Marines master new skills
By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Marines at Kane'ohe are out in the field this spring, training to improve their esprit de corps, their self-confidence and their ability to kick butt.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
Most of them don't seem to think that constitutes overkill.
Staff Sgt. James Wright, left, gets advice from the trainer, Cpl. William Brooks, on how to hold down an opponent, in this case Wright's training partner, Cpl. Jason Catalani. The three participated in martial arts training at Marine Corps Base Hawai'i at Kane'ohe.
"It gives you a boost of confidence," said Cpl. James Moore, in training last week to be a martial arts instructor. "Personally, I think everyone could use a boost. It never does you any harm."
Moore described the training as tough, tiring and challenging.
"It's what I joined the Marines for," he said.
Moore and others like him are being seeded throughout the Marines to teach the Corps' unique brand of martial arts: a combination of skills gleaned from tae kwon do, judo, jiujitsu and other ancient disciplines, mixed with more traditional forms of Marine hand-to-hand combat and calisthenics.
Gunnery Sgt. Michael Beltran trains the instructors. He tries to set an example by not swearing as he issues commands.
"Now, pull his freakin' right hand down like you're trying to stick it in your freakin' pocket," he yells, as a dozen instructor-trainees prepare to execute shoulder throws. None of them wear padding or protective gear. They don't fake punches.
The program, set to begin this spring for every Marine regardless of rank, was undertaken on the orders of Gen. James. L. Jones, commandant of the Marine Corps. Jones himself has begun the training, Beltran said, as have all recruits at Marine Corps boot camps.
Beltran says he likes the discipline of the martial arts and the way it adds an element of combat training that can be used for controlling, as opposed to killing, opponents. He said the training fits in well with the Marine core values of honor, courage and commitment and is designed to instill pride in the trainees.
"It's awesome," he said. "I love it."
Those who pass the first level of instruction are authorized to wear a tan belt. If they pass with a score of 90 or better, they can begin training for the next belt, which is gray. The belts are worn daily as part of the standard camouflage fatigue uniform.
The third level belt is green, Beltran said, and all instructor-trainees must obtain them before they can be certified. Marines must reach a certain rank before they can train for the green belt.
"It shows the younger Marines they have something they can work toward," Beltran said. "We don't want some young kid who is habitually in trouble coming down here and doing something as prestigious as becoming an instructor."
The upper-level belts are brown and black, with up to six degrees of black belt level marked with red stripes. Beltran's black belt has one stripe. Although he is among the most highly trained in the new program, he still has something to work toward.
The Marines hope to have all members trained to the tan belt level by the end of May.
Cpl. Jesse Magana is a newly minted instructor who was helping to train a group of Marine infantrymen for their tan belts last week. His trainees looked a little tired on the second day of the three day session, after intensive physical training the day before.
"Brutal," said Staff Sgt. James Wright, who said he was nonetheless "good to go" on the training.
Magana said he loves the martial arts program.
His usual job is in administration, and although he isn't complaining about it, sitting behind a desk doesn't fit boyhood dreams of being a Marine. But practicing martial arts? Becoming an instructor?
"It's great," Magana said. "This is what I joined the Marine Corps to do."
