By Capt. Lisa Brown, 3-338th Infantry Regiment Unit Public Affairs
Amid shouts of encouragement, two Soldiers grapple for dominance, willing the other to submit in an honor bout competition recently held during the first Basic Combatives Instructors Course (Level III) certification at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ind.
Taking advantage of the United States Army Combatives School mobile training team, the 157th Infantry Brigade provided the venue to train and certify more than 20 Soldiers from CAJMTC, as well as Soldiers from as far away as West Virginia.
Staff Sgt. James Hanson, chief training instructor of USACS, led the instruction along with 1st Lt. Blain Gellert and Sgt. 1st Class Justin Harris, both trainer/mentors and level IV rated combatives instructors of the 157th Infantry Brigade, First Army Division East.
Upon completion of the four week level III course, graduates may teach levels I and II and certify instructors for level I.
“Week one consists of boxing and boxing defenses. Week two consists of kickboxing and kickboxing defenses. Week three consists of kickboxing and takedowns with takedown defenses, and the fourth week is dedicated to tactics where combatives instructors will cater unit training to mission specific scenarios,” explained Hanson.
“Level I and II training is less principle-based training and more technique-based training, whereas in level III and IV training we start having the Soldiers think more outside the box for tactical scenarios,” continued Hanson.
By Capt. Lisa Brown, 3-338th Infantry Regiment Unit Public Affairs
