Soldiers must be prepared to use different levels of force in any environment where conflict may change from low intensity to high intensity over a matter of seconds. For this reason, hand-to-hand combative training is one of the fundamental building blocks for training the modern Soldier.

On February 11, Area IV opened the "Fight Tonight" Combative Tournament at the Camp Walker Kelly Fitness Center and the Camp Carroll Gym. The Soldiers from all over the Area IV participated in the qualifying matches to test their fighting skills and mental durability.

"I believe it's a great way to develop esprit de corps amongst our organization," said Staff Sgt. Michael Showes, Combatives Schoolhouse NCOIC. "Competition breeds the will to train and gives us a goal to aim for. Working towards that goal, we have Soldiers training together, meeting new peers through a common interest, watching their diet so as to make and maintain their weight for their weight division, increasing their skillset through repetition and trial and error, plus it's a great motivator to see your progression and to test your mettle towards a skilled opponent. Win or lose, everyone who competes comes out a better person."

During the tournament, Soldiers engaged each other for six minutes on the mat using the standard rules. They dominate their opponents with their own fighting skills such as mounting, arm bar, or head locking. The winner of each matches was determined by the points that the Soldiers scored during the match.

"The tournament is just the first of many tournaments and will be used as a foundation to improve with each one we organize," said Showes. "I hope to open the tournament to all Soldiers and KATUSA on the whole peninsula, and possibly even to other services as well. I'm trying to have more personnel come by the gym after hours for open mat and focused training, so this could be a way to help generate visibility.

Three to four qualifiers from each weight classes will compete in the final tournament with the intermediate and advanced rules. The final matches will be held at the Camp Walker Kelly Fitness Center on February 24 starting at 7 p.m.

The mission of the U.S. Army Combatives is to train Leaders and Soldiers in order to instill the Warrior Ethos and prepare Soldiers to close with and defeat the enemy in hand to hand combat. It also helps to instill courage and self-confidence.