MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- The Marine Corps’ most deadly weapon doesn’t come from a factory and isn’t carried on a sling.
The deadliest weapon is the Marine himself.
Marines with Military Police Company, Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, spent time refreshing and upgrading their Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training recently.
The Marine Corps created MCMAP as a way to improve Marines’ Warrior Ethos. It stresses mental and character development, as well as close quarters combat techniques.
Lakeland, Fla., native, Staff Sgt. Kristofer A. Mock is the black belt instructor, and a platoon sergeant in the company, who led the MCMAP training. The Marines spent hours doing combat conditioning drills, reviewing belt requirements, and going over troublesome moves.
“The training is so good because they make it realistic and the instructor is so motivated, making it that much better,” Lance Cpl. Boe Cody, a Daytona Beach, Fla., native, said.
Cody added that MCMAP also incorporates hand-to-hand combat and grappling into its curriculum.
“It’s great that we get to come out here and do this training,” said Lance Cpl. Jacob Fuhrman, an Allen Park, Mich., native. “The combat conditioning portion has definitely given me a workout.”
This was Furhman’s fifth course working with Mock.
This particular course was for anyone with a tan belt through green belt. Every Marine must complete a certain number of hours in training before testing for the next belt up. Mock had the Marines training from six in the morning to four or five in the afternoon, with a few breaks throughout the day.
“It’s tough, but the training helps guys like me who don’t know much about fighting,” explained Lance Cpl. David Cutt, a Campbellsville, Ky., native.
Cutt was able to earn all his belts up to brown belt while on deployment, and now he assists Mock in working with the Marines who need a little extra help. Although he is not an instructor, he is able to work with the Marines under Mock’s supervision.
Mock said he is willing to teach anyone who wants to learn, and they are trying to get as many Marines as possible through the courses to improve their combat skills.