Airmen complete Marine Corps martial arts training

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Cindy Dorfner
  • Combined Endeavor Regional Group Forward Public Affairs
CAMP SARAFOVO, Bulgaria (AFPN) --  Staff Sgt. Eric Earp does not necessarily consider himself athletic, but that did not keep him from completing a “grueling” weeklong Marine Corps martial arts training program.

“I wanted to see if I could complete a Marine Corps program,” said Sergeant Earp of the 735th Expeditionary Communications Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. “It was a challenge we don’t get as Airmen, unless we pursue it on our own.”

Sergeant Earp and the Marines out of Camp Lejeune, N.C., are here to participate in Combined Endeavor 2004. The two-week U.S. European Command-sponsored exercise is designed to identify and document command, control, communications and computer interoperability between NATO and Partnership for Peace nations.

While the exercise is mostly about communications, for the Marines, there always seems to be time to train. Sergeant Earp saw their training as an opportunity he could not pass up.

“We’d never have a chance at this kind of training,” Sergeant Earp said. “I was thankful the Marines gave the Airmen a chance to participate in their program. And, they rewarded us with the same level as the other Marines. It was awesome.”

After completing the training the 29-year-old communications computer systems specialist, along with three other Airmen and four Marines, attained the level of tan belt after a three-hour test.

Attaining a tan belt involves mostly learning the basic maneuvers, said Marine Corps Sgt. Jason Tullier, an 8th Communications Battalion digital switchboard technician and green belt.

“They’re only learning a little about gaining a tactical advantage. With the first level, the students are learning more about the fundamentals of survival,” he said.

Even though martial arts training is mostly mental, the physical part can be tough too, said Marine Corps Sgt. Frederick Riley, a radio operator from the 8th Communications Battalion and green belt martial arts instructor. Before the test, students participated in about an hour of combat conditioning. They completed leg lifts, push-ups, body sparring and a lot of teamwork activities.

“The physical part of the training is to get the person so physically exhausted that they’re forced to think and use the techniques they were taught,” Sergeant Riley said.

For Sergeant Riley, teaching the Airmen made the experience even better. He knew he would have Marines in his class because getting the tan belt is required for all Marines, he said. He was amazed to see Airmen along side the “devil dawgs.”

“I was surprised that they came out and did it,” Sergeant Riley said. “I didn’t expect anyone other than the Marines who hadn’t completed the test yet.

“This was a good experience for me,” he said. “A lot of people talk about the Air Force and how they’re less physical. I didn’t see it out there. I was surprised at how physically tough they were. They overcame their weaknesses, pushed themselves and finished it.”

One particular Airman impressed Sergeant Riley a bit more than the others.

“Staff Sergeant Earp worked harder than anyone else out there,” Sergeant Riley said. “He had the mentality to do this from beginning to end. While some of the other Airmen had to take breaks, Staff Sergeant Earp was focused.”

Focused and thrilled to be able to participate, Sergeant Earp said.

“This was the most grueling training, as far as physical and mental, that I could’ve imagined, but it was well worth it,” he said. “It was the chance to participate in a program that is unique to the Marine Corps. If nothing else, (it) was great to stand next to our fellow brothers in arms and be recognized.” (Courtesy of U.S. Air Forces in Europe News Service)