FORT POLK, La--Some of America's adversaries are highly skilled in military fighting with organized leadership and well-equipped forces who pose a significant threat to the US and its allies. Lt. Col. Mark Leslie, commander, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division uses intense combatives training taking his unit to an optimal fighting level, destroying the enemy in close combat.
2nd Bn. combatives training produces fighting warriors. These warriors go on to become champions. 1st Lt. Nolen Rege and 1st Lt. Brian Hamel of 2nd Bn., competed in Fort Bragg's 2014 Armed Forces Combative Tournament. Rege took first place in the Cruiserweight class. Hamel took 3rd place in the Heavyweight class.
Both Hamel and Rege wrestled at collegiate level. They attribute the skills and techniques they learned while wrestling as an advantage to their success in the combatives tournament. These Soldiers trained extremely hard together in preparation for this competition, training Monday - Saturday in freestyle wrestling, judo, Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu jitsu style fighting at Ground Zero Fight House outside of Fort Polk.
Finding time to train is a challenge, but Sergeant 1st Class Sidney Russell and Detective Zack Strickland of the Leesville Police Department have shown an immeasurable amount of support for Patriot Soldiers, opening Ground Zero gym free of charge to gain maximum training for competitions.
"I would really like to do this competition again, I've trained guys in a couple of different companies, I know a lot of them are eager and willing," said Hamel.
The 2nd Bn. 4th Inf. Soldiers also prepared themselves through quarterly combatives tournaments at the 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade gym. The four levels of warfare -- bombs, bullets, blades and bodies; these quarterly events are coordinated to test Soldiers on the 4th level.
"Soldiers must be proficient in all levels. Combatives techniques are an advantageous war fighting skill", said Leslie.
1st Sergeant Michael Perez, Master Combatives Trainer, Company C, 2nd Bn. 4th Inf. along with other level three and four certified instructors teach their battalion Soldiers basic and advanced ground fighting skills.
"Even though the Army is downsizing, I think combatives is very important in hand-to-hand combat, said Perez "You instill in your Soldiers the warrior ethos, the desire to close-with and destroy the enemy, the confidence not to give up and the physical and mental toughness required to push into your opponent."
The competition has seven weight classes: fly, light, welter, middle, cruiser, light heavy and heavy. Each company sends two fighters per weight class with a single elimination. Winners move to the next bracket until they make it to the championship round. A winner represents each weight class.
Fort Polk's Morale, Welfare and Recreation donated special camouflaged, martial arts, belts to all winners. In addition, first place winners also received Army Achievement Medals. This is currently a 2nd Battalion quarterly event however, Leslie anticipates opening it to the entire brigade.
"People say that combatives is not good physical fitness, their wrong. Combatives is a tough and grueling workout and gets after the Division Commander's intent of combat and battle focus fitness," said Leslie. "It's a good way to test your skills and a great esprit de corps event as well, plus, it makes the Soldiers feel like true warriors."
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