"Being a warfighter is being mentally, physically, and emotionally ready," said SSgt. Shawn P. Coover, a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) instructor with II Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group. "It is your ability to, within 72 hours, be anywhere in the world.”
Coover, a Muncie, Pennsylvania native, obtained his Instructor Tab in MCMAP at Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) San Diego, California. as a drill instructor (DI) in 2016. To help contribute to the training of recruits, he participated in a month-long Instructor Course for DIs on MCRD San Diego. After going through a month of battle after battle, workout after workout, he obtained the title of a Martial Arts Instructor.
“Physically, it's going to test you to a level that you have not experienced that will get to you mentally,” said Coover. “It's your conditioning and breathing that will get you, as I've seen countless Marines grappling and forgetting to breathe.”
Today, Coover instructs MCMAP on Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, every morning and sometimes even in the afternoon, where he oversees Marines practicing the techniques taught in his course. Classes include Marines from all ranks and belt tiers. He ensures that everyone, no matter their status, has a chance to attend his course. He does his best to work with everyone’s schedule, making him one of the few sought-after MCMAP instructors.
A typical day in his course starts with dynamic warm up stretches. Such as short sprints, leg raises, lunging, and twisting. Post-warm-up is combat conditioning which could include long-distance running, intense workout circuits, or a mixture of both. When the class finishes the physical training portion, the students gather in their respective belt tiers to go over and practice techniques demonstrated and taught by Coover.
Coover’s course duration is usually a month with a focus on learning techniques within the first two weeks, sustaining techniques in the third week, and ending the month with grappling and the culminating event where students are evaluated on their understanding of the techniques.
“For me, when students are calling me wanting to come back out, even if they’re already maxed out in their belt tiers, just to participate shows me how much of a success me helping the Marines are,” said Coover. “This alone sometimes, even till this day, is what drives me to continue instructing and even continue in the Corps.”
Coover’s passionate drive in his course and for his students is one of the critical instruments that ensure Marines are ready to be anywhere in the world at a moment's notice. Because of Marines and leaders like Coover, we can ensure Marines are held to the standards of a warfighter.