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HomeNewsFort Campbell's 561st MP Company conducts level II Combatives Training

Fort Campbell’s 561st MP Company conducts level II Combatives Training

Written by Sgt. Sinthia Rosario
101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

Fort Campbell KY, 101st Airborne Division101st Sustainment Brigade - LifelinersFort Campbell, KY – Soldiers of the 561st Military Police Company, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), conducted level II combatives training March 15th at the Lozada Physical Fitness Center at Fort Campbell

The training had two primary goals; the first was to give Soldiers of the 561st advanced hand-to-hand combat techniques that they can employee if needed as they conduct their law enforcement duties. Second, it was a professional development opportunity for the participants.

Spc. Billy Robertson, a military police with the 561st Military Police Company, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), observes Spc. Louis Dipasquale an MP (top) and Spc. Dylan Rutherford a mechanic (bottom), both with the MP Company, while they practice combative moves during combative level II training course, March 15, at the Lozada Physical Fitness Center here at Fort Campbell. (Sgt. Sinthia Rosario/U.S. Army)
Spc. Billy Robertson, a military police with the 561st Military Police Company, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), observes Spc. Louis Dipasquale an MP (top) and Spc. Dylan Rutherford a mechanic (bottom), both with the MP Company, while they practice combative moves during combative level II training course, March 15, at the Lozada Physical Fitness Center here at Fort Campbell. (Sgt. Sinthia Rosario/U.S. Army)

ā€œWe had about 80 percent level I certified, so this is our opportunity to get those guys certified in level II and continue to build that capability within our unit,ā€ said Capt. Tony D. Bowers, company commander for the 561st. ā€œWe have all these schools out there and its hard to get these guys into them and once we can get them in it allows you to build that capability in your unit. Your future trainers are going to be these soldiers here.ā€

The level II certification gives soldiers new techniques that better prepares them for law enforcement or deployed operations.

ā€œThe soldiers learn the dominate positions in level I, now in level II we start adding more tools to the soldiers basics. We give them more attacks from those dominate positions to attack their opponent, to finish the fight,ā€ said Staff Sgt. Michael E. Carrasco, combatives instructor with Company A, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team. ā€œWe also start standing them up more now, we teach them a little bit about striking, the basics of boxing, foot work, combinations and we also do a lot of blower suit in level II.ā€

The blower suit is a full contact suit and it allows soldiers to make full contact with their opponent to see what really works and what doesnā€™t work, explained Carrasco. Theyā€™ll do some scenario based training, like walking into an area and suddenly being attacked by people in blower suits.

Soldiers assigned to the 561st Military Police Company, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), practice combative techniques during combative level II training course, March 15, at the Lozada Physical Fitness Center here at Fort Campbell. During this training the soldier learn basic boxing moves, foot works and combinations to better prepare them in hand-to-hand combat. (Sgt. Sinthia Rosario/U.S. Army)
Soldiers assigned to the 561st Military Police Company, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), practice combative techniques during combative level II training course, March 15, at the Lozada Physical Fitness Center here at Fort Campbell. During this training the soldier learn basic boxing moves, foot works and combinations to better prepare them in hand-to-hand combat. (Sgt. Sinthia Rosario/U.S. Army)

For the younger soldiers that are just coming in and donā€™t have any fighting techniques whatsoever, this gives them first hand experience on how to defend themselves during various types of situations.

Sgt. Steven M. Watson, an MP in 3rd Platoon, 561st MP Company, mentioned that soldiers received plenty of self-defense training during the course, which is a valuable asset for military police. As a police officer they face dangerous situations such as approaching a vehicle, entering a house with domestic problems or even combat in a theater of war. The experience is exactly what the younger soldiers need.

ā€œAlthough the training hasnā€™t been physically hard, it is a reality check,ā€ said Watson. ā€œThis program incorporates more real life movements, for example you can be slapped to the face and then all of a sudden youā€™re jarred, you donā€™t know whatā€™s going on, and youā€™re put in an arm-bar, so itā€™s more real life fighting. It incorporates the moves you already learned and adds to those moves to show you more techniques to get out of it or put someone in, as well as taking contact.ā€

This level is challenging for the soldiers because each move has many different options. There is more memorizing what they should be looking for. Itā€™s harder and it takes more practice than level I combatives.

The combatives program is good for soldiers teaching them beneficial techniques they can use during any type of close combat situations and it develops the warrior ethos.

ā€œGetting the real life factor in there, the fight to come home, cause whether Iā€™m working the road or Iā€™m down range my main priority is to bring my soldiers home and bring myself home to my family. So this is more training to help me prepare myself so I eliminate the enemy before the enemy eliminates me,ā€ said Watson.

Bill Larson
Bill Larson
Bill Larson isĀ  is politically and socially active in the community. Bill is a member of the Friends of Dunbar Cave. You can reach him via telephone at 931-249-0043 or via the email address below.
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