A year of success: Camp Taji Combatives

Photo By Pfc. Michael Syner | Spc. Ryan Cannon, bottom, 1/111 Recon, 56th Stryker Brigade, struggles to escape from the mount position during the combatives tournament hosted by 10th Sustainment Brigade, Aug. 29. Cannon placed second in the featherweight division.  

TAJI, IRAQ

09.21.2009

Story by Pfc. Michael Syner 

13th Armored Corps Sustainment Command (13th ESC)

CAMP TAJI, Iraq — When the 10th Sustainment Brigade arrived at Camp Taji in November 2008, there was no program in place for teaching and expanding organized Modern Army Combatives, a curriculum that has been adopted as part of the core Soldier skills.

Instead, there were a few enthusiastic martial artists, and a rough-around-the-edges gym, a building that was converted from a mechanic's shop.

"The building has a lot of cracks in the walls, broken windows, and a lack of door seals which don't prevent the outside environment from coming inside," said Sgt. 1st Class Leonardo Munoz, a LaPorte, Texas, native, one of the Modern Army Combatives Program cadre from the brigade and the non-commissioned officer in charge of the brigade's transportation branch.

The brigade didn't spontaneously decide to push MACP. At Fort Drum, N.Y., the unit's home station, combatives classes were a weekly training event during "Sergeant's Time Training" for the brigade's Troops Battalion. This ensured the majority of the battalion had at least a rudimentary knowledge of the fundamentals.

"We drilled MACP every Wednesday," said Munoz.

While the brigade may have changed locations, they didn't drop their habits. Command Sgt. Maj. Allen G. Fritzsching, the brigade's senior enlisted advisor and native of Houston, is a strong supporter of the Army's unarmed combat system.

"It is important that all Soldiers know how to fight," said Fritzsching. "Our Soldiers are Logistics Warriors who sustain the force and enable our combat units to conduct full-spectrum operations on an asymmetrical battlefield. We are War Fighters first and it is vital that we know how to fight. MACP gives us those skills."

Even before the deployment, Fritzsching knew he wanted to make the program readily available for Soldiers.

"Prior to our departure, the sergeant major wanted to start up a combatives school similar to what he has done before during his last deployment with Noncommissioned Officer Education System schooling," said Munoz. "With the brigade commander's blessing, we purchased items that we felt would be needed to use in order to have a successful school environment."

The procurement of supplies was one of the largest issues facing the program.

Sgt. 1st Class Jimmie L. Blockett, the NCOIC of the program, as well as the legal NCOIC and Little Rock, Ark. native, said, "Getting money to support all of our needs in order to facilitate the training was the most difficult part of getting the program running smoothly."

One of the most marketable parts of MACP is the fact that little gear is needed to conduct training. According to Army Field Manual 3-25, the regulation pertaining to MACP all that is required is a certified instructor and a fairly soft-floored area, to include grass or sand, to effectively and safely train. That's well and good, but more comfortable settings mean more interest in continuing training.

"Air conditioning!" exclaimed Sgt. 1st Class Jason M. Boorn, another cadre member who is an electronic warfare operator with the brigade, and Tampa, Fla., native. "The building we used was like a sauna some days."

Other complaints include the difficulty in maintaining a clean training environment as far as weather-proofing, since the building used was little better than a pavilion tent.

"It's pretty close to training outside," said Munoz.

"It was demanding because we we're resource and time constrained. A lot of the success is a result of the professionalism and relentless dedication of the cadre. They made it work," said Fritzsching.

Despite these challenges, the Muleskinners were able to establish a camp-wide training program that held seven two-week-long level one certification courses, and three one-month long level two courses, both courses of which were available to anybody staying here.

"When we started the training it generated a lot of interest among units on the camp," said Fritzsching. "We train Soldiers despite what unit they are assigned to. We are all in the Army; we are all one big team."

The training produced approximately 185 fighters, and helped a lot of people find a potential hobby they would not have otherwise engaged in.

