Eight Airmen complete MCMAP Published March 11, 2009 By Airman 1st Class William O'Brien 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Eight Edwards Airmen became the first to receive tan belts in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program during a graduation ceremony at the Rosburg Fitness Center March 6. "MCMAP teaches students basic hand-to-hand combat," said Tech. Sgt. Christopher Greene, 412th Maintenance Squadron precision measurement equipment laboratory technician. "Learning these techiniques are becoming more important with the Air Force's recent increase in deployments. It will also help with physical fitness." The course trained the Airmen in the basics of the program such as basic warrior stance, punches and strikes. "The students were also given classes on leadership and the core values for both Marine and Air Force," said Marine Staff Sgt. Gabriel Cruz, Medium Helicopter Squadron 764 operations officer and MCMAP instructor. "This was a good opportunity for both services to understand each other better, which is important because you never know when you're going to be working with someone from another service." The Airmen who completed the five-day course were presented with certificates, as well as their tan belts, which is the first level achievements in MCMAP. "I would like to commend all the participants for their efforts," said Sergeant Cruz. "All the Airmen who completed this class were motivated and did an outstanding job." Sergeant Cruz said he would be willing to hold classes for Airmen interested in receiving their tan belts as well as classes for Airmen interested in progressing further in the MCMAP program. Any Airmen who wants to sign up can contact Sergeant Greene. "This is the first group of Airmen from this base to receive belts in MCMAP," said Sergeant Cruz."They were all motivated and should be proud of themselves and their accomplishments." The following are graduates: 1st Lt. Brad McAdam -- Air Force Research Laboratory 2nd Lt. Christopher Gallegos -- Air Force Research Laboratory Tech. Sgt. Kapono Bangay -- 95th Communications Squadron Tech. Sgt. Eric Cullen -- 95th Communications Squadron Tech. Sgt.James Drake -- Air Force Research Laboratory Tech. Sgt. Nicolas Escobar -- 95th Medical Operations Squadron Tech. Sgt. Christopher Greene -- 412th Maintenance Squadron Staff Sgt. Robert Coddington -- 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron For more information or to sign up, call Sergeant Greene at 277-7940.