PHOTOS: Air Cav. Soldiers Go to The Mat

By Sgt. Travis Zielinski

CAMP TAJI, Iraq-Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Landis (red belt), from Graham, Wash., the battalion motor pool sergeant for 615th Aviation Support Battalion, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, escapes a submission attempt by his oponent and goes on to win the match during a combatives tournament, Camp Taji, Iraq. Although Landis did not go on to win his weight class, he felt his team performed well. "I think they really came out of their shell and showed what they can actually do - nobody clamed up or tensed up," he said. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Travis Zielinski, 1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs)

CAMP TAJI, Iraq-The referee watches closely as Spc. De Andre Jackson (being held inside), from San Francisco, a generator mechanic for Headquarters Support Company, 615th Aviation Support Battalion, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, trys to get out of the grasp of his opponent during a combatives tournament, Camp Taji, Iraq. Jackson lost this fight to the judges' decision and placed fourth in his weight class. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Travis Zielinski, 1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs)

CAMP TAJI, Iraq-Spc. De Andre Jackson, from San Francisco, a generator mechanic for Headquarters Support Company, 615th Aviation Support Battalion, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, steps into the ring before winning a combatives match during a tournament held by the 10th Sustainment Brigade, Camp Taji, Iraq. Jackson would go on to place fourth in his weight class. "(I'm) happy that I've done my best, but what made me mad was that I had two or three submissions in and I didn't hold on to them," said Jackson of his final fight. "Next time I won't be passive aggressive, but aggressive aggressive." (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Travis Zielinski, 1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs)

CAMP TAJI, Iraq-Spc. Ronnell Howard (red belt), from Fort Bragg, N.C., a mechanic for Headquarters Support Company, 615th Aviation Support Battalion, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, pulls his oponent to the mat and goes on to submit him for a win during a combatives tournament hosted by the 10th Sustainment Brigade, Camp Taji, Iraq. Howard did not win in his weight class, but his team did well by wining all their fights by submissions - not point totals. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Travis Zielinski, 1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs)

CAMP TAJI, Iraq-His oponent struggles for position as Spc. De Andre Jackson (blue belt), from San Francisco, a generator mechanic for Headquarters Support Company, 615th Aviation Support Battalion, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, rains down open-palmed blows during a combatives tournament, Camp Taji, Iraq. This particular match was to decide who would take third place in the 135-pound weight class. Jackson lost the fight by the judges' decision. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Travis Zielinski, 1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs)

Comment on this story, by email comment@newsblaze.com

Click here to get NewsBlaze News in your email

Reader Comments

Add Your Own Comment