After a long search and review of different systems, the committee decided to send their men to train at the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Torrance, California (National Guard, 2012; Blanton, 2008; Curtez, 2012). In time, it found the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu taught in this Academy as meeting almost every aspect requirement of a military combatives program long sought by them. It was easy to learn, competitive and proven effective in hand-to-hand encounters. It detailed the techniques to be taught and in the proper order. It would first teach the basics of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ground fighting. Then it would proceed to throws and takedowns of judo and wrestling. This would be followed by the strikes of Boxing and Muay Thai. All these initial steps could combine with a training phase on marksmanship and weapons towards a totally integrated system of close quarters combat. The committee saw that one could pass smoothly between ranges of combat, with or without weapons, and individually or as a group (National Guard, Blanton, Curtez).
The initial group of Rangers trained under this new system spread the skill throughout the Army (National Guard, 2012; Blanton, 2008; Curtez, 2012). Col. Michael Ferriter, who was among those who learned it, was also commanding officer of the 3rd Ranger Battalion at that time. When he later took command of the 11th infantry regiment, he successfully incorporated the new system into the POIs of Officer Candidate School, the Infantry Officer Basic Course, and the Infantry Captains Career Course. Together with SFC Matt Larsen, he laid the foundation of the Army's Train the Trainer's Program....
It continued to spread and grow. In January 2002, it became the official doctrine with the publication of the new field manual FM3-24, 150 (National Guard, Blanton, Curtez).
Conclusion: the Present Official Doctrine
The program also established the U.S. Army Combatives School at Fr. Benning in Georgia (National Guard, 2012; Blanton, 2008; Curtez, 2012). The U.S. Air Force formally adopted Modern Army Combatives as its hand-to-combat system in early 2008. Every Marine now keeps a record book, which inputs his training. A particular color in a colored belt system indicates the skill level, similar to that used by many Asian martial arts. In the order, these colors are tan, gray, green, brown and black (National Guard, Blanton, Curtez). #
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Blanton, J.F. (2008). Hand-to-hand combatives in the U.S. Army. U.S. Army Command
and General Staff College. Retrieved on July 12, 2012 from http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA511484
Curtez, R. (2012). The history of the modern army combatives program. Army Combatives: Army Combatives Program. Retrieved on July 12, 2012 from http://www.armycombatives.org/the-history-of-the-modern-army-combatives-program
National Guard (2011). The history of modern army combatives. National Guard
Bureau. Retrieved on July 12, 2012 from http://www.ng.mil/R1/rti/Combativestraining/History-MACP.pdf
US Army Combatives (2012). About hand-to-hand combat. USArmyCombative.com.
Retrieved on July 15, 2012 from http://www.usarmycombatives.com/about-hand-to-hand-combat
