Mavericks improve warrior skills with combatives training

Photo By Staff Sgt. Jon Soles | U.S. Army 1st Lt. Aimee Feliz (right), of Fairfax, Va., charges Spc. Nick Anderson, of Hanover, Minn., in an attempt to get Anderson in a clench hold during Level I combatives training at the Division Special Troops Battalion Fight House on Camp Liberty, here, Nov. 13.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

11.13.2009

Story by Sgt. Jon Soles 

Multi-National Division Baghdad

BAGHDAD — A Soldier can't always depend on marksmanship to survive on the battlefield. Sometimes, a Soldier's only weapons are hands, feet and a warrior's determination.

Soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division's Special Troops Battalion tested their ability to preserve themselves and their battle buddies without weapons, by engaging in Level I combatives certification to cap off a week of training on Camp Liberty, here, Nov. 13.

Two Soldiers faced each other in the middle of the mat, while the other Soldiers erupted into cheers of encouragement.

Spc. Larisa Neskovic, a medic from Jay, Fla., took the role of the enemy. First Lt. Aimee Feliz, a main supply platoon leader from Fairfax, Va., stepped up to fight alone and without a weapon.

Once the two touched fists to start the fight, Neskovic immediately began to pummel Feliz in the head. Feliz struggled to hold Neskovic in a clinch hold to stop the blows as their deep breaths became audible in the room. Once Feliz finally held Neskovic in one of the three clinch holds required for the course — the modified seatbelt, rear clench and under hooks clench — the match was over.

Such matches went on for an hour, with male and female Soldiers all going against each other, regardless of the size difference. Soldiers who demonstrated proficiency in the three clench holds were awarded the Level I certificate.

Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Haynes, teaches unarmed combatives up to Level III for DSTB troops.

"What we try to bring out in these Soldiers is confidence and the warrior ethos," said Haynes. "I feel pretty confident that they can encounter the enemy on the battlefield and totally finish the fight."

Haynes said Level I focuses on 13 core moves and proficiency is determined by the ability to perform the three clenches. Level I certification requires 40 hours of instruction spread out over a week. Soldiers who earn their Level I certification may advance to Level II.

Capt. Seth Gould, who runs the unarmed combatives program, said hand-to-hand fighting is intended to be a contingency in case a Soldier has to fight an enemy alone, or without a weapon. It is intended to preserve a Soldier on the battlefield until reinforcements arrive.

"The guy that wins the fight is the guy whose buddy shows up first, and in the Army, your buddy is never far away," said Gould, a native of Covington, Ga.

Soldiers who earned their Level I certification said the training reminded them of the Army Warrior Ethos. Not giving up was the key to staying alive, said Sgt. Orianna Martinez, a supply sergeant from Rutherfordton, N.C.

"I'm going to do everything I can to keep the opponent from taking me down," said Martinez. "I feel like quitting is selfish. You can't just give up."

Martinez said a realistic aspect of the training was that opponents of diverse sizes and shapes were matched against each other. In a real combat situation, a Soldier would not get to pick the attacker.

"It's not the size or the fact that I'm a female that matters," said Martinez. "I'm a Soldier; I'm a warrior."

Spc. Orlando Garza, a cook from Beeville, Texas, accepted his certificate with blood on his face from the fighting. He said lessons he learned in combatives will help him as a Soldier.

"I learned that a warrior never quits," said Garza. "I'm more confident in myself and it will make me a better Soldier."

In addition to teaching fighting skills, the class also helps prepare Soldiers for the violence of hand-to-hand combat.

"It teaches them not to be afraid," said Gould. "You don't want to see a Soldier get hit in the face the first time in combat."

Regardless of military occupational specialty, Soldiers are warriors first and must possess the fighting skills to survive and defeat the enemy on the battlefield. The sweat and blood that was shed in the intense week-long unarmed combatives training may one day mean the difference between life and death for a warrior.

• Date Taken: 11.13.2009
• Date Posted: 11.14.2009 11:50
• Story ID: 41594
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