FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. -- (Nov. 8, 2012) Everyone has heard the old Army adage "Hurry up and wait," but the 58th Transportation Battalion has found an innovative way to keep their Initial Entry Training Soldiers busy while on holdover/under status -- Basic Combatives Course certification.
Staff Sgt. Karenthia Bland, 58th Trans. Bn. master combatives trainer, said while in Advanced Individual Training, Soldiers must complete 10 hours of Level 1 Combatives certification. So, what better way to utilize their time while they wait to begin AIT?
"What we are trying to do is go ahead and get them certified now since they are in a holdover/under status for a week," Bland said. "All active duty Soldiers have to go through level 1 at some point in time, so instead of giving them this training in two-hour blocks over a five-week period while they are in AIT, we are certifying them in one week while they are waiting for training."
The Basic Combatives Course consists of safety briefs, warm-up drills, combative techniques, standards and procedures and tests.
On day three of the course, Soldiers perform four iterations of the Option Three Drill. During each iteration, Soldiers practice different hand and body positions and have to achieve one of the four clinches, either the rear-clinch, modified seatbelt, double under-hooks with body-lock or wall clinch.
Bland, who has been certified through the Basic Combatives Instructor Course or Level 3 Combatives certification, reaffirmed the Standard Operating Procedure for the course.
"It is the overall intent that each student succeeds in the drill, and gains the personal confidence to close with the enemy -- this is not a right of passage," he said. "This desensitizes Soldiers to prevent them from having to experience being hit for the first time in combat."
Staff Sgt. Heath McQuade, primary instructor, as well as Capt. David White and Staff Sgt. Shawn Heitzman, assistant instructors, work to instill confidence and knowledge in the Soldiers as they maneuver their way through this difficult course.
Heitzman, Tactical Combatives Course or Level 2 certified, said during the four iterations of the physical aspect of the course that Soldiers undergo, they receive punches from one of the instructors in order to learn how to "close the distance" and take a hit.
"This helps them understand that even though they were punched, they are still alive -- they have to get in there and finish the fight," Heitzman said. "If we train them this way now, then that is what they are going to remember. It's all about instilling warrior ethos and fighter spirit."
Of the 37 IET Soldiers who were trained in level 1 combatives during the week of Oct. 29 through Nov. 2, 28 of them have been certified.
Pfc. Bethany McFadden and Pvt. Zach Capps, 58th Trans. Bn. holdovers, had never experienced this type of military training. However, both enjoyed learning the techniques the course had to offer.
Capps said the most difficult part of the training was being on the receiving end of the punches and trying to maintain the self-control to find the correct position to finish the clinch and subdue the assailant.
"It gives you a lot of personal confidence and it can be related to more than combatives," Capps said. "If you can stand up to a Sergeant and take one in the face, then what can you not go up against in the world. I recommend taking this class."
"All of this is going to help us in the real world when we are actually in contact with the enemy," McFadden added. "I cannot wait until Level 2 Combatives. I know a lot of people were scared, but once you get into it, it's a lot of fun."
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