I read the wikipedia entry on military education and training: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_education_and_training and the only reference that is given is the french foreign legion. I’d like to know source of the following points, they sound reasonable enough to me but I’d like to know they are somewhat official or if somebody on wikipedia just made them up.
“The main objectives of wrestling in military training are:
* Superior balance developed from trying to keep one’s balance while at the same time trying to upset the opponent’s. In war, falling to the ground can quickly make one vulnerable to weapon thrusts, so good balance is a must for warriors.
* Grip strength and manual dexterity, for the use of weapons and combat gear
* Focused and powerful pushing-power. In combat one must smash or thrust weapons forward at one’s adversary.
* The ability to get up quickly if fallen down, a very important survival skill on the battlefield (see above).
* Improved stamina, endurance and strength.
* Physical skills to control prisoners, or to carry wounded comrades.
* Cultivation of aggressiveness and improved reaction time.
* Camaraderie, diversion and entertainment.”
Thanks Joseph,
what I’m interested in is the role and purpose that hand-to-hand combat training plays in the basic recruitment training of the US Army and also to what degree, if at all, it is continued after the recruit is branching out to let’s say the Navy or even the Air Force.
I would like some statement/explanation form an official source as to how training in non weapons combat benefits the soldier in general and why it’s trained for even though the possibility of actually having to use these skills in combat is very low.
Jaimee,
I more or less know the reasons, I’m not asking for a logical explanation from a layman. What I’m looking for is some form of reliable source for this, like an interview with an Instructor or some promotional text from an official Army website. Something that I can quote and that holds up.
