SGM Private RallyPoint Member 18615 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>What do you know about the Army Combatives program right now and what direction is the army going with it? Do you think the program took a wrong turn doing the last 13 years of combat? Do you think the program should be significantly downsized or revamped to be a more robust tool for our Soldiers to be able to use in their toolbag? 2013-12-10T17:52:29-05:00 SGM Private RallyPoint Member 18615

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>What do you know about the Army Combatives program right now and what direction is the army going with it? Do you think the program took a wrong turn doing the last 13 years of combat? Do you think the program should be significantly downsized or revamped to be a more robust tool for our Soldiers to be able to use in their toolbag?

2013-12-10T17:52:29-05:00 2013-12-10T17:52:29-05:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 18626

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I honestly think that the Combatives program should be downsized. I strongly believe we should &quot;train as we fight&quot;. In today&#39;s war it seems to be all about who has the biggest guns and better technology. I think Soldiers need to be well trained in these areas as this is mostly what they will see in the fight. Combatives should not be entirely scrapped but definitely stressed a little less.

2013-12-10T18:17:24-05:00 2013-12-10T18:17:24-05:00 MAJ Joseph Parker 18644

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>SGM Stephen S: The Army Combatives Program is a good one, and needs to be expanded. Young soldiers today come from a society where the first "fight" they may have in their lives may be in basic training. Regardless of MOS, all soldiers have to know how to handle themselves confidently at a checkpoint, while on guard duty, during crowd control, etc., not to mention close combat. Combatives are good physical training, require little in the way of training resources, and instill confidence in every soldier. Many, even in the Army, think the program is designed to make them all Chuck Norris Rangers. In fact, Combatives help any soldiers protect themselves and their weapons at close quarters, e.g. 92G on guard duty arm blocks a hungry local who makes a grab at his rifle - combatives.

2013-12-10T19:03:59-05:00 2013-12-10T19:03:59-05:00 SGM Private RallyPoint Member 20041

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div><a target="_blank" href="http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2013/12/combatives-program-builds-tactical-resilient-troops/">http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2013/12/combatives-program-builds-tactical-resilient-troops/</a>

2013-12-13T01:20:29-05:00 2013-12-13T01:20:29-05:00 CSM Mike Maynard 20798

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Combatives is a great program that increases confidence and promotes competition.<div><br></div><div>As far as to how it directly relates to the Combat Readiness, I think that would be quite a stretch for anyone to make with respect to the General Purpose Force.</div><div><br></div><div>Maybe it's a lack of anecdotal evidence, but there are just not a lot of stories about the General Purpose Force having to use these skills directly on the enemy.</div>

2013-12-14T06:58:29-05:00 2013-12-14T06:58:29-05:00 CPT Private RallyPoint Member 21736

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I believe that the combatives program should remain&amp;nbsp;as is.&amp;nbsp; It promotes self confidence and healthy competition.&amp;nbsp; I also feel that it allows Soldiers to be prepared for the (unlikley) possibility that they be in a hand-to-hand situation.&amp;nbsp; Wars are won by those who are prepared to&amp;nbsp;deal with any situation that is presented to them.&amp;nbsp; Combatives is a vital part of that preparation.&amp;nbsp;

2013-12-16T09:04:17-05:00 2013-12-16T09:04:17-05:00 CW2 Private RallyPoint Member 87888

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>MAJ Parker hit one of my points already. With the ROE of today being more and more restrictive, Combatives plays a vital role to ensure every Soldier can respond with the appropriate amount of force. As MAJ Parker was saying, many of todays troops consider talking in CAPS to be a physical altercation. That being said, they often respond more drastically when physically confronted contradicting the very purpose of the restrictive ROE. (Keep in mind not all physical confrontations are made with hostile intent.&gt;EX grabby kids in Iraqi marketplaces that will take every patch or pin on your uniform. Annoying....sure, hostile...no)<br><br>That's just touching on one area. We often forget all the other areas Combatives has a focus on. A brief example would be evaluating a casualty. A medic evaluating an unconscious or woozy casualty may find themselves in a physical altercation where they need to use the absolute lowest amount of force necessary to contain and control a casualty. How often are 68W's practicing body control in full kit on a fully resistant person? They don't.... so in just that one area you can see the importance. I could go on and on with other practical examples. The biggest problem I see in Combatives (not to steal any thunder from Matt Larsen) is terminating training. We only focus on the Level 1-4 certification courses or competitions. The good instructors are out there doing unit/MOS specific training. Although it will not go on your ERB or be worth promotion points, it can be the most valuable training one can receive. Being certified does help facilitate this training, but should never be the end state.

