Published: April 21, 2011
'Vanguard' Battalion Soldiers Knock Out Modern Army Combatives Training
By Sgt.1st Class Jonathan S. DeLong
2AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C
BAGHDAD-Soldiers with 1st "Vanguard" Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division - Center recently went through an in-depth version of level one Modern Army Combatives training at Camp Taji, Iraq.
The Army developed the MAC program to address the increased need for better close-quarters fighting skills. Initially developed in 1995 by the 2nd Ranger Battalion, MAC fused together different fighting styles from around the world, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, ground fighting, throws and takedowns used in Judo and wrestling, and striking styles found in boxing and Muay Thai.
BAGHDAD- Capt. Jason Kneib, right, assistant operations officer with 1st "Vanguard" Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1ID, USD-Center and a Rockville, Md., native, demonstrates a proper throw during Modern Army Combatives level one training at Camp Taji, Iraq.
Photo: Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan S. DeLong, 2nd AAB, 1ID., USD-C |
"During our deployment, we identified the need to enhance Soldiers in close-quarters combat skills, which makes Soldiers more versatile, confident, and improves the warrior ethos," said Capt. Jason Kneib, assistant operations officer with 1st Bn., 18th Inf. Regt. and a Rockville, Md., native.
There are four different levels of combatives, with level one qualification requiring a week-long beginner course and level four an extensive one-month-long course.
During the course, Kneib, who set up and conducted the training with his assistant instructor, Sgt. Robert Revelez, a scout team leader with 1st Bn., 18th Inf. Regt. and a San Angelo, Texas, native, taught the basics and also covered potential contingencies, such as how to fight with weapons in close quarters and how to fight in full combat gear. This is the second course the two have instructed together.
"The combatives program we have developed for this course is in line with Army doctrine, which has evolved to be applicable in current environments in both Iraq and Afghanistan," Kneib said. "All moves taught at this course have been used in real world situations."
BAGHDAD-Soldiers with 1st "Vanguard" Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, USD-C conduct ground fighting drills during level one Modern Army Combatives training at Camp Taji, Iraq.
Photo: Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan S. DeLong, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C) |
"This was a great course that was challenging to me (and) gave me a great base to build on," said Sgt. Michael Tennyson, a forward observer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Bn., 18th Inf. Regt. and a New Iberia, La., native. "I feel more confident of my ability to handle myself. If I was ever in a situation with an enemy combatant I feel I could more efficiently handle the situation (now)."
"I took the class to learn more and when we redeploy, I plan to progress through all levels of Modern Army Combatives," said Spc. Robert Taylor, a machine gunner with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Bn., 18th Inf. Regt. and a San Antonio native.
Taylor said the training was an opportunity to further enhance his martial arts skills and that it has helped him learn more about Jiu-Jitsu and Karate.
"The class was awesome-every day I was learning something new and even the things I thought I knew, the instructors showed me how to do them better and make me a more capable fighter," Taylor said.
BAGHDAD- Spc. Robert Taylor, top, a gunner with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st "Vanguard" Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1ID, USD-C and a San Antonio native, demonstrates how to 'pass the guard,' or avoid a defensive maneuver, of Sgt. Michael Tennyson, bottom, a forward observer with HHC, 1st Bn., 18th Inf. Regt. and a New Iberia, La., native, during Modern Army Combatives level one training at Camp Taji, Iraq.
Photo: Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan S. DeLong, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C |
BAGHDAD-Sgt. Michael Tennyson, right, a forward observer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st "Vanguard" Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, USD-C and a New Iberia, La., native, demonstrates how to perform a rear naked choke maneuver on Spc. Robert Taylor, left, a gunner with HHC, 1st Bn. 18th Inf. Regt. and a San Antonio native, during Modern Army Combatives level one training at Camp Taji, Iraq.
Photo: Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan S. DeLong, 2nd AAB, 1ID., USD-C) |
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