Area Guardsmen attend state's first-ever combatives instructor course

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Two area Missouri National Guard Soldiers were recently certified to train others in hand-to-hand combat after attending the state's first-ever Level 1 Modern Army Combatives Instructor Course.

Staff. Sgt. Daniel Schaab, of Cape Girardeau, and Sgt. John Reeves, of Whitewater, attended the weeklong course last month at Fort Leonard Wood. Schaab, 26, beat out 25 other combatants from across the state to win an informal tournament testing his newly learned fighting skills.

"It was pretty intense," said Schaab, the Recruit Sustainment Coordinator for the Cape Girardeau area. "We were on the wrestling mats from 8 in the morning until 5 at night every day. But it was worth it. I'm now able to teach what I learned -- not just go through the motions. I can go slow and explain each position and each move to someone who doesn't have a background in it."

Reeves, who is a member of the 1140th Engineer Battalion's Forward Support Company, agreed.

"It was the most intense training I've received so far in my enlistment," said Reeves, 42. "I was worn out. But I'd recommend this course to anybody. We learned a lot."

The Level 1 class is a 40-hour course that is tailored for developing instructors who can teach every Soldier, said Warrant Officer Candidate Joseph Ford, who was an assistant instructor for the course. Ford also serves with the 229th Multifunctional Medical Battalion in Jefferson City and works for the Guard full time for the Training and Evaluation Battalion.

During the course, students learn to teach the techniques of basic combatives, including strategy, positions and various holds, Ford said. There is a special emphasis on Recruit Sustainment Program coordinators, because their job is to deal with new recruits generally before they attend basic training.

"The point is to get all the RSP coordinators certified as instructors so they can teach new recruits this valuable skill," Ford said. "To me, it builds confidence in yourself. If your weapon malfunctions or you're put in a position where you have to fight hand to hand with somebody, you'll need to know this. It's one of those cases where it's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it."

Schaab said it was especially important for him to be able to teach other raw recruits.

"There have been more than 1,000 cases in Iraq and Afghanistan where a Soldier has had to do hand-to-hand combat with the enemy," Schaab said. "This is a new emphasis in the military and when my RSP guys get to basic training, they'll be ahead of the game."

Schaab said he has already gone over combatives with the recruits but will do so again in a few months.

Reeves will also be offering some instruction to the 1140th's Forward Support Company later this year, he said.

"It was very informative for me," Reeves said. "Fist fights are basically two guys squaring off and beating each other up. This teaches you a method to the madness. The class also taught me to stop a fight without having to fight. I'd recommend any Soldier go to this because you never know when you're going to need it."

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.

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For more information about this release, please contact Scott Moyers at (573) 339-6264 or by e-mail at scott.moyers1@us.army.mil.