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Coach
Hi, I am Jim Mahan. I am not a Special Forces Operator with 342 black ops raids to his name, a Police SWAT member who arrested a serial killer and saved a hostage, or anything super cool like that.
I am just like you. A husband. A Father. A Friend.
A guy who has the honor and privilege of serving the great nation of the United States for over 18 years both foreign and domestic. Throughout the years, I have had the honor to serve with many of our Nation’s finest sons and daughters. My military career has led me to discern a dire need for physical fitness, self defense skills and most importantly; the ability to communicate.
Imagine being in the middle of a firefight in a third world county and having to communicate with the locals who you are trying to decide whether they are good guys or bad. You have to establish a rapport immediately with both your interpreter and the ones you talk to. You learn to listen not just hear.
As I said before, physical fitness is very important to a healthy lifestyle. For most of us it means we can play in the park with our kids or get with the guys for a fast pickup game at the gym. In my line of work, it could mean life or death. Literally. Let me tell you a story.
March 20, 2003, Kuwait / Iraq border. I was getting ready to go on the first mission of my part in Operation Iraqi Freedom. As I have heard many times, “No mission plan survives first contact with the enemy”.
Here is my story told by Ann Scott Tyson, writing for the Christian Science Monitor.
From the March 31, 2003 edition – http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0331/p01s02-woiq.html
Faith and family: sustenance in combat
By Ann Scott Tyson | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
WITH THE 3-7TH CAVALRY – On the eve of their return to the front lines south of Baghdad, soldiers with the 3rd Infantry Division’s battle-hardened 3-7th Cavalry Squadron ate a hot meal, loaded up fresh supplies and ammunition, and mapped out their next mission.
In breaks from their work, they shared their feelings about being in combat – most for the first time – and the images and moments in Iraq that have changed their lives. From a troop commander to a fuel-truck driver, they spoke of their families, their faith, and their will to survive in what for many is an utterly strange, desperate, and hostile land.
Missing in action Staff Sgt. Jim Mahan, from Iowa, La., was called in from Fort Knox to fill a shortage in 3rd Infantry Division ranks. He still had jet lag when he joined the Bonecrusher unit on March 20, only hours before the cavalry squadron crossed the Kuwaiti border. He was put on a 14-hour resupply mission, to provide security for Black Hawk helicopters that flew North into Iraq to refuel the 3-7th’s Kiowa scouts. Soon afterward, he found himself stranded in enemy territory.
“It was called a ‘wet hawk’ mission, referring to the fuel on the Black Hawks. After the refueling, the Black Hawk pilots decided we needed to get off, and left us there. I don’t know why. There were four Kiowas there from Demon Troop, but they only have two seats and had no room for us. The pilots gave us food and water and radioed for transportation. They found some ADA [air defense artillery] guys to give us a ride, and we rode with them for a day until their Linebacker vehicles broke down. They decided to wait until someone found them.
“I didn’t feel that was safe because there were all these Iraqis driving around in trucks. So myself and my three guys left and started walking. We walked mostly at night, staying back from the road. We came close to Iraqi fighters, but we didn’t engage them because we were afraid of being overwhelmed. We ran out of food and water, until we found some bottles from a pallet that had fallen off a truck. Finally, we got a ride with a company from the 101st Airborne Division. We caught up with the 3-7th after seven days, and I found out I was listed as MIA [missing in action]. It was pretty wild.
“For me, it was a serious wake-up call. You have to pay attention all the time. I don’t take anything for granted anymore. You think, you pull the trigger and the gun will go off. You get on a helicopter and it will drop you at the right spot. I don’t even take eating and drinking for granted.”
I still feel that one of the things that kept me alive was my ability to communicate. Communicate to my Soldiers that there was hope, that yes, we were in trouble; but we were trained, we were physically fit, mentally strong and would survive. And we did.
Since that time, I have made it my 1 MISSION to do my utmost best to ensure that everyone that I come into contact with either in the military or through my martial arts instruction; has the tools and mindset to survive almost any violent encounter.
To further that goal, I have continued my martial arts practice and study and have attained Master Instructor Certification in several Martial Arts systems and Instructor certification in other self protection disciplines.
I have made physical and mental fitness my 1 MISSION in life. CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, CrossFit Kettlebell Instructor, Combat Fitness Instructor , Lifestyle Development and Meditation/Prayer have become driving forces that forge my personal way of the warrior.
These attribute enablers make my commitment to family and friends more attainable as they (enablers) give me focus and intestinal fortitude. Lets get health and fit together. Self Defense and CrossFit will prepare you for the unknown and the unknowable. Are you ready?
Best Regards,
Jim Mahan
