MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII -- The Martial Arts Instructor Course 3-14, the course to certify Marines and sailors as martial arts instructors, is scheduled to run from March 24 through April 11, 2014.
Capt. Robert Livengood, the commanding officer for School of Infantry West-Detachment Hawaii and a native of Raleigh, N.C., said the 15 training days are designed to prepare and certify E-4 to O-3 students of all military occupational specialties to teach the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program.
“The course provides the student with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to teach and certify other Marines at the tan, gray and green belt user levels,” Livengood said. “The course curriculum will cover instructor skills and implementation of MCMAP combat conditioning.”
The program was developed in 1999, under Commandant James L. Jones. Its focus is to combine martial arts skills and close combat training techniques with Marine Corps’ core values and leadership training.
Martial arts instructor trainers throughout Marine Corps Base Hawaii will teach the course. The training will take place in classrooms, at the obstacle course, in the MCMAP pit and at the bayonet assault course.
Sgt. Rey Campos, a platoon sergeant with the distribution management office and a MCMAP instructor, said there are many benefits to being an instructor.
“Not only does it benefit your career, but it also gives you the opportunity to help out other Marines,” said Campos, a native of Bellingham, Wash. “You can help others to be stronger and more competitive for promotions. There’s a physical and mental advantage through discipline and combat conditioning. It’s a way for Marines to better themselves.”
Livengood said the areas of instruction will emphasize the three MCMAP disciplines of mental, character and physical through guided discussions, warrior studies and combat conditioning. The combat conditioning will consist of ground fighting, throws, chokes and other martial arts techniques.
“This opportunity not only provides a service to units by having more MCMAP instructors, but also develops leadership,” Livengood said. “Students graduate as better Marine leaders with a better understanding of character and discipline.”
Requirements to attend the course are first class physical fitness and combat fitness tests, and recommendation by a reporting senior. Upon graduation, the student will have the secondary MOS of martial arts instructor.
Interested Marines and sailors may register for the course at their unit’s S-3 through the Marine Corps training information management system.
“Since dedicating my personal time to being a MCMAP instructor, the experience has been motivating,” Campos said. “It’s satisfying knowing I can benefit myself and others at the same time.”