by Spc. Crystal Williams
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq – Soldiers with the 941st Transportation Company, 749th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, participated in basic hand-to-hand combative training here.
The training consisted of hand-to-hand combat as an engagement between two or more persons, with or without hand-held weapons, such as knives, sticks, or projectile weapons within the range of physical contact.
“Class was great, it was a good refresher,” said Sgt. Terrance Clausell, a Mobile, Ala., native, and truck driver with the 941st Trans. Co.
Instructors showed the soldiers moves and they followed.
“It is imperative that we understand the movements so we don’t hurt one another,” said Sgt. Brian Salvo, a Charleston, S.C., native, and truck driver with 941st Trans. Co. “It is also important because we want the most up to date training available.”
Combatives training was developed in 2001 out of Fort Benning, Ga. It has since been integrated into the Army’s soldiers readiness.
“The class was very informative, simple and easy to catch on,” said Spc. Jeffrey Darwin, a Kennesaw, Ga., native, and truck driver with 941st Trans. Co. “I liked it. It was fun and a great way to get together.”
The initial techniques are simple strategies that are taught as easily repeatable drills so soldiers can build on the basic techniques as they progress and learn more difficult mechanisms throughout the course.
Proficiency in combatives is one of the fundamental building blocks for training the modern soldier.
“I had so much fun, it should have been longer,” said Spc. Thaddeus Austin, a Mobile, Ala., native, and truck driver with 941st Trans. Co. “I also think that this training should have been co-ed, because all soldiers need refreshers.”