"I did a little wrestling in high school," said Pfc. Henry Handwerker, Hartsville, S.C., native and support operations specialist and graduate of the level one certification course. "But I love doing this. It's great choking people out, and it's good exercise."

"I have never been in a fight before in my life. After going through MACP, I no longer have the fear of being hit or facing my opponent. It was a great experience," said Staff Sgt. Natasha Scott, a Philadelphia native and certified level two fighter with the brigade intelligence section.

One of the main concepts behind MACP is the fact that it can be trained in a live manner, meaning that the concepts can be employed against fully-resisting opponents while training without a large risk of serious injury.

"The benefit of this system," said Boorn. "Is that Soldiers are able to improve their skills through regular competition. Being able to compete instills espirit de corps, bringing units closer together, and also makes Soldiers comfortable with having to deal with someone who fights back. Basically, it allows them to pressure-test what they've learned, and [hopefully] find out that it actually works."

The ability to practice against resisting opponents was a huge selling point in the early days of MACP, before it was officially adopted by the Army.

During the level one certification in MACP, the Soldiers are briefed on MACP's beginnings. It all started with former Soldier Matt Larsen, and his task to find a decent hand-to-hand combat system for his Ranger battalion.

"After some digging, he found that a lot of the more successful fighters were competing with each other regularly," said Munoz during a level one certification course. "Eventually he discovered Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which focused almost entirely on ground fighting, and could be used safely during sparring, without sacrificing technique. Pleased with it, he decided to make it the foundation for the future MACP."

"Later, Judo, Muay-Thai, boxing, and Kali were added to round out the system," Munoz said.

The brigade's training program enjoyed a solid year while deployed, turning out a number of fighters with both grappling and striking skills, and just after the last course's graduation a camp-wide tournament was held.

Originally, the tournament was planned to be held earlier in the year, but due to complications in getting enough mats, it was pushed back repeatedly. Once the mats arrived, however, the brigade's combatives cadre were quick to organize the event.

The tournament's set up is immediately familiar to anyone who has a passing knowledge of combat sports. Weigh-ins were held the day prior, with six different weight classes for competitors to fight in.

Cpl. Corey Minatani, a training NCO with the 1161st Transportation Company, 419th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th SB, knew he'd be facing a rough experience when he joked during the weigh-ins, "I feel fine now, but wait until after the tournament; then I'll be broken," said the Moses Lake, Wash. native.

The actual fighting started at 9 a.m., following a brief from Boorn, about the ruleset the fighters will be competing under.

The tournament rules were divided into two different sets: The preliminary and finals. With the preliminary fights, the competitors were allowed only to grapple, with certain throws and submissions ruled out for the Soldiers' safety.

The finals took the same rules but allowed open-handed strikes to the face and closed-fist strikes to the body; kicks were still outlawed.

More than 94 fighters submitted paperwork to compete and 15 teams were formed between different units.

The tournament received sponsorship from thejitz.com, an online fight apparel store owned by Scott Bauer and Michael Cascia.

"It's absolutely important for troops to learn hand-to-hand combat," said Bauer, himself a former Soldier who is deployed as a civilian here. "We want to help support that."

The Web site offered up gift certificates and shirts for the winners of the tournament, and intends to get more involved with service members and their training.

"We are hoping to get some instructors of our sponsored professional fighters to visit Soldiers," said Bauer, "but nothing is set yet."

In the meantime, thejitz.com is offering discounts for service members currently living at Camp Taji.

"I've got a lot of love for the military," said Bauer.

With the tournament serving as a culmination of a year of training, sweat, and pain, the 10th Sustainment Brigade, who is preparing to depart Camp Taji, has transformed the playing field for MACP with knowledge and training opportunities while offering the Soldiers a place to learn and grow.

• Date Taken: 09.21.2009
• Date Posted: 09.21.2009 15:22
• Story ID: 39109
• Location: TAJI, IQ