Company H goes hand-to-hand during pugil sticks three training event

Photo By Cpl. Bridget Keane | Recruits use teamwork to ensure their equipment is on properly before pugil sticks June 5 aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. Before each pugil stick bout recruits are armed with a helmet, mouth piece, padding and a pugil stick. The sticks are padded at each end making sure the fights are safe and only a simulation of a close-combat situation.  

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

06.05.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. Crystal Druery 

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego     

SAN DIEGO - Recruits yell through their mouth guards as they charge with pugil sticks, ready to give a strike during training June 5 aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.

This was the third of four pugil sticks training sessions during recruit training for Company H. Pugil sticks training helps recruits prepare for hand-to-hand combat situations they might endure once becoming Marines.

“It builds confidence in their new skills and puts them in a simulated portion of a combat experience,” said Staff Sgt. Fredrick Favors, drill instructor, Platoon 2170, Company H, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion.

Though recruits are taught Marine Corps marksmanship during their time aboard the depot, it isn’t always possible to apply these skills. Instead Marines have found themselves using their M16-A4 service rifle as a close-combat weapon with a fixed bayonet. Pugil sticks have padding at both ends. Red represents a bayonet while the black padding represents the buttstock.

“This is a great way for the recruits to prepare for hand-to-hand combat,” said Favors.

Pugil sticks are a combination of different Marine Corps Martial Arts Program skills. Prior to going into pugil sticks three recruits receive a series of classes followed by fighting one-on-one against a fellow recruit in a pit. The recruits are paired based on weight, ensuring a fair fight.

Each recruit is armed with a pugil stick and protective gear, the winner is whomever the Martial Arts Instructor determines landed the first fatal blow. The different strikes that are considered fatal blows are taught to the recruits in their classes and are MCMAP moves they have learned throughout training.

“I won both matches today,” said Recruit Joseph Novoa, Plt. 2170, Company H, 2nd RTBn. “Pugil sticks are important because they teaches us how to handle our adrenaline and stress in a fast paced environment, like combat.”

This is a stepping stone toward Company H’s last pugil stick bout during week 11 on the Crucible. The Crucible is a 54-hour sleep and food deprivation team building exercise. The recruits have to come together in order to overcome different obstacles. They receive their Eagle, Globe and Anchor after the Crucible, followed by graduation June 29.

• Date Taken: 06.05.2012
• Date Posted: 06.22.2012 13:04
• Story ID: 90449
• Location: SAN DIEGO, CA, US