Versatile, Hostile, and Mobile: The Army Way

Standing face to face, eyes fixed on the other, two warriors stand waiting… waiting for the signal, waiting for battle, waiting for victory. They receive the green light and begin precision movements, hoping to outthink and outmaneuver the other. The older warrior sports his worn-out desert combat uniform, complete with combat patch that has obviously seen its fair share of action. His moves are both calculated and elusive, hoping to lure his opponent into a trap, but he isn’t quite so lucky on this day. His rival, wearing his fairly new advanced combat uniform (ACU), appeared younger, stronger, and a bit less experienced. However, both of these warriors have learned to never judge a book by its cover. As they circle, searching for the right angle, the right time, and the right move, the air fills with tension and excitement as spectators slide to the edge of their seats. Suddenly, like two beasts pouncing on prey, the two warriors attack, colliding together with extreme force, eager to deliver pain. This is a warrior’s battle — one that will not end until a hand is raised in victory — this is modern army combatives. It’s no secret that when the U. S. Army goes to a fight, it arrives in numbers! Not only is it our goal to overwhelm the enemy, but it’s part of our doctrine. We bring 3-to-1 odds to a fight — you bring 20, we bring 60. We prefer to overpower our adversary by using the element of surprise while maximizing violence of action. When you pick a fight with one of us, you’d better be ready to fight us all. Inside every soldier rests a warrior’s spirit, a spirit that will “do all to win all,” and when the time arrives, the warrior spirit will spring up within every soldier and he will do whatever it takes to obtain victory. The U. S. Army has always taught hand-to-hand combat, but over the past few years, it has become increasingly more prominent. With the popularity surge of mixed martial arts (MMA), such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Pride, and other similar organizations, the Modern Army Combatives (MAC) program was born. MAC is the Army’s most up-to-date hand-to-hand system and much of it parallels today’s MMA training. The MAC program begins with basic ground skills that stem from the popular ground sport of Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and evolves into throws and take-downs from sports such as collegiate wrestling and the ancient form of judo. The MAC program continues to the next phase where it teaches soldiers to strike by punching, kicking, kneeing, and elbowing, and defense against attacks. If soldiers are fortunate enough to advance to the final stage, they engage in an all-out MMA fight, wearing only 4-ounce gloves, a foul protector, and mouthpiece. The program also teaches soldiers how to defend themselves from hand-held weapons the enemy may be carrying. Much like some martial arts where uniforms are worn, soldiers wear ACUs to make the training as realistic as possible. Fort Knox realizes the importance in this type of training and has gone beyond the post to find the best instructor possible. They not only found an instructor, they found one of the most experienced fighters in this area, Jason Keaton, who has a black belt in BJJ and provides priceless experience in the ground category for his fighters. His years of experience in wrestling, boxing, and Muay-Thai kickboxing, make him one of the best and most experienced coaches in his field. The firsthand knowledge he has gained from his numerous fights, allows him to teach students realistically. Learning correct forms and techniques is one thing, but using those skills during a fight or in a combat environment is completely different. The ultimate goal of MAC is to teach soldiers how to control dangerous situations in a battlefield environment. For example, some days soldiers train in ACUs, and other days, they train in “full battle rattle,” which includes Kevlar helmet, ballistic vest, elbow and knee pads, and weapon. This load weighs upward of 50 pounds and significantly limits the soldier’s movement and flexibility. The cadre instructs students in skills such as weapon control while securing hostile personnel, using a rifle as a weapon in a nonlethal manner, and general familiarity of the equipment they are wearing. In August, the 16th Cavalry Regiment, Fort Knox, Kentucky, hosted its annual combatives tournament. The tournament brought in more than 50 competitors from various weight classes. The first-round matches were 6 minutes in duration and both competitors started on their feet; the round was strictly grappling with no strikes and only two ways to win — by submission or judge’s decision. Once the soldier progressed to the second round, the rules changed; the competitors were allowed to kick anywhere on their opponent’s body, knee from the waist down, and punch from the shoulders down while standing, all within regulations. Once the fighters reached the ground, only body punches and open-hand strikes to the head were allowed. The soldiers wore shin guards and knee pads to protect themselves and their opponents during the striking round. As prepared as any fighter might be, when the punching begins, the fight plan changes — when you’re getting hit and you’re not trained to take it, you can’t think 52 — straight. When training for combat, soldiers are trained to think under fire; soldiers participating in the tournament, who were not accustomed to being punched, quickly adapted to the environment and overcame their situation. Some of these soldiers had only been part of the MAC program for less than a month and they were in the tournament banging away. You could see their confidence soar at the end of every match, win or lose. “Army combatives brings out the inner warrior inside of all soldiers and gives them the confidence to conquer any obstacle,” says Staff Sergeant Keith Gates. Gates, with an extensive background in wrestling and a few MMA fights under his belt, was one of the experienced fighters in the tournament and it showed during his matches. Gates squared off with Second Lieutenant William Pollard in the semifinals for one of the most exciting fights of the day. Pollard, a three-stripe blue belt, under Pedro Sauer, showed precise technique during all his matches. Pollard and Gates locked horns from the very beginning and didn’t let up until the fight was over, resulting in Gates squeezing out victory at the very end by submission. After the fight, Pollard remarked, “Combatives is a great way to promote unity of team and confidence of self.” At the end of the day, when all was said and done, it was apparent what Modern Army Combatives was all about — guys squaring off in grueling matches, congratulating and laughing with each other, and proud of what they each had accomplished. “It’s not about coming out here and beating up people; it’s about spreading the program, representing your unit and inspiring soldiers to train,” says Staff Sergeant Irving Franklin. The true spirit of the tournament was very apparent between matches; less-experienced soldiers were crowded around warm-up mats while more-experienced soldiers offered pointers for the next match. Oddly enough, they were giving pointers to soldiers who might be their opponents in the next round. No doubt, these soldiers want to win, but the big picture is the team. While a soldier may feel the sting of defeat, he also feels a sense of pride knowing that the guy who beat him is a “battle buddy.” These soldiers work together, train together, and bleed and sweat together; these soldiers are truly “brothers in arms,” fighting together for the common cause. And while they are opponents in sport, they know they are comrades in arms who can trust each other to cover their six. Second Lieutenant Joshua Kinsel is currently the XO, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop (HHT), 2d Squadron, 16th Cavalry (2/16 CAV), Fort Knox, KY. He received a B. S. from the College of Mount Saint Joseph and is a distinguished military graduate from Officer Candidate School. He has also served as an information officer, 2/16 CAV, Fort Knox; and S1, HHT, 2/16 CAV, Fort Knox. — 53