BOLESLAWIEC, Poland – U.S. Soldiers assigned to Company B, 151st Expeditionary Signal Battalion completed a five-day combatives level one course while deployed in support of Atlantic Resolve in Boleslawiec, Poland, Aug. 10, 2018.
1st Sgt. Michael Dailey, the first sergeant of Co. B, 151st ESC, requested the course from the 44th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, Grafenwoehr, Germany, to enhance his Soldiers experience while deployed.
“They didn’t really know what they were getting into,” said Dailey, about his Soldiers volunteering for the course. “Combatives is a good way to develop mental toughness, resiliency, and warrior spirit.”
Over the course of five days, the Soldiers learned the three phases of the basic fight strategy: close the distance, dominate, and finish the fight. These strategies were reiterated by their five instructors throughout the 8 hour-long training days.
“You are my product,” said Sgt. Michael Sulick, a battalion current operations sergeant with the 44th ESB and the lead instructor for the level one combatives course. “I love training you guys, you are the future.”
The level one course taught by the 44th ESC normally tops out around 15 students, but this class started out with 23 Soldiers, becoming the largest one taught since Sulick began teaching in late 2017.
“It’s common to lose a few due to injuries,” said Sulick. “It’s also common to throw up the first day due to physical conditioning.”
The class conducted physical conditioning drills twice a day – once in the morning and once after lunch. The drills are designed to increase the students’ physical fitness while mimicking grappling moves used to overcome an attacker in hand-to-hand combat.
“It definitely increases your physical training and makes you push yourself,” said Spc. Amanda Meldzuk, a mechanic assigned to Co. B, 151st ESC. “It’s the most physical thing I’ve done since basic training.”
The Soldiers learned that the basis of combatives is the martial art of Jitsu designed but designed for battlefield application. Midway through the course, Soldiers had the opportunity to use the double underhook maneuver – a strategy of driving both arms underneath the enemy’s arms and securing a wrestler’s grip behind the enemy’s back.
While securing the maneuver, they Soldiers also learned what it was like to be hit in the face by their opponent.
Other instruction included learning basic fight strategies and reinforcing them
by teaching them back to one another and their instructors.
The final day of the physical part of the course was grappling for two to three minutes with an opponent. The objective was to simulate holding off an opponent at 90 percent of one’s ability until help arrives.
“We had to work through being more tired than we were used to,” said. Sgt. Jamal Edmonds, a team chief with Co. B, 151st ESC. “It was a good experience to see what you have in you and what you are made of.”
By the end of the five-day class students completed a technical exam and 19 Soldiers were left standing as combatives level one certified.
“They have learned a lot and picked up the material quickly,” said Sulick. “They are a very motivated group.”
After the course concluded, the Soldiers were each awarded a certificate by Lt. Col. Heather McAteer, the commander of the 44th ESC.
“We are excited and grateful that Sgt. Sulick could offer the class and their participation in the class,” said McAteer. “We look forward to their future combatives training.”