04/14/2024
Recruits of the Stillwater Recruit Sustainment Program conducted mixed martial arts training, referred to as combatives training, during their March drill at the Stillwater, Minnesota, armory.
The Modern Army Combatives Program was developed to train Soldiers in close-combat scenarios.
The training is for familiarization, explained 2nd Lt. Luke Van Beek, of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 334th Brigade Engineering Battalion, who volunteered to oversee the Stillwater RSP training event.
The new recruits will conduct combatives training at basic training and may even have an opportunity to become combatives level one certified, Van Beek shared. Van Beek is combatives level one certified and wrestled in high school at St. Croix Central in western Wisconsin.
“I’m here to ensure the training is conducted safely and the Soldiers are practicing the proper moves,” said Van Beek. “it’s a lot of fun for the recruits.”
Combatives training is a common training event for the Stillwater RSP. The unit commander, Capt. Evan Wood, who has led the Stillwater RSP for two years now, said it’s a good training event to conduct not only because it will prepare them for basic training, but it also builds camaraderie and keeps the troops motivated.
“Our top goal for the unit is to ensure our recruits are motivated and ready to attend basic training or advanced individual training,” said Wood. “As an RSP unit, we try to stay on top of the training Soldiers receive at basic training. We incorporate that training into our drill schedule so new recruits are exposed to as much as possible before they leave for training.”
“Combatives is really fun!” said Pvt. Sunday Htoo, who signed up to be an infantryman in the Minnesota National Guard and is in between basic training and advanced individual training while he completes his senior year at Harding Senior High School in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Htoo said he practiced Muay Thai in Thailand when he was younger but hadn’t continued any martial arts training until he joined the Minnesota National Guard and went to basic training.
“I really like it,” Htoo continued. He explained it was something he enjoyed while at basic training.
Htoo plans to finish high school this spring and attend his advanced individual training this coming summer. After his advanced individual training, he plans to continue with his martial arts training.
“It’s been great training this weekend,” said Wood. “It’s great to see the recruits so motivated and having a good time.”
