USMC
Captain America Lives
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941).
And yes, Captain America was created to aid the U.S. war effort (WWII, that is). And the fictional figure that he is, he wears a costume that bears an American flag motif and he is armed with an indestructible shield. But you know that already, right?!
In my unrelenting pursuit of intruiging stories and inspirational real-life characters, I believe that I have actually found a real-life Captain America.
Two years after being born on Yokota Air Base in Japan, he and his family moved to Scranton, PA, where he spent his childhood and teenage years.
He then atttended the U.S. Naval Academy where he very successfully played football as a linebacker.
After graduating, he was assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps where he rose to the rank of Captain.
While serving with the Marines, “All American” Brian Stann was awarded the Silver Star. And the citation reads something like this:
“The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Brian M. Stann, First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy as Second Mobile Assault Platoon Leader, Weapons Company, Third Battalion, Second Marines, Regimental Combat Team 2, SECOND Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM from 8 May to 14 May 2005. During Operation MATADOR, Second Lieutenant Stann led his reinforced platoon on an assault through a foreign fighter and Mujahedeen insurgent defense-in-depth to seize the Ramana Bridge north of Karabilah, Iraq. On three separate occasions, he traversed four kilometers of enemy occupied urban terrain in order to maintain his battle position. With each deliberate attack he controlled close air support and the direct fire systems of tanks and heavy machineguns destroying enemy positions along the route. At one point, the enemy massed on his platoon and fired over 30 rocket propelled grenades, machineguns, detonated two improvised explosive devices and attacked the unit with three suicide vehicle borne improvised explosive devices. Second Lieutenant Stann personally directed two casualty evacuations, three vehicle recovery operations and multiple close air support missions under enemy small arms, machinegun and mortar fire in his 360-degree fight. Inspired by his leadership and endurance, Second Lieutenant Stann’s platoon held the battle position on the Euphrates River for six days protecting the Task Force flank and isolating foreign fighters and insurgents north of the river. Second Lieutenant Stann’s zealous initiative, courageous actions, and exceptional presence of mind reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.”
Brian Stann got hooked on martial arts while attending the MCMAP (Marine Corps Martial Arts Program) and he very impressively acquired some very effective cage fighting skills which took him to becoming WEC Light Heavyweight Champion.
After the UFC took over WEC, all WEC-Middleweight and WEC-Light Heavyweight fighters were brought into the UFC family.
Brian Stann dropped from Light Heavyweight to Middleweight where he is currently ranked number 6 in the world with a MMA record of 11-3.
But the Octagon isn’t the only place that Brian Stann is leaving his mark.
The married father of two knows the true meaning of leaving no man behind. He is the very active President of Hire Heroes USA.
Hire Heroes USA’s (HHUSA) mission is to offer transition assistance, job search assistance, and job placement services to those who have honorably served in the US military – and to their spouses – in order to reduce veteran unemployment. HHUSA prioritizes veterans statistically most likely to be unemployed: veterans of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM, and veterans that are wounded or disabled.
As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, HHUSA’s services are provided at no cost to the veteran.
And let’s recap with some visuals:
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USMC Teaches UFC Combat Outside The Octagon
I guess you can say that UFC fighters are somewhat like modern-day gladiators.
Just a couple of days ago I stumbled across something I think you’re going to like.
Several UFC fighters and UFC President, Dana White, travelled to the United States Marine Corps’ MACE (Martial Arts Center of Excellence) and they couldn’t have been more impressed with what they saw and experienced first-hand.
The U.S. Marines at Quantico, who are true warriors in the true sense, put their amazing skills on display.
It sure was an adventure for the UFC guys and I pull my hat that they got out of their comfort zone and tried some stuff they don’t normally do on a daily basis. Kudos!
“One mind, any weapon.”
Do You Really Have A Combat Mindset?
We talk a lot about the physical and technical aspect of martial arts, both competition and self-defense.
I thought it might be rather interesting to have a closer look at the mental aspect which supposedly makes up for about 90%.
If we want to come out of a perilous and maybe even life-threatening physical encounter unscathed, we have to have the right mindset.
What does that mean?
Let’s just call it ‘Combat Mindset’.
I would like to introduce somebody who knew a thing or two about it.
Friends knew John Dean Cooper simply as “Jeff” Cooper, who was a U.S. Marine Lieutenant Colonel and who served in both World War II and the Korean War, also known as the ‘Forgotten War’.
At the age of 36, Colonel Cooper was decommissioned in 1956.
He is still recognized as the father of the ‘Modern Technique’ of handgun shooting.
Jeff Cooper was referred to as one of the 20th century’s leading international authorities on the use and history of small arms.
This might rock your world:
According to Colonel Cooper, the most important means of surviving a lethal confrontation isn’t the weapon or martial skills, but rather the combat mindset.
In his book, Principles of Personal Defense, there’s a chapter on awareness, in which Colonel Cooper presents an adaptation of the U.S. Marine Corps system to differentiate states of readiness.
The original color code according to Jeff Cooper had nothing to do with tactical situations or alertness levels, but rather with one’s state of mind.
His teachings relate to the degree of danger you are willing to do something. This allows you to move from one level of mindset to another to enable you to properly handle a given situation.
Jeff Cooper didn’t necessarily invent anything in particular with the color code, but he was apparently the first to use it as an indication of mental state. Numerous law enforcement and military agencies apply these principles.
White – Unaware and unprepared.
When attacked in Condition White, the only thing that may save you is the inadequacy or ineptitude of your attacker.
If you are confronted by something nasty, your reaction will probably be “OMG! This isn’t happening to me.”
Yellow – Relaxed alert. No specific threat situation.
Your mindset is that “today could just be the day I might have to defend myself.”
You are simply aware that the world is a potentially unfriendly place and that you are prepared to defend yourself, if necessary.
You use your eyes and ears, and realize that “I may have to SHOOT today.”
You don’t have to be armed in this state, but if you are armed you should be in Condition Yellow.
You should always be in Yellow whenever you are in unfamiliar surroundings or among people you don’t know.
You can remain in Yellow for long periods, as long as you are able to “Watch your six.” (In aviation 12 o’clock refers to the direction in front of the aircraft’s nose. Six o’clock is the blind spot behind the pilot.)
In Yellow, you are “taking in” surrounding information in a relaxed but alert manner, like a continuous 360 degree radar sweep. Or as Cooper put it, “I might have to shoot.”
Don’t miss the continuation and conclusion in tomorrow’s post. It’s that important!
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