Photo By Staff Sgt. Gregory Summers | Sgt. 1st Class Brandon E. Carrington, brigade combatives instructor, Headquarters and...... read more read more
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CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – Being proficient in hand-to-hand combat is just one portion of the modern Soldier’s foundation. In an Army with a full arsenal of the latest technology, advanced weapons systems and superior equipment, still knowing how to defeat the enemy in close quarters combat is a valuable asset.
Over the last two weeks, “Iron Brigade” Soldiers from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, gathered for skill level one U.S. Army combatives training at Camp Buehring to enhance that asset.
As one of the 40 warrior core tasks of the warrior ethos initiative, combatives blends several fighting disciplines from across the world to teach Soldiers how to react when things get physical in close quarters.
“My theory is that everyone doesn’t have to be a fighter, but they need to know how to fight,” said Sgt. 1st Class Brandon E. Carrington, brigade combatives instructor, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 588th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3rd ABCT, 4th Infantry Division.
Carrington, certified in level four of the Modern Army’s Combatives Program and trained in jujitsu, has instructed several hundred Soldiers in skill level one and two courses throughout his Army combatives career.
With units of 3rd ABCT assigned throughout the U.S. Central Command areas of operation, Carrington dedicates his time traveling and instructing Army combatives to Soldiers wherever they are.
“I’ve studied jujitsu on the outside and I love how closely related Army combatives is to it,” Carrington said. “I go out of the way, because I enjoy it and it allows Soldiers to get this training and learn valuable skills.”
“This program saves lives.”
While training for the skill level one courses, groups of Soldiers throughout the brigade combat team conducted one of several five day courses that included intense, physical training focusing on mastering the basics of grappling maneuvers, dominant positions, escapes, various arm bars and submissions. They also took and responded to punches thrown from their opponent.
And for completion of the course, Soldiers have to be able to teach everything back to the instructors that they have learned.
Spc. Valentino C. Briones, cavalry scout and a skill level three combatant, Comanche Troop, 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd ABCT, 4th Infantry Division, was selected to be an assistant instructor for Carrington during the courses at Camp Buehring.
“It’s good to know how to use your weapon, but you also need to know hand-to-hand combat because your weapon may not always be there,” Briones said. “These Soldiers are learning something new and different and combatives teaches them self-discipline, which is very important.”
With its creation in 1995 from the 2nd Ranger Battalion, the mission of the Army Combatives Program is to instill the warrior ethos and prepare Soldiers to close with and defeat the enemy in hand-to-hand combat.
The Army’s combatives training program identifies that there are military operations, such as peacekeeping, urban or physical security operations, where Soldiers may not have the ability or need to use their weapons.
“The Army combatives program, in general, teaches you how to survive in combat,” Carrington said. “To survive for yourself, long enough for your battle buddy to come help or for you to go help your battle buddy, that’s what it’s all about; increasing our combat readiness.”
Carrington encourages Soldiers of all ranks to at least attend the skill level one combatives course during their Army careers and reminds the Soldiers that just completed the courses that combatives can be a perishable skill.
“It’s similar to map reading, because you can forget these skills,” Carrington added. “I encourage Soldiers to keep going past level one, because there is a lot of fun and value in this program.”
| Date Taken: | 06.07.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.16.2015 08:28 |
| Story ID: | 166772 |
| Location: | CAMP BUEHRING, KW |
| Web Views: | 108 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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