Photo By Lance Cpl. Kayla LeClaire | U.S. Marines conduct physical training during a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. -- The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) is a combat system developed by the United States Marine Corps in 2001 to combine both existing and new hand-to-hand and close quarters combat techniques. MCMAP consists of a belt ranking system beginning with tan and progressing up to 6th degree black belt. Every Marine begins training in MCMAP during boot camp, where they earn their tan belt. Each belt level teaches specific techniques from disciplines including Rifle & Bayonet, Edged Weapons, Weapons of Opportunity, and Unarmed Combat. The program is designed to improve the warfighting capabilities of individual Marines and units, enhance Marines' self-confidence and esprit de corps, and foster the warrior ethos in the Corps.
Marine Corps Base (MCB) Quantico Security Battalion hosted a month long MCMAP course, with instructors teaching advancement of all belt levels. Eighteen instructors and over 100 students attended the course, with ranks varying from private first class to staff sergeant, as well as several officers. Attendance far exceeded expectations, as students consisted of Marines not only from Security Battalion but from many different units across the base.
“This hasn’t been done,” said Sgt. Elvis A. Amanfo, the lead MCMAP instructor for the course, “similar stuff has been attempted before at different places but not with this many Marines and this many commands and instructors.”
Given the size of the class and number of instructors teaching it, the different belt advancements are separated by squads. Each squad has a team of instructors specifically teaching that belt level. Only the belt sustainment portion of the class and physical training are conducted as a full group.
Belt sustainment is a portion of the class where the students review all the techniques they already learned. This is to ensure that the students are still able to conduct the old techniques before they learn new ones.
This mass class gives Marines the opportunity to advance in training, which can help them with promotions and reenlistment. When used properly, MCMAP is meant to make Marines more effective and lethal war fighters. This kind of training is often pushed to the backburner, but Security Battalion leadership is making a concentrated effort to bring it to the forefront of training.
Master Sgt. Farley A. Wooldridge II, Security Battalion operations chief, stated, “In an infantry combat wing unit, typically that [MCMAP] can be put into a training schedule, but when you’re working at a base command, they have the priority and focus on the day-to-day, to manage and operate the base.”
The MCMAP course is structured to train Marines without any interference to daily operations.
“Together, we can accomplish a lot more,” Master Sgt. Wooldridge said, “it’s not just about the Marines in this battalion. It’s about all the Marines here on MCB Quantico.”
Wooldridge’s goal is to do the same type of class again in the spring, and eventually incorporate the training into a quarterly schedule. With a MCMAP schedule put in place, there would be more opportunities for Marines to get the training they need. Wooldridge hopes Security Battalion can inspire other units on base to follow suit and host their own classes, creating ongoing MCMAP training for all Marines.
| Date Taken: | 02.28.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 03.01.2022 10:20 |
| Story ID: | 415460 |
| Location: | QUANTICO, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 130 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP)
