ARPC Airman receives Army Achievement Medal for win in combatives tournament

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Beth Anschutz
  • Air Reserve Personnel Center Public Affairs
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  A staff sergeant assigned to the Air Reserve Personnel Center was recently awarded an Army Achievement Medal for his win at a state-wide combatives tournament here.

Staff Sgt. Brandon Russell, who works board operations in Force Development at the center, beat more than 15 Soldiers to take first place in the welterweight division.

“It is a huge honor to receive this recognition from another branch of service and the manner in which it was achieved brings me a lot of pride,” Russell said.

According to the regulation governing the Army Combatives Training Program, combatives training helps to instill courage and self-confidence. With competence comes the understanding of controlled aggression and the ability to remain focused while under duress. New Soldiers begin their combatives training on day three of Initial Military Training and continue to train throughout their careers. Competitions are a tool to keep Soldiers motivated to train and pursue excellence in the arena.

Russell is a brown belt with nine years of training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He has competed and won on the state, national and international levels. He was introduced to the art during his first deployment and says the challenges of the sport keep him engaged mentally and physically.

“I was addicted to the art from the first class I took,” Russell said. “In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, you have to find comfort in uncomfortable situations. What I mean by that is you may be put in a bad situation due to a mistake you make and there isn’t any time to indulge in self-pity. You have to press on and keep fighting. This is the same with the military and life in general. Not every choice we make will be the best, however, we have to accept the choices we make and try to improve.”

Russell said the values he learns through his training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu make him successful in the Air Force and his personal life.

“Professionalism, military bearing and warrior spirit are essential in competing,” he said. “In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu you are constantly doing healthy self-evaluations. Why am I training? Where do I want to go in this art? What can I improve on? I use this mindset daily at work. What areas can I improve on? What processes can I make better? Am I impacting my work center in a positive manner?”

Russell trains locally with Ian Lieberman, a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and his trainer of two years. Lieberman said that Russell’s work ethic, dedication, determination and resilience have given him all the ingredients necessary for success.

“Most people who hold schedules that are a quarter as full as his, only find time to train half as much,” Lieberman said. “Brandon's brown belt speaks to his strong and vast skill set, his deep understanding of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu's many techniques and concepts, and most of all to his unwavering dedication to the art.”

Russell has three daughters and said it feels good to be able to share his success with them.

“My mission in life is to always inspire others,” he said. “No matter if it is a few or millions, I want to live a life that gives people hope and inspires them to be all they were created to be.”