FORT BENNING, Ga. - Soldiers from all over the world shook hands and locked arms during the 5th Annual All-Army Combatives Competition at Fort Benning, Ga., Sept. 18-20.
Although missing three weight classes, 3rd Infantry Division placed second overall with competitors placing all over the board.
"Today, there are a little over 300 competitors here," said Maj. Gen. Michael Ferriter, commanding general of Fort Benning. "I'm reminded of 300 Spartans who fought off thousands. [These competitors] are the best of the best."
The 3rd ID had three Soldiers place in two weight classes. Staff Sergeant Keith Bach,1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, placed third in lightweight; Sgt. Nathaniel Freeman, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, placed second in heavyweight; and Staff Sgt. Brandon Sayles, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd HBCT, placed first in heavyweight.
"I think the team did very well, considering we are getting ready to go to the National Training Center in about two weeks, and a lot of people have Iraq on their mind," said Sgt. 1st Class Travis Pheanis, 1st HBCT Combatives Trainer and 3rd ID coach. "Some individuals really rose to the occasion. Some guys got experience. We got second place overall, while last year we got third. Last year we were just getting back, so maybe if we go to the combatives competition while we are deployed, that's the secret to success."
The division also learned what they would have to work on for future competitions.
"We'll be over in Iraq next year," said Staff Sgt. Bach, "That's the first fight we have to worry about, but we should spend a month and a half to two months [before the competition] to make us better, and that's what the winners did this year."
Staff Sergeant Bach faced fellow division teammate Capt. Ken Steinrose, commander of Company E, 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, for third place.
"Going against one of my own teammates builds Warrior Ethos," said Staff Sgt. Bach, "Most of the guys I have fought outside of the Army at a professional level are some of my best friends. So to go to another Soldier on the same team [is hard but beneficial]."
The two competitors for first and second place in the heavyweight class were also from 3rd Infantry Division.
"Freeman was a tough opponent," said Staff Sgt. Sayles, who also took first in the heavyweight class in 2006 and 2008. "He trained a lot with the guys at Fort Stewart, so I knew he had a really good game plan coming in. I try to be open-minded walking into a fight and react based upon what happens."
The combatives competition was host to a wide range of ranks, showing the diversity of the Army's combatives program. Seven female Soldiers also participated in the competition.
"It's great that there were colonels as well as specialists out here," said Sgt. 1st Class Pheanis. "There are a lot of senior officers and enlisted who are adverse to doing combatives because they're scared about someone getting hurt. Someone can get hurt playing flag football or softball, but does that let the Soldier gain anything as far as military knowledge' I think combatives helps in the long run, because if a weapon breaks down you still have to complete the mission."
Although rank varied greatly in the competition, so did age and experience. Soldiers from all levels of combatives participated in the competition.
"The best thing to do when you are just starting combatives is to keep training," said Staff Sgt. Bach. "When you hit that wall, train through it. When it starts to get tough, you'll see a lot of guys hating it. It's also important to respect your instructors; there are a lot of colonels, sergeants major and first sergeants that are teaching combatives."
Another reason combatives is important to the average Soldier is because of its applications in warfare. Basic knowledge in hand-to-hand combat is a must for any Soldier.
"Stick with it. Some people often say 'this is stupid' because they get submitted all the time," said Sgt. 1st Class Pheanis. "If you stick with it, it's going to start clicking in your head. I was halfway through level three combatives when I finally realized, 'wow, this actually works.' A lot of older military members will say, 'I'll always have a weapon' but when that weapon goes down, there's always hand to hand."
Combatives further benefits the Soldier in discipline and physical fitness, two more necessities to a successful Soldiers ethos.
"It takes a lot of discipline for combatives," said Sgt. 1st Class Pheanis. "When you have someone of equal strength and equal size pressing down on you, and you're breathing hard and you're trying to think, it takes a lot of discipline. There's always something you can improve on in combatives. You could be a gym rat and lift weights all day long, but the core muscle involvement for combatives is an entirely different workout. You have to be very well-rounded and do crossfit and crosstraining as well as the everyday Army stuff."
Although the division was not the best in the competition, they prevailed through multiple obstacles such as training for deployment, personal preparation for NTC (National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif.) and hours spent away from Family and friends to practice. Without the support of the division's Soldiers from private to commander, the team would not only have failed to place but failed to compete at all, he said.
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