Volunteer combatives

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
Story by Sgt. Marcus Fichtl

Date: 04.19.2014
Posted: 04.23.2014 06:00
News ID: 127174
Volunteer combatives

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – Every night since March 10, a group of Soldiers from the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division volunteer their free time to teach Soldiers how to fight during a level one combatives course at Camp Buehring, Kuwait.

Six volunteers filled a need 2nd ABCT Soldiers demanded.

“Soldiers were asking about a level-one class so we came together to provide a class,” said Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Trujillo, noncommissioned officer in charge, 2nd ABCT combatives program. “All the instructors are big advocates of the program and have no issues to volunteer our time. It's for the Soldiers and that’s important.”

But to address the need for a combatives class, Trujillo, and his team, had to balance the class with the brigade’s mission in Kuwait.

So they improvised.

”It’s hard to get soldiers to leave for eight hours a day so we came up with the plan to instruct six days a week, three hours a day in the evening time in order for us to get max participation.

Spc. Daniel Mitchell Jr., volunteer combatives instructor, Company B, 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd ABCT, was one of the Soldier who jumped on the opportunity to teach Soldiers.

“I wanted a high-demanding class and it met all my expectations,” said Mitchell. “Hopefully, I will take my experience here and continue to teach when we get back.”

What they’ll take from this class is the fundamentals.

“It gives them a basic knowledge of self defense but it's also a good confidence booster for soldiers,” said Trujillo. “It not only lets them know they have the tools to survive a fight, but it’s a physical course and it gives them a confidence boost when they finish it.”

A feeling Mitchell shared.

“I would suggest this to other Soldiers, simply because of how it helps with self defense and combat detainment,” said Mitchell.

Trujillo stated the class brings value to the Soldiers and their units.

“It's nice to see the pride in them after accomplishing that task,” Trujillo said. “If you have a solider that needs a confidence boost, get them in the program. You will notice that the confidence carries over back to the company.”

The combatives classes will continue into the month of May.