San Diego -- Recruits of Company L, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, were evaluated on 48 Marine Corps Martial Arts Program techniques aboard the depot, Jan. 22.
After approximately 50 hours of practice and review, recruit’s skills were evaluated in a performance evaluation. In order to pass and receive a MCMAP tan belt, recruits in the program had to prove they could correctly perform each move. During the test, recruits were able to make up to 14 mistakes before failing.
Prior to the recruits testing, drill instructors spent many hours reviewing the material with their recruits to ensure they could execute every move.
“Over the last two days I’ve gone over the entire syllabus with them, from the first to the last move,” said Sgt. Joseph A. Kimmel, drill instructor, Platoon 3250. “The biggest thing in getting them ready is breaking it down step by step and constantly remediating.”
Some of the techniques learned in the tan belt syllabus included the basic wrist lock take down, counter to the rear hand punch, vertical knee strikes and eye gouge.
Whether recruits came into training with no martial arts knowledge or a large amount of experience, the program began with basic moves to build a foundation.
Recruit Dillon E. Nab, Plt. 3255, explained he had experienced similar training in the Army, but the Marine Corps had certain moves he had not learned before.
“I like that they integrate the rifles and bayonets into MCMAP,” said Nab, a Forrest Lake, Minn. native. “I didn’t see that in the Army.”
After the test, many recruits appeared happy to have gotten a step closer to their ultimate goal of becoming a Marine and having the opportunity to enhance their MCMAP training.
“It would have been embarrassing not to pass (the test) because of the pride and image we carry ourselves with,” said Recruit Michael A. Peterson, Plt. 3255. “I’m interested in learning how MCMAP progresses.”
MCMAP is a five belt program, with tan being the lowest of the five—tan, gray, green, brown, black.
Sgt. Todd P. Talley, black belt instructor, Instructional Training Company, Support Battalion, explained he loves teaching recruits the tan belt syllabus because it gives them the basic fundamentals of how to defend themselves should they get into harm’s way.
“The moves learned (in recruit training) are just the basics but they are necessary in order to learn more advanced moves,” said Talley, who has a black belt in Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai and Taekwondo. “I think MCMAP is also more than just martial arts, it’s about leadership, making recruits more mature and tying in Marine Corps history.”