Posted by Lieutenant Colonel Melissa Barber-Tafoya (MACO) in Final Countdown… MACO or bust (MACO) Training Room 0800 hours

Posted by Lieutenant Elizabeth Prescott (Security) in Final Countdown… MACO or bust (MACO) Training Room 0800 hours

Posted by Lieutenant Colonel Melissa Barber-Tafoya (MACO) in Final Countdown… MACO or bust (MACO) Training Room 0800 hours
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻

SNIP

Melissa laughed “You’re fine Lieutenant.” She said “My duties are usually wrapped up by 0800 hours anyway. I start my days at 0400 hours and then again in the afternoon about 1400 hours.” She said “So this is my down time.” She looked at Elizabeth “So. Talk to me about what you already know in terms of hand to hand combat.” She said “I don’t want to reinvent the wheel by teaching you things you already know.” Melissa said “That is not an efficient use of your time or mine. And time is not a luxuary we have right now.”

Melissa was wearing a MACO tank top and shorts. It was clear that the MACO Lt. Col worked out on a daily basis. Elizabeth would also see numerous scars on the MACO’s upper body, arms and back. “My plan is pretty simple. We are going to combine several martial arts so that you can keep him on his toes and guessing.” Melissa said “You won’t be able to learn everything, but you should be able to get enough to at least give the Commander a run for his money.” She said “So, what do you know and we’ll go from there.”

MACO

Elizabeth saw the scars and winced. “Why do you keep your scars? I notice a lot of Marines do, but most others don’t. Is it a ‘proud of how I got them’ kind of thing?” She wasn’t condescending or even rude. It was a curiosity question from someone who hadn’t seen serious combat or had a severe accident.

Melissa looked at the scars “Some of them are badges of honor and some are to remind me that not everyone that is family is family.” She said cryptically.

“As to my abilities. Weapons are my specialty. And I can hold my own if cornered. Literally. I don’t do well in hand to hand unless my back is against the deck or the wall.” She bit back a growl as her jaw tightened. “Though apparently I’m not that great ‘there’ either.” Her mind sweeping back a moment to ending up on the floor in the ‘spar gone wrong’ that put her here in the first place.

Prescott
Sec/Intel (relieved)
Melissa nodded “OK. Show me what you got.” She said as she squared off with Elizabeth.

MCO

The next several minutes were a great tell. Elizabeth had spoken true. Melissa managed to get inside her defenses rather swiftly and on more than one occasion. Beth’s right side was her strongest and the side she managed to fend off more than half the blows sent her way. But her left side, and head, were her weakest. Nearly every blow, even with an obvious tell before hand, were able to land on or near their given mark.

One thing she ‘did’ have going for her was that she never backed down, nor asked for respite. Even when it was obvious she was getting frustrated and winded. Even when three blows, previously blocked, landed on her right side and left her gasping and over protecting her right side rib cage from the pain once more.

Elizabeth
Security/Intl (relieved)

As they sparred, Melissa paid close attention to Elizabeth’s strengths and weaknesses. After a few minutes, she held up her hand “Break…” She said tossing a bottle of water to Elizabeth and sitting down on one of the benches “Okay, so what is up with your left side, 95% of the attacks made to the side, landed.” She said observantly as she took a drink of water. She wanted to hear what Elizabeth thought the issue was before she offered any kind of input. Melissa grabbed her towel and wiped her face as one of the new MACOs entered “Espisito…I am going to need your help over here in a few minutes. ” Melissa said watching the green recruit nearly fall over himself when the commander called him out. “Ummm yes Ma’am.” He said “What do you need me to do?”

Melissa looked at Elizabeth “You’re going to create a video of the two of us sparring…Make sure it’s clear and that you clearly see the LT.” She said “Am I clear?” The young man nodded “Yes ma’am.” He said as he went to one of the lockers and got out a data pad to do the video on. Melissa looked back at Elizabeth “So you can see what I’m talking about.” She said.

MACO

Elizabeth caught the water bottle and was slugging down the refreshment as the other Marine entered. After their exchange she looked at the MACO. “I guess I hold my left arm too high?” She was guessing. Unfortunately, she had thought both sides equally protected, but the bruises to her ribs, shallow from pulled punches, was proof she was wrong.

As the woman mentioned the video, Liz nodded. “I understand. That makes sense. Cause apparently I’m missing something more than merely my judgement.” She tried to laugh, but it was forced and certainly not genuine. Setting the water bottle down and wiping her face off with her own towel, she stood up once more and looked to Melissa. “Ok, I’m ready.” She was certainly determined. And to her credit, was taking this lesson very seriously.

Elizabeth
Sec/Intel (relieved)

Melissa nodded and stood up “Okay, let’s go.” She said “Remember, protect your left side as much as you do the right.” Melissa thought for a moment “Are you right or left handed?” She asked as they stepped back onto the sparring mat. Melissa wasn’t pulling any punches, she wanted Liz to be ready for her next match and she planned to be there to watch.

MACO

Elizabeth got up and nodded. “I’m ready. And I’m right handed.”

For the next several minutes, they went back and forth. Elizabeth got in one or two decent shots, but her left remained vulnerable and one of Melissa’s shots almost knocked her to her knees. Her left hand went up as her right arm covered over her ribs, half doubled over trying to catch her breath. “HALT!” She called to the match as she backed to the wall to keep from going to her knees. A laugh, somewhat unstable sounding, came from her lips as she looked up. “Now I know why he said to see you.” She shook her head and focused hard on not losing the water she had drank a few moments ago.

Elizabeth
Sec/Intel(relieved)