The rest, as they say, is history. Larson’s efforts ultimately led to our current system with substantial reliance on Brazilian Jujitsu, which was popularized by the famous Gracie family and is a staple of many professional Mixed Martial Artists. The Army embraced the new combatives program, replacing FM 21-150 with FM 3-25.150 in 2002 with a revised version appearing in 2009. Army Regulation 350-1 reinforces the importance of the current combatives program, requiring one Level 1 instructor per platoon, one Level 2 instructor per company, one level 3 instructor per battalion and one level 4 instructor per brigade.
In recognition of the value of combatives training in the current deployed environments, the Army Reserve’s Regional Training Centers (RTC’s; manned primarily by 108th Soldiers) initiated a two-day block of training in the Modern Army Combatives Program for Soldiers of mobilized Warrior Units. The quality of this training was (and continues to be) exceptional. At RTC-East, manned primarily by 98th Training Division (IET) Soldiers and located on Joint Base McGuire-Dix- Lakehurst (JBMDL), the leadership and combatives instructors were especially visionary in recognizing the opportunities presented by the combination of their expertise and facilities and the institutionalized requirements for combatives instructors throughout Army Reserve (and Army National Guard) formations. Consequently, RTC-East piloted formal Level 1 (40 hours) and Level 2 (80 hours) Instructor Training Courses, both of which are authorized for local conduct by Level 3 and Level 4 primary instructors, respectively. This was such a highly successful venture that it soon became apparent that this activity should be separate from the RTC-East mission set and would probably be a viable mission on its own.
After much coordination (which continues to this day), the 98th Training Division (IET) made the decision to establish and operate the framework for executing this mission, leading to the formation of the 98th Training Division (IET) Modern Army Combatives Program Academy at JBMDL. Some of the specific organizational details remain in flux, but the current plan is to align the Academy to a battalion within our 3rd Brigade for support and oversight functions with flexible assignment and duty location provisions that will maximize the benefit of the Division’s Level 3 and Level 4 Instructors as the Academy’s core cadre. Additional instructors will be identified from Level 3 and 4 instructors throughout the Division and employed as needed to conduct the Academy’s scheduled Level 1 and 2 Instructor Training Courses. The Academy has continued the established tradition of success, training nearly 350 Soldiers in the Level 1 course and 40 in the Level 2 course in the last six months – and the majority of these Soldiers are assigned to units outside the Division.
One of the Academy’s most visible accomplishments during the past year was the second annual Modern Army Compatives Program Tournament, conducted 18 September at JBMDL. This year, 71 fighters (both male and female) representing the Army, Navy and Air Force competed before an enthusiastic audience of roughly 300 at Griffith Field House with special guests Maj. Gen. Robert Stall, commanding general, 108th Training Command (IET), Brig. Gen. Daniel Ammerman, deputy commanding general, 99th Regional Support Command and Ricardo Almeida, retired professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter.
The excitement was non-stop as two-at-a-time competitions continued until mid-afternoon when the champions of each of the six weight classes were determined. The skills and sportsmanship demonstrated by the fighters were superb, and each –regardless of branch of service – exemplified the Warrior Ethos.
This was an exceptionally well-executed and well-supported (by our Soldiers, JBMDL staff, and family members) that generated excitement that still remains – just look for it on the internet. The tournament was truly a triple-win: it inspired the competitive spirit required to succeed in combatives, it recognized and rewarded our top performers, and it reinforced the relevance of these skills in the contemporary operational environment. Count on it happening next year, and start training now!