Tom Yum

http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mc...B?opendocument

A group of 17 officers from the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force delegation visited Quantico March 1 for a glimpse of the Infantry Officers Course and the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training.

The JGSDF officers were hand-selected by their service to tour military installations in the National Capital Region area and Quantico was the only Marine installation picked for their visit.

The officers arrived at The Basic School for a brief given by Lt. Col. John Wanat, TBS operations officer. The information was an overview of the IOC platform and the types of training Marine lieutenants get in the course.

Following the brief, the JGSDF officers were taken to the training field in front of Heywood Hall for a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program demonstration. Capt. Jason Ford, deputy director of the Martial Arts Center of Excellence, told the delegates about MCMAP.

“The mission of The Basic School’s martial arts program is to teach the basics of self defense to these lieutenants,” Ford said to the JGSDF officers. “We are Marines; we are trained to eradicate the enemy at many different ranges.”

Ford described an example of those ranges.

“The Marine Corps has the ability to take out targets from miles away through the power of our F-18 aircraft,” he explained as he pointed to the stationary aircraft resting across the training field. “Our artillery and mortars are a closer way of killing targets. We move into closer ranges with our M-16A2 rifles. Then, when it comes down to the closest ranges of engagement, by fighting fist-to-fist, the Marine Corps will be just as effective. Marines are not to be messed with. Let it be known.”

Ford explained the introduction of the MCMAP training through orders of the 32nd Marine Corps commandant, Gen. James L. Jones.

“The goal of General Jones was that every Marine would be a rifleman and that every Marine would now be a martial artist,” Ford said.

After the introduction to the martial arts program, Ford gave a demonstration to the delegates. He grabbed 2nd Lt. David Mathes, a TBS student, and explained to the delegates step-by-step a simple take-down and detaining maneuver.

Within a few seconds, the effectiveness of the move was seen on Mathes’s face by the officers as he cringed and went to the ground.

“I think the visit was well conducted,” said Maj. Craig Penrose, Marine Corps Combat Development Command special projects officer. “I think the officers were able to see a little bit of how we train our Marines here.”

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