2014-03-28T23:54:13-04:00 2014-03-28T23:54:13-04:00 SGT Suraj Dave 89386

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The Army combatives program is something I never really took seriously. It was an extra curricular activity in my eyes. If you aren&#39;t tired after getting off at 1700 by all means go take combatives. Once a week for a while we did combatives on Thursday&#39;s for PT. It caused the majority of our PT injuries..

2014-03-30T23:05:59-04:00 2014-03-30T23:05:59-04:00 CW3 Private RallyPoint Member 92076

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I feel for 9.5/10 soldiers it is almost prohibitive to attend the courses in their entirety, if they are even locally offered. That in itself makes the program pale. If it isn't available for soldiers to utilize, what purpose is it serving?

2014-04-02T18:59:17-04:00 2014-04-02T18:59:17-04:00 CPT Private RallyPoint Member 106513

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>SGM Starbuck,<div><br></div><div>I think the Combatives program needs to be overhauled completely. It's just not a realistic system that we can utilize in a real-world situation, with few exceptions. As a BJJ student, I was extremely excited that MAC was based on BJJ. However, BJJ has a very fundemental problem: it does not work well against multiple opponents and armed attackers. The last thing I want to do in theater is be on my back, in my guard, trying to maintain positive control over my weapon while protecting myself from the guy on top of me and his buddies who are going to kick my head in. We need a system that is much more effective from a stand-up POV that takes into consideration our weapons systems. Krav Maga is a much more effective system for our needs. If we could supplement it with some of the joint-control locks that can be done from a standing position into an "arrestable" position we would actually have an effective system that meets our needs. This would also provide better self-defense for those who may encounter a situation on the streets. </div><div><br></div><div>Also, we just do not train it. Hardly any units have a solid training program. Therefore the effectiveness of the system is not even being taught. I have been begging for Level 1 for years now, but we can't seem to get Soldiers to Level 2 and 3 to certify. My current unit does have someone heading to Level 2 and 3 which I feel will help with this shortage. As an Army, it is just not trained to everyone in a manner which would permit them to apply it if they were to need it. </div><div><br></div><div>In summary, I think we need to revamp the techniques and approaches taught in Combatives and we need to develop a method to ensure that the curriculum is being taught to the Soldiers so they could actually utilize the techniques if ever needed. </div><div><br></div><div>I am all for maintaining the ground-fighting aspect as a sport in the Army. Combatives tournaments are amazing for moral and unit pride. </div>

2014-04-20T08:12:20-04:00 2014-04-20T08:12:20-04:00 1SG Private RallyPoint Member 106514

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>SGM, <div><br></div><div>I think the MACP has grown and should continue grow. I think there should be a MTT that certifies 3s and 4s. Now I am not sure if there is a MTT now or has been before but it could help units get more soldiers up to par.</div><div><br></div><div>Just my thoughts.</div><div><br /><br>V/R</div><div>1SG Haro</div>

2014-04-20T08:17:26-04:00 2014-04-20T08:17:26-04:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 106592

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div><p>SGM</p><p>I believe that the Army Combatives program is a vastly underused tool, and definitely needs to be revamped and brought more to the forefront of our training.  I don't care whats happened in the last 13 years, bombs tanks, helicopters and what not doesn't preclude us from having to be that guy charging through the door, and potentially engaging the enemy in hand to hand combat.  The biggest failure when it comes to MACP is the fact that no one seems to take it seriously, and actually train to standard AT THE UNIT level as it is intended to.  Units should be doing training weekly during PT and not only focusing on what the manual teaches, but also applying it to real world training.  Rolling with other Soldiers is great, but what if we take them to a MOUT site, and add the additional task of encountering an enemy.  There is more that we should be doing, but all too often, the leadership doesn't/cant/wont.</p>

2014-04-20T11:35:12-04:00 2014-04-20T11:35:12-04:00 MSG Private RallyPoint Member 440881

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Spend more time and money on rifle and pistol marksmanship, which will benefits all Soldiers. Leave the MACP in the recreational realm where it belongs.<br /><br />Master the rifle first. <br /><br />How's that for controversy???? <br /><br />Fire away!!!

2015-01-28T12:51:12-05:00 2015-01-28T12:51:12-05:00 2013-12-10T17:52:29-05:00