Photo By Kathryn Summerhill | Recruiters from the College Station Recruiting office in College Station, Texas pose...... read more read more
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The typical vision of an Army office is set on an Army base, separated from the local community, doing "Army things." But, a unique feature of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command and its Soldiers is they are embedded in the community. In College Station, local business owners recognize the presence of their uniformed men and women and not only thank them, but try to help protect them.
Master Renee Nolte owns and operates a martial art studio, which teaches multiple forms of martial arts, including Krav Maga. After the Chattanooga recruiting station shootings, Nolte decided that would not happen in her community. Not if she had something to say about it.
She contacted the local Army recruiting office and offered a free class for the recruiters. A class that would address the threat they actually faced now.
“Every time there is a new threat or new attack, then I change the way I train,” explained Nolte. “I introduce new training techniques and share them with my students and law enforcement.”
The new threat faced here is an active shooter in a small office, without the possibility of using firearms for protection. When Nolte was designing the class for the recruiters, that was the question she asked herself.
“If they aren’t able to have a firearm, then what can they do?”
It came down to hand-to-hand combat techniques. So Nolte taught the recruiters how to respond in close quarters to an attacker with a handgun and a knife. She armed the Soldiers with multiple defense and disarming techniques for each weapon. The training wasn’t exactly in the Army handbook, but the students found it to be right on par with what they need in today’s world.
“This type of training was unique because recruiters typically don't receive this training ever,” said Sgt. 1st Class Raymond Jackson, assistant center commander of the College Station Recruiting Center. “We learned a lot that we can use in our everyday life.”
Nolte has 32 years practicing martial arts, 17 years as a business owner, and 10 years in College Station. For her, something as simple as teaching her skill set was an obvious way to give back to the men and women who give their all to their country every day.
“What an honor to serve your country,” Nolte gushed. “And if I can surround myself with those who honor me by servicing our country, then I’m going to honor them by sharing skill sets that I’m skilled in and can share with them.”
For the Soldiers receiving the training, what seems like a simple gesture is actually a huge reminder that their community remembers them.
“It really feels great to know that people really do care about us,” said Jackson. “They are aware that we aren't on a secure installation so every bit will help.”
Nolte doesn’t want to stop here and now, though.
“I want to provide continuing education. I want to be able to provide once a month. I would like to see it happen not only here in my community, but see it spread throughout the nation.”
But for now, Nolte will continue to focus here on her community and with the recruiters who are a part of the College Station family. When asked why she is putting so much into the community, the answer from Nolte was fairly simple.
“As a business owner in your own community, what can you do to make it happy and healthy?”
| Date Taken: | 08.14.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 09.10.2015 14:53 |
| Story ID: | 175612 |
| Location: | COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 66 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Community 'arms' Soldiers with self-defense, by Kathryn Summerhill, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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