The Modern Army Combatives Program, based on a mixture of martial arts, is beginning to take root in the National Guard due to its popularity among soldiers and a strong belief that it teaches valuable lessons needed in combat.
The program progresses through four levels and teaches wrestling, judo, boxing, kickboxing and stick fighting, starting out with Brazilian Jui-Jitsu.
“Combatives builds the soldiers warrior ethos but it also gives them the ability to defend themselves when they can’t use lethal force,” said Sgt. 1st Class Alan Ezelle with Oregon’s 2/162 Infantry Battalion.
Ezelle points out that the training is now mandatory for all soldiers going into theater and feels that it’s critical in helping soldiers survive in combat.
“It teaches them body mechanics and gives them the ability to detain someone physically,” said Ezelle. “In combat a soldier will deal with locals at arms length, not knowing what possible situations can arise. On many occasions they may have to detain someone physically and combatives gives them that skill.”
Ezelle was a Platoon Sgt. in Iraq when the unit deployed from March 2004 to April 2005. Ezelle said the battalion saw heavy fighting throughout the month of August and suffered 15% casualties during their deployment. He feels the program builds critical skills.
“The mat time we spent there that week is worth its’ weight in gold,” said Reese. “Most soldiers are still talking about that week and claim that it was the best annual training that they had ever gone to.”
Maj. Christopher Reese was the Executive Officer of 2/162 Infantry when they decided to train their battalion in combatives sometime last February.
“We wanted to be the first battalion to step up and lead the way with combatives,” said Reese. “We graduated 89 Level I instructors on our first annual training period since the unit returned from Iraq.”
The first training period after a deployment seems to be an excellent time to build a strong base for combatives in a unit.
“We had just returned from Iraq and our training cycle had us focus on individual skills,” said Ezelle. “It was the perfect time to send a large number of troops to Level I and start building our program.”
Even though it has become mandatory training in the Army and teaches critical skills needed in combat, the unit found it was necessary for other reasons.
“For those who stuck it out until the end, a bond was created that was desperately needed in our battalion,” said Reese. “The battalion is half full of veterans and half full of new personnel so this brought the two groups together and competition with your brethren is the best way to meld a unit.”
The unit plans to advance the program while they maintain what they have learned by integrating it into their training calendar.
“Once these guys got back to home station, their platoon sergeants immediately began a training program that will be ever lasting because they are doing it for their weekend physical fitness now,” said Reese.
“They dedicate at least three hours a month to the training and have plans to start putting the Level I soldiers through Level II. The key is not allowing soldiers to forget what they have learned.”
Other states may have only a few qualified instructors but they have found that they can still begin working a program.
“I graduated Level I last December and another soldier and I are the only ones that I know of that are qualified,” said Sgt. Mark Radford with recruiting and retention for the North Carolina National Guard.
“In the recruit sustainment program we are training Level one, later we issue recruits a certificate from the state for being proficient,” said Radford. “It’s not the full instructor course but it gives them a good basis and a sense of accomplishment.”
Radford also says he is able to use his Level one training to reach out to the community.
“We teach combatives at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College for their law enforcement and public safety courses,” said Radford. “They find that the combatives helps their students and it gives us positive visibility in the community.”
Sgt. 1st Class Dan Perry, 223rd Infantry Regiment, California National Guard, says they will be running their first Level I class in November of this year.
“We only have two Level II instructors right now and a Level I,” said Perry. “Hopefully our Level II instructors will get Level III so that we can help the program along.”
Maj. Greg Heilshorn, a public affairs officer for the New Hampshire National Guard, said theyhave instructors and their program is off and running.
“The 54th Troop Command is acting on this Department of the Army directive and our battalion is making steady progress,” said Heilshorn.
“We have established a Level II instructor and we have four other noncommissioned officers on their way to becoming Level I instructors,” said Heilshorn. “Our yearly training guidance sets a four-year plan to make the program part of our culture.”
Heilshorn said they have been working with civilian organizations to enhance their program.
“We have partnered with the New Hampshire State Police Academy and conducted joint Law Enforcement/Military combatives training,” said Heilshorn. “We have also sent our instructors to a Gracie Brazilian JuJitsu seminar taught by Ryron Gracie.”
Some units have had issues finding equipment and facilities to train in for the instructor qualification course.
“We have trouble getting the resources to train because the program is mandated but not yet fully funded,” said Staff Sgt. Dave Hagen with the Oregon National Guard. “The units have to pay for some costs themselves and we have gotten some help from a local police academy so that we have mats.”
“Levels III and IV are funded this fiscal year but I believe there is a five year plan to fund Levels I and II,” said Hagen. “Until then we are just doing our best to train who we can with what we have.”
Other forms of funding are being used by Minnesota to help give their program a boost.
“The Army Community of Excellence has helped us with the purchase of wrestling mats,” said Sgt. Maj. Tony Padilla, Level III instructor with the Minnesota National Guard. “That has helped us build 150 Level I qualified soldiers and ten Level II instructors.”
The Okalahoma National Guard has seen a significant amount of growth in combatives after its Regional Training Institute (RTI) set up training last November.
“We have trained 160 Level I instructors and 55 Level II instructors for the National Guard,” said Sgt. 1st Class Michael B. Hannan, course manager with the Train the Trainers Course for the RTI. “Funding is a challenge and we are always looking for any help we could get.”
The Illinois National Guard has a number of Level I qualified troops and is working to build its combatives program.
“The Modern Army Combative Program is an excellent training initiative by the Chief of Staff of the Army to make every soldier a Warrior,” said Lt. Col Thomas Weiss, with the Illinois National Guard. “I have completed Level I and am a solid believer in the program.”
Weiss says the training not only provides Soldiers with the ability to fight and win a hand-to-hand engagement, but it gives Soldiers confidence and courage in combat. They are planning to teach Level 1 at our Region Training Institute.
Pennsylvania has managed to build a strong base in its program. “We have 4 Level III, 11 Level II and 104 Level I qualified instructors,” said Staff Sgt. Edward Toth, one of two Level IV instructors in that state. “The soldiers enjoy the training and we hope that the program continues to grow.”
There is a common consensus among the trainers in different states that combatives builds team work, critical skills, confidence and unit cohesion. For these reasons the program is continuing to grow Army wide.
"When a Soldier takes part in Combatives training, they gainfaith in their skills to fight and win on any battlefield,” said the Sergeant Major of the Army, Kenneth O. Preston.
“We don't want Soldiers doing hand-to-hand Combatives for the first time against an enemy soldier. Learning fundamental drills in training provides Soldiers the skills they need to survive in combat. Combatives training is physically and mentallydemanding and helps to instill courage and self-confidence in our Soldiers."