Our military is moving away from the grappling it was focused on as in the Marine Combatives program. The Army says it's going standup.
"3. Combatives are more relevant...and tougher! New instruction has been added which teaches Soldiers to fight from their feet, not wrestle and grip on the ground. Soldiers now attend 22 hours of instruction, which is double the previous requirement at BCT. Additional techniques - wearing full kit - have been added that is more relevant to what Soldiers might be asked to do in a combat situation."
11 hours of instruction was what they got prior. Would YOU go into combat with 11 hours of karate training? That's a yellow belt course if you go twice a week for 45 to 60 minutes a class over 10-12 weeks. This assumes a student will practice over that time span also, so it's contact hours. The new 22 hours is better. And I realize there's quality vs quantity but 22 is still better than 11. I've had yellow belts go in the military and they told me their kenpo training was a real asset. One was a Marine Staff Sergeant who my curriculum as a core for training his guys and brought them all home. He successfully used it at least once in a stand-up grapple situation. He didn't think much of the Marine system - and he was an instructor! There recently was a story about three troops who encountered an insurgent. It got physical and one started rolling with the opponent. The other two stood by to watch since their guy "was winning". The bad guy decided enough was enough, pulled a grenade and blew them both up. My guy told me that when his guys got tied up like that they dropped a "flash-bang" between themselves and the opponent. They knew it was coming and the bad guy would let go long enough for them to escape and take further action. Same tactic, not fatal.
I like the ground stuff. I just don't believe it should be the core of a warrior's training. I use warrior in the military sense. The military has changed the nomenclature over the years from soldier/sailor/marine to warfighter/warrior when using generic terms. I also understand the need for short-term intense basic training for warfighters and police. Most don't practice and need something easy to learn, use and retain. Plus, it's part of a force progression; words, hands, mace, club, gun, for example. And they have gear hanging off themselves that's useful but also an impediment. It's harder to throw and uppercut when you have a gun on your hip and more difficult to roll around wearing a backpack and helmet.
"5. Physical Training is standardized, with scientifically proven techniques that improve conditioning and help prevent injuries. Those returning from combat say "drop the long runs, the repetitive sets of pushups and sit-ups, and volleyball games; instead focus on training the right muscles and energy systems needed in the fight! Prepare your body for walking patrol with SAPI and equipment or hauling your injured buddy out of harm's way!" FM 22-20 has been replaced with TC 3.22-20, and that applies to Soldiers in Basic Combat Training and the entire Army (and, you can get this Training Circular as an app starting in August)! "
6. No more bayonet assault course against rubber tires...but lots more pugil and combatives against a thinking opponent. The bayonet assault course has been a staple of bayonet training since WWI. But that's when bayonets were prevalent on the battlefield! The last time the US had a bayonet assault was in 1951, and the rifle we now use in combat isn't meant for bayonet charges. Now, Soldiers will see more pugil drills in pits and on obstacle courses. This, combined with additional hours in combatives, will "warriorize" our Soldiers. Good for them - times have changed.
"8. We're treating the Soldier as a "Tactical Athlete". The Surgeon General of the Army will begin supplementing initial training units with physical therapists and athletic trainers to prevent injuries and ensure better conditioning. Additionally, we're instituting the "Soldier Fueling" initiative, to teach and enable Soldiers to develop a nutritional lifestyle to counter our societal challenges." Bravo- they caught up with the rest of the world on exercise physiology.
I am pro-military and that does not mean I am pro-war. I hold a field grade rank with the USAF Aux and believe in the best training for our people (civilians, too!) to insure their safety. We have many of our young people enlisting and some are entering our schools prior to going to basic. Don't let them be sloppy, you'll do them a favor. That goes for all your students, anyway.
Tim Walker sent the link in that I took the excerpts from. Read about all the changes there.
http://www.military.com/news/article/army-news/the-top-ten-basic-training-changes.html?ESRC=army-a.nl
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