Modern Army Combatives: a thinking person's game

Photo By Sgt. Frank Vaughn | Sgt. John Gaynor, communications non-commissioned officer for 146th ESB and native of Milton, Fla., is restrained by Sean McManus, civilian information technology contractor with Victory Base Help Desk at 40th Signal Brigade and native of Atlanta during rolling drills Thursday. This technique is part of the Modern Army Combatives Program taught at Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith Physical Fitness Center every night at 9 p.m.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

02.21.2009

Story by Sgt. Frank Vaughn 

Multi-National Division-Central

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq – The Modern Army Combatives Program is alive and well on Camp Victory.

Soldiers and civilians alike gather at Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith Physical Fitness Center to train in this program, which is grounded in principles and techniques of Brazilian jujitsu, wrestling, boxing and Muay Thai kickboxing.

The program is designed to teach Soldiers how to fight hand-to-hand when weapons use is not practical in a combat situation, said Sgt. 1st Class Ralph Gray, platoon sergeant for Headquarters Platoon, Charlie Company, Task Force Dragon.

"You don't want to be the guy that kills someone's 70-year old grandmother or seven year-old child in a crowded situation," said the Cleveland native. "However, sometimes in those situations you have to subdue someone to protect your life. What are you going to do?"

"This isn't about being strong and imposing your will on the enemy; it's more like chess, only with consequences," he said. "It's not always the biggest or strongest guy that wins, it's usually the guy who's still thinking when it gets dangerous."

While the program has obvious benefits to Soldiers in combat readiness training, it also instills discipline and focus, said Gray.

"I had a Soldier in my platoon that really struggled in his career. He wasn't focused and really lacked discipline," he said. "After he attended first-level combatives training, he really turned his career around. He just recently went to the promotion board."

The program is beneficial for life outside of the Army as well.

"I'm in the National Guard, but in my civilian job I work as a corrections officer," said Sgt. John Gaynor, communications non-commissioned officer with 146th Expeditionary Signal Battalion. "These skills I'm learning will come in handy back home when I have to deal with violent prisoners."

Anyone who is interested in training in Modern Army Combatives can attend classes any night of the week at 9 p.m. in the aerobics room at the fitness center. Instructors focus on ground-fighting skills Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays; they focus on stand-up fighting skills such as striking and kicking Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

• Date Taken: 02.21.2009
• Date Posted: 02.21.2009 09:47
• Story ID: 30265
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