An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | March 4, 2022

Airman brings Jiu-Jitsu skills to SPP partner Costa Rica

By 150th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. - New Mexico Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Bradley Vallez is a tournament-winning Jiu-Jitsu competitor. He has the medal to prove it.

So when he got the opportunity to share his knowledge of non-lethal combat techniques to Costa Rica’s police force, he jumped at the chance.

“I supported the State Partnership Program Non-Lethal Techniques Tactics and Procedures,” said Vallez. “I served as an instructor in teaching combatives and arrest control techniques as part of an exchange of information with the Costa Rican police force.”

Vallez found himself in Costa Rica because the country is the New Mexico National Guard’s SPP partner. The National Guard Bureau established SPP in 1991 to encourage cooperation of international civil-military affairs and people-to-people ties at the state level.

This was Vallez’s first visit to Costa Rica.

“This was by far one of the most rewarding TDYs (temporary duty) that I have been on in my Air Force career,” said Vallez. “To be able to take the information that I am a subject matter expert on for the Air Force and be able to exchange this information and ideas with the Costa Rican police force to me personally made it very rewarding.”

The Albuquerque native has been a member of the NMANG’s 150th Security Forces Squadron for about 10 years. He’s a fire team leader and an instructor of combatives and non-lethal weapons and a tactical combat casualty care instructor.

“Staff Sgt. Vallez’s professionalism was on display in Costa Rica,” said Capt. Adrian Mateos, subject matter expert exchange officer in charge in Costa Rica. “He is a prime case study of the SPP success where, with careful planning and rehearsals, a subject matter expert that is not a Spanish speaker is able to travel and effectively collaborate with the partner nation.”

Following his return to Albuquerque, Vallez competed in and finished first in the 135-pound division at the American Grappling Federation’s Jiu-Jitsu tournament.
 

 

 

Related Articles
Lt. Col. Jennifer Ovanek, an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot with the Idaho Air National Guard's 190th Fighter Squadron, conducts a preflight inspection at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, March 13, 2022.
Idaho Air National Guard pilot a trailblazer
By Staff Sgt. Mercedee Wilds, | May 2, 2022
BOISE, Idaho – Twenty-nine years ago, Defense Secretary Les Aspin made an announcement that would change the future of women in the military. Lt. Col. Jennifer Ovanek, an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot with the Idaho Air National...

Over 136 days, 36 Air National Guard members worked as a part of the CARES Act team. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allowed for members of the Guard to be put on orders full time to support New Mexicans' needs and assistance during the global pandemic.
New Mexico Air Guard help the state with CARES Act team
By 150th Special Operations Wing | Nov. 3, 2020
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M - Over 136 days, 36 Air National Guard members worked as a part of the CARES Act team. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allowed for members of the Guard to be put on orders full...

A member of the 210th RED HORSE team, left, welds a wheel caster in July 2020 while another member looks on. The wheel caster aided in the transport of the UH-1 helicopter airframe in the background. The airframe was relocated to the Defense Nuclear Weapon School training site on base to be used as a training aid.
210th RED HORSE Squadron supports nuclear weapon school
By 150th Special Operations Wing | Oct. 20, 2020
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Airmen from the New Mexico Air National Guard's 210ᵗʰ RED HORSE Squadron at Kirtland AFB are supporting the Defense Nuclear Weapon School (DNWS) while receiving valuable training.In the fall of 2019,...