FORT CAMPBELL, Ky., Feb. 10, 2012--Forty-three Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division volunteered to brawl with each other and physically exhaust themselves for four weeks.
"This was really physical," said Spc. Tommy Rowland, an intelligence analyst from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th BCT. "You have to push yourself to the limit. You do [physical training] all day, at the same time operating while being exhausted."
The Soldiers graduated from Combatives Level 3 training Feb. 3 at Lozada Physical Fitness Center.
"It was a bittersweet feeling to graduate," said Staff Sgt. Denise Ferniza, a platoon sergeant from Company B, 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th BCT, 101st Abn. Div. "It was definitely an accomplishment to get certified, but it was a physically demanding course."
The training, sponsored by the 4th BCT was provided by a mobile training team from the United States Army's Combatives School at Fort Benning, Ga.
The MTT spends eight months every year traveling from base to base to training to Soldiers.
"It was a privilege to get the opportunity to learn from these noncommissioned officers who have so much experience and have seen the progression of combatives over the years," said Ferniza.
During the four-week combatives course, Soldiers focused on learning boxing, kickboxing, wrestling skills and tactical applications.
"[Combatives] applies tactically to everyone, every [military occupational specialty], male or female," said Staff Sgt. Michael Dailey, an instructor with mobile training team from Fort Benning. "Anyone, not just infantrymen, may have to engage in hand-to-hand combat."
"It was a priority for me to get this training so that I can help certify the Soldiers in my unit as well as properly training Soldiers in our unit's Female Engagement Team," said Ferniza.
After completion of the course, the graduates can officially train and certify other Soldiers in Combatives Level 1.
"Fort Campbell has had a good attitude toward the program and the Soldiers here are all volunteers," said Dailey. "They ask to be here."
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