career. “Set your goals wherever you want to go,” he told them. “That's the thing about the re-enlistment -- it opens doors. Open those doors and be willing to walk through and accept what you want to accept." James, a Sparks, Nev., native, is a training room noncommissioned officer and has served the Army for eight years. This is his third re-enlistment. When the time comes around again, he said, he will re-enlist for "indefinite" status, which means he will not need to re-enlist again before he retires. For Brook, a Grand Junction, Colo., native who serves as a welder, this was only her second re-enlistment, which will bring her out to the mid-career point. Both said they plan to go the distance and retire after 20 years. "We want to try and go until we retire, and at the same time, we do want to start a family," James said. The soldiers met five years ago when they were in the same class at the Warrior Leader Course at Fort Carson, Colorado. Since then, they have been inseparable, even deploying to Afghanistan together in 2009 when they were both with 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, at Fort Carson.
Read more: Meet Your Military: Couple Recommits to Army Together
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PHOTO: Army Spc. Lassana Traore, right, translates during a conversation between Army Pfc. Cody Anderson, center, and a Senegalese soldier during exercise Western Accord 14 at Camp Thies, Senegal, June 25, 2014. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Takita Lawery THIES, Senegal – After joining the U.S. Army two years ago, Spc. Lassana Traore, a food service specialist with 1st Infantry Division’s 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, couldn’t have imagined he would find himself back in his native land of Senegal as an Army translator for Exercise Western Accord 14. Staff Sgt. Murquitte Wingfield, food service noncommissioned officer in charge, Company E, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, said Traore’s a “super soldier” who is always motivated to do more than what is asked or expected of him. "It is a great learning experience for him to be serving his native country and the U.S. Army," Wingfield said.
"I think he will gain a lot of knowledge from interacting with both nations simultaneously during the exercise." Traore grew-up in Pikine, a small city outside of Dakar, Senegal, with his parents, four brothers and three sisters. He graduated from Seydou Nourou Tall, a multigrade school, in 2000. Following an injury to his leg that stopped him from playing professional soccer, Traore said, he decided to travel to France to attend college and study business management. He later traveled to Italy to help in running his father's fishing company, and it was there where he met his wife, who also serves in the Army. Traore joined the Army in 2012, and chose to be a cook because choices were limited for him at the time. “I actually enjoy doing my job," he added. "And now, I am happy to be here, because I can serve both my countries at the same time. "Traore's duties during the exercise were limited at first to the food service team. But things quickly changed when his unit hit the ground in Senegal.
In addition to working in the dining facility, he soon was translating for various African nations throughout Camp Thies. The 32-year-old said helping soldiers to overcome language barriers has been one of his favorite parts of Western Accord 14 was. Knowing he helped soldiers better comprehend the training they received so they could apply it to what they already knew was what he enjoyed most about the experience, he added.
Read more: Meet Your Military: Soldier Born in Senegal Returns for Exercise
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PHOTO: Army Maj. Chrissy Cook sits at the helm of her Bradley fighting vehicle during a media opportunity at Fort Hood, Texas, July 7, 2014. U.S. Army photo by Heather GrahamFORT HOOD, Texas – Army Maj. Chrissy Cook made history in the 1st Cavalry Division last month when she led her Bradley fighting vehicle crew to "Top Gun" status during gunnery exercise, making her the first female Bradley commander to do so. In June, Cook led her crew to her battalion’s "Top Gun" title in a gunnery exercise. Ashley Cook, an engineer officer and for 3rd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, led her crew to a top score of 835 with nine of 10 engagements as the Army continues to open doors to women in direct combat roles. The engineer branch has long been open to women. "We are all trained the same," Cook said, noting that female engineers were not authorized to go into a combat arms unit until reaching the rank of major. "That's been open for awhile," she added. When her unit's Bradley gunnery came up, Cook filled in for her battalion commander. "I just happened to be in the right place at the right time," she said. She and her crew trained for six months -- mostly on nights and weekends, because of Cook's work commitments. "We went through the same things as other crews," Cook said.
"We had the same struggles as everyone else, but my crew had the added struggle of working around my schedule." Still, she added, her Bradley crew is a happy one and shares the same camaraderie that close-quarters training and working environments commonly breed. She said her crew does not look at her as a woman, but as a qualified officer. "I haven't been treated any differently," Cook said. "They didn't look at me as a female. They looked at me as a leader and as a soldier." Her crew agreed that Cook is no different from other commanders. "She's just another commander. I didn't think about it any differently," explained Army Pfc. Paul Kurashewich, Bradley driver. "She's a good Bradley commander." Army 2nd Lt. Arnulfo Ahumada, jump Bradley commander for the crew, said working with competent female leaders is nothing new for him, as he was surrounded by them while attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York.
Read more: Meet Your Military: Woman Leads Bradley Crew to "Top Gun" Status