Combatives: Not your regular 'death by power point' course

Photo By 1st Sgt. James Wagner | Staff Sgt. Jeff Peets, a scout with the Georgia Army National Guard, top, grapples with an opponent during the basic combatives course. The course, part of Modern Army Combatives, is the entry level program to prepare soldiers to close with and defeat the enemy in hand-to-hand combat.  

CAMP BONDSTEEL, KOSOVO

05.15.2012

Story by Sgt. 1st Class James Wagner 

172nd Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo — It's not often your job lets you punch your co-worker in the face, but that's just what soldiers from Multinational Battle Group East got to do at the combatives course taught at Camp Bondsteel, May 7-11.

Eight members of the Wisconsin Army National Guard participated in the basic combatives course designed to "prepare soldiers to close with and defeat the enemy in hand to hand combat," according to Modern Army Combatives website.

Seven members of the Georgia Army National Guard participated in the basic combatives course designed to "prepare soldiers to close with and defeat the enemy in hand to hand combat," according to Modern Army Combatives website.

Staff Sgt. Jeff Peets, a scout with the Georgia Army National Guard's Troop Bravo, 3rd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, the course provided instruction that can be used anywhere, not just on the battlefield.

"This is what we joined the Army for, this isn't just another Power Point classroom" he said. "These are good tools to have in your back pocket that you can bring anywhere - back home, wherever. The class was exhausting, when you get tired you have to dig deep and fall back on the techniques you've learned."

The course teaches soldiers the fundamental elements of the third option - what to do when closing with the enemy and unable to use either your primary or secondary weapon. Instruction focused on ground-fighting techniques such as strikes, takedowns and throws, standing defense and group attacks.

The key component to the course, and the reason for its success, is the hands-on training it provides and its immediate benefits to combat effectiveness.

Students are taught to both attack and defend themselves in a variety of positions, whether it's on their back with the enemy on top of them or against two or more attackers. The moves incorporate of variety of methods such as closing and achieving a clinch to deliver arm or leg strikes, defending against headlocks or using an improvised weapon to incapacitate the attacker.

"This is definitely not your 'death by Power Point' class this time around," said Pvt. 1st Class Brandon Graske, a military policeman with the 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade's 32nd Military Police Company. "If I'm in a garrison environment and get into a tussle, most times it ends up on the ground; this course will help me in those situations."

The Modern Army Combatives system is made up of four levels. Training officials at Camp Bondsteel are holding two entry-level (Level 1) courses this summer and hope to get an instructor to provide instruction for the Level 2 course - the tactical combatives course.

According to Sgt. 1st Class Danny Belisle, the course's senior instructor from the 3/108th CAV, combatives instruction is something all soldiers should know based on a battlefield that has evolved dramatically over the past 10 years.

"A lot of units don't emphasize combatives," he said. "In an urban environment you have to be able to switch from your primary and secondary weapons to the third option."

With the training received by the course and its instructors, one group of soldiers is better-prepared to win their engagement, wherever that might happen.

• Date Taken: 05.15.2012
• Date Posted: 05.16.2012 09:09
• Story ID: 88489
• Location: CAMP BONDSTEEL, ZZ