MCMAP: Belting-Up with Sgt. Varas

Photo By Cpl. Alexis Longcrier | MAG-41 Marines are up bright and early for Gray Belt training with Martial Arts Instructor Sgt Carlos E. Varas. The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program teaches Marines the fundamentals of hand-to-hand, weapons-based, and close-quarters combat. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Joel Chaverri)  

FORT WORTH, TX, UNITED STATES

08.20.2016

Story by Cpl. Alexis Longcrier 

Marine Aircraft Group 41

(NAVAL AIR STATION FORT WORTH JOINT RESERVE BASE, Texas)—The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program teaches Marines the fundamentals of hand-to-hand, weapons-based, and close-quarters combat in order to increase Marines’ war fighting capabilities, along with morale, team-building, and warrior ethos. Sgt. Carlos E. Varas, Armory Chief with Marine Aircraft Group 41 in Fort Worth, Texas, is bringing these aspects of MCMAP to the Marines aboard Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base.
“MCMAP is the very basics of self-defense that everyone needs to know,” said Varas. “Many Marines avoid MCMAP after boot camp, but the skills we learn in this program are so important. MCMAP is applicable to both war fighting and real-life self-defense.”
MCMAP incorporates the full spectrum of the force continuum on the battlefield, and contributes to the mental, character and physical development of Marines. This program, which was formally established in 2001, takes many different moves from various martial art disciplines and combines them into one program that includes tan, gray, green, brown, and black belts. Although Varas is still a fairly new instructor, he has already held courses for gray and green belts, and has given out seven MCMAP belts so far.
“Getting my gray belt with Sgt. Varas was a great experience,” said Lance Cpl. Edgar A. Luna, an Administrative Clerk with MAG-41 in Fort Worth, Texas. “It was really motivating and MCMAP always makes me feel that esprit de corps.”
Since Marines come out of boot camp with their tan belt, Varas primarily focuses on getting Marines the next two belts, gray and green. These courses require a total of 25 hours of training each to complete, and include Physical Training, MCMAP techniques, and “tie-ins” for each of the techniques—where the instructor talks about something motivational in regards to the technique, such as Medal of Honor recipients, personal and Marine Corps values, and warrior ethos.
Varas, who has been in the Marine Corps for 10 years, has been a black belt in MCMAP since 2011 but only received his instructor tab this year. Varas explains, “It’s hard to become an instructor, or even take a MCMAP course when there is so much going on day-to-day as a Marine, especially for reservists. However, it’s a good program and gets better as you progress through the belts, and we need our leaders to be encouraging our Marines to pursue MCMAP for more reasons than just promotion.”
Sgt. Varas just completed one of his gray belt courses this past week and is rolling right into a green belt course. He says that he plans to continue to teach Marines MCMAP as often as possible, as long as they remain motivated to learn.
“I enjoy being a MCMAP instructor. I get joy out of knowing that Marines are learning these important skills through me,” said Varas, “I love to sweat with them, work with them, and be in the thick of it with them.”

• Date Taken: 08.20.2016
• Date Posted: 08.20.2016 17:24
• Story ID: 207799
• Location: FORT WORTH, TX, US