Combatives Enhance Defense Partnership at Juniper Cobra 18

Photo By Master Sgt. Matthew Plew | U.S. Army soldiers from bravo company, 82nd Engineer Battalion, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat team conduct a pre-warm up stretch prior to a combatives course at an Israeli Defense Force base in support of Juniper Cobra Feb. 28.Operating cohesively, U.S. and IDF forces will deftly train over the next two weeks during Juniper Cobra 18 to increase regional security, stability and military readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Tech. Sgt. Matthew Plew)  

ISRAEL

02.28.2018

Story by Tech. Sgt. Matthew Plew 

48th Fighter Wing

TEL AVIV, Israel--U.S. Army soldiers from Bravo Company, 82nd Engineer Battalion, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division from Fort Riley, Kansas engaged in a combatives course with Israeli Defense Forces in support of Juniper Cobra 2018.

The event was one of many held during U.S. European Command's largest bilateral exercise, which focuses on Integrated ballistic missile defense (BMD) to counter regional threats to Israel and maintaining U.S. support of Israel's qualitative military edge.

The training provided soldiers with an introductory instruction to Krav Maga; A military self-defense fighting system developed by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israeli security forces derived from a combination of Boxing, Wrestling, Aikido, Judo and Karate techniques.

"Today I shared our experience with how to engage in a fight and develop soldiers who have no [hand-to-hand] experience into those we would want next to us in a fight," said Danny Netzer, Head of the IDF Krav Maga section. "I think it is important to develop, to learn and to study all the time. From my experience, it's only beneficial for both nations."

U.S. and IDF soldiers donned protective equipment as they paired together for a rigorous sixty-minute sparring session designed to harness aggression in a hand-to-hand situation.

"We learned how to deliver effective body strikes and how to engage multiple opponents attacking you one after the other," said U.S. Army 1st Lieutenant Jason Beauregard. "It was definitely exhausting, but it teaches you how to react quickly and stay on your toes throughout the engagement."

Partnership training like this is critical to sustaining the defensive readiness of both nations as they prepare for future challenges. The success of the training stems from the steadfast relationship between the U.S. and Israel.

Operating cohesively, U.S. and IDF forces will deftly train over the next two weeks during Juniper Cobra to increase regional security, stability and military readiness; as both nations continue to strengthen a decade's long partnership through a unified vision of military interoperability and shared values together.

• Date Taken: 02.28.2018
• Date Posted: 03.08.2018 12:18
• Story ID: 268605
• Location: IL