Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego -- Recruits are trained to take on any challenge and fight anywhere including close quarter combat with a bayonet and rifle.
Recruits of Company I, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, struck their way through the Bayonet Assault Course aboard the depot, Jan. 9.
Bayonet Techniques is part of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. Throughout recruit training, MCMAP classes are taught to instill hand-to-hand combat techniques and warrior ethos.
“It all boils down to the importance of close quarter combat and a Marine’s will to fight,” said Recruit Leon R. Agosto, Platoon 3210. “During the bayonet training, drill instructors stressed weapon control, which is important. If you don’t have proper weapon control then your technique won’t be good and, in a combat situation, the enemy could disarm you.”
During the event, recruits were taught to perform a vertical and horizontal slash, disrupt, combat glide, horizontal and vertical butt stroke, and offensive and defensive weapon maneuvers.
Once recruits were shown how to perform the bayonet techniques they practiced each move to learn the fundamentals and ensure they understood how to execute the technique.
Once recruits practiced enough, they put their skills to the test by going through the Bayonet Assault Course.
The course contained obstacles and stations that simulated a beach landing. First, recruits had to buddy rush to reach their designated destination. Then recruits ran through trenches, low crawled through barbed wire, and applied the bayonet techniques they learned on tires, which simulated an enemy target.
Although trench fighting is mostly outdated, it’s still important for Marines to be properly trained towards it, explained Agosto, a 19-year-old Denver, native.
“Weapons retention and positive control of the rifle are two important keys recruits have to become well efficient at,” said Sgt. Erik G. Covington, Platoon 3211. “Recruits will be put through further training in MCMAP sessions and pugil sticks to keep the weapon retention fresh in their minds and make the techniques second nature.”
The MCMAP motto is ‘one mind, any weapon’. To reinforce this motto, recruits were taught to use any object as a weapon in different ways also known as weapons of opportunity. The bayonet, which is designed to attach to the end of the M16-A4 service rifle, made the rifle an even deadlier weapon.
Recruits of Company I, will continue their MCMAP training throughout recruit training and their Marine Corps careers. Marines are known as the first to go and first to fight. To uphold that reputation Marines are always training to be combat efficient and ready.