FORT SILL, Okla. (July 18. 2013) -- Inside the Fort Sill Combatives Training Facility every Soldier is challenged to be a warrior first. There are no ranks; there are no military occupational specialties
-- when Soldiers face off, there is only grit and technique, both of which are sharpened and mastered on the open mat.
Soldiers are taught this mentality from the beginning of their Army career and it's only reinforced through continual training. In current combat conditions, combatives is vital because Soldiers are faced with situations where physical contact is necessary.
"They may have to man a gate, or a vehicle check point, or entry control point and they'll have to deal with people, even sometimes take them out of the vehicles and handcuff them," said Sgt. 1st Class Eugene Tellez, Combatives Training Facility noncommissioned officer in charge.
Tellez said practicing combatives helps keep Soldiers calm and prepares them for whatever situation they face downrange.
"I like to compare my combatives skills to my radio skills. I may not need to carry a radio with me all the time, but I need to know how to make it work at some point in time to save my life or my men's lives," said Tellez. "Same thing with combatives. I may not need to have it every single day when I'm out on patrol, but there may be some day where I need it to keep myself alive or one of my Soldiers alive."
COMPETITIONS
The Army initially wanted to use Sambo -- Russian martial arts -- as training for Soldiers. The Russians used it in their military and it was meant to be competitive, which Tellez said is very important.
"Competitions fuel training. The time I'm going to have most people in here is right before an actual competition," said Tellez.
Army Training and Doctrine Command is refining the rules for combatives tournaments. In the meantime that means no TRADOC competitions which includes the All Army Combatives Tournament.
TRAINING
Tournaments aside, every brigade has the responsibility of training or allowing Soldiers to train in combatives. Army regulations state every platoon should have at least one Soldier who is certified in Level 1 combatives; every company or battery should have a Soldier who is certified in Level 2 combatives; every battalion should have a Soldier who is certified in Level 3 combatives; and every brigade should have a Soldier who is certified in Level 4 combatives.
Tellez said Level 2 combatives is especially helpful because that's when Soldiers practice tactical moves such as room clearing.
"It gives Soldiers the actual physical and emotional taste of hand-to-hand combat. The safety of the Soldiers isn't in jeopardy like it would be on the battlefield. I would rather them understand how to fight through and how to react to some kind of trauma here than on the battlefield."
OPEN MAT
For those who want more training that's where open mat nights come in. Every Monday and Wednesday (pending holidays) the combatives facility is open to Soldiers from 6-8 p.m.
"If they did this every day I'd be here every day," said Sgt. Kris Ingram, 302nd Military Police. "I used to fight in Hawaii, so this is the next best thing. It's free."
"It's like any other athletic hobby, but there's also the self defense aspect to it," said Capt. Corey Crosser, 214th Fires Brigade.
Crosser said combatives tests his physical toughness, but it also teaches humility. He said you can't underestimate an opponenet because they may have a skill level higher than your own.
"I'm not here to never tap. You don't learn anything if you don't give up position once in a while, but you learn self discipline," said Ingram.
As someone who has wrestled his entire life, Pfc. Sean Blaschke, B Company, 168th Brigade Support Battalion said he likes open mat night because it gives him a realistic view of what fighting the unexpected is like.
"When I roll with a more advanced practitioner, I'm fighting against what he has learned and what he knows. When I'm fighting here, what I'm learning is the human body's natural reflex to what that position is."
As a leader, 1st Lt. Joseph Barnes, B Company commander, 168th BSB, said combatives builds camaraderie in the ranks and confidence in each Soldier.
"There's bonds you can't really break when you sweat with someone. Getting people to training like this, that's how you're going to make those good guys stay in, instead of them finding other careers they're going to thrive at," said Barnes.
The Soldiers said combatives not only helps in their careers, but also in their personal lives.
Tellez said it has actually helped him deal with PTSD, something he is now coming to terms with.
"If it weren't for something like combatives to relieve my stress and to keep myself calm, I don't know where I'd be right now."
WARRIOR MENTALITY
"I love doing this. It's painful and it's rough, and you bleed and you puke, and all these terrible things happen, but it's one of those things that when you look back you only have fond memories," said Blaschke.
"I've learned as much about being a leader, a well rounded person here on the mat. It's a really good facet to be able to figure out where I'm weakest and strongest and the ability to always change positions, that helps you overcome adversities in your life."
The Fort Sill Combatives Training Facility is in Building 1503 on Bateman Road. For more information or to schedule training call 580-442-8056.
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