Specialist Jeff Scott (top), a leasing agent with Ambling Management in Atlanta, Ga., engages in basic combative maneuvers with Private 1st Class Bryan McCall, a Soldier from Greenville, S.C.  Scott is a chef with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment while McCall uses his civilian job training to enhance his military specialty as a wheeled-vehicle mechanic for Company E, 148th Brigade Support Bn.  McCall works for C and R Auto as a technician in his hometown.

Guardsmen share combative skills with counterparts

The following article was written in July, prior to the eruption of a short-lived conflict between the Nation of Georgia and Russia. Georgia’s 48th BCT members had already returned to the U.S. before any clashes occurred.

By Sgt.  Tracy J. Smith
48th IBCT (L) PAO

VAZIANI MILITARY BASE, Tbilisi, Georgia, July -- It has been said that the best offense is a good defense - a theory that applies to Brazilian Jujitsu, the youngest martial art form. The American military adopted this form of hand-to-hand combat because of this principle.  At the very least basic hand-to-hand techniques – called ‘combatives’--- are taught to all Soldiers these days.  While in Vaziani to participate in an international military exercise, Georgia Army National Guardsmen are sharing their combative training with their Georgian counterparts.

Ultimately; however, the most dominant posture is with the opponent’s initial attack.  As physical altercations will often end with the combatants wrangling on the ground it can give the Soldier an added edge. 

“Believe it or not, being defensive gives you more control,” says Staff Sgt. Patrick Sampson, Sr., the Company E, 148th Brigade Support Battalion food service NCOIC.  “You can get the advantage early on and disable your opponent with a few simple moves.”

Another advantage of the combatives is that great agility is not necessary.  The methods and moves can be performed even with the protective equipment Soldiers wear for patrols.

“The combative maneuver training has two purposes,” 2nd Lt. Christopher Edgecomb explained.  Edgecomb is a platoon leader and the course training instructor. “The first is to teach them how to deter the enemy when he comes into arm’s reach; the other is to build confidence in their ability to fight the enemy using their hands and body weight.”

The Georgia Guardsman find it easy to make an exchange of methods and movements with their Georgian Army counterparts despite the language barrier.  The Georgians have previous training in Israeli hand-to-hand maneuvers and are willing to incorporate aspects of the storied Israeli method into this new combat form.  Their willingness to participate is essential to the overall purpose of the joint training mission.

“We will use this in our war fighting,” said Lieutenant Zurab Gogishvili a platoon commander for Georgian Army’s 4th Brigade.  “This training in patrolling and combative arms will be very useful as we prepare for our deployment. The most important thing is that we make friends with America and with our fellow Soldiers.”

Edgecomb has a broader appreciation for the training.  “Besides the straight war fighting ability,” Edgecomb begins, wiping a sheet of perspiration from his face, “the Soldiers enjoy it and feel more confident than when they came to the mat.  Anytime you see a Soldier with increased confidence and drive it always gives you a rush.”

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