Marines Conduct Martial Arts Training with Guatemalan Military

By Cpl. Brittany Kohler, Amphibious Southern Partnership Station 2011 Public Affairs

PUERTO BARRIOS, Guatemala (NNS) -- U.S. Marines conducted subject matter expert exchanges (SMEEs) with Guatemalan service members aboard Kaibil Base, Guatemala, Feb. 17.

The exchanges included Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) and non-lethal weapons and tactics, taught by Marines from Security Cooperation Task Force (SCTF), Ground Combat Element (GCE) and Logistics Combat Element (LCE).

"This is our first learning evolution here in Guatemala, and it is great so far," said Staff Sgt. Zachary R. Strelke, GCE Scout Platoon commander. "This is a new experience for many of the Guatemalan service members, but they are very combat-focused, so this training is right up their alley."

SCTF consists of Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 271, 2nd Tank Battalion and 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion and is currently deployed in support of Amphibious Southern Partnership Station 2011 (A-SPS11).

A-SPS11's mission is to strengthen cooperative partnerships in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility and to conduct SMEEs to enhance capabilities of both U.S. and foreign militaries.

In 2010, a group of U.S. Marines visited the Guatemalan special forces "Kaibil" base and taught Guatemalan service members tan belt, the entry level, techniques. This year, the Guatemalan forces requested the SCTF to advance the MCMAP exchange to cover grey and green belt techniques.

"Being a Kaibil, this type of training is very important to us," said Kaibil Infantry Lt. Elvis Roman Flores Ramirez, First Company Rifleman. "I wish there was more time to train and learn more skills to become proficient in the advanced levels of martial arts."

Though Kaibil soldiers and Guatemalan Army soldiers are separate, both participated in the exchange. The Kaibil are the special forces of the army, so many Guatemalan soldiers work toward becoming a Kaibil.

"They were all very eager to learn and seemed excited to learn new moves," said Cpl. Chase H. Dale, GCE Scout Platoon. "It was fun watching them perform the techniques on each other. I learned very quickly that they have a high tolerance for pain and do not like to tap out."

The MCMAP techniques covered in the exchange consisted of basic moves and techniques from each belt level. The curriculum was chosen based on what the Guatemalan military may need to use in their combat, including grappling techniques, throws and body weight leverage control.

"This training will help me in the future, not only in the military but on civilian ground too," said Ramirez.

The hand-to-hand combat exchange is done in conjunction with the non-lethal weapons and tactics course conducted in the same area on base. The course covered several non-lethal formations for defeating riot situations, and unarmed hand-to-hand combat techniques, for preserving life and regaining order. The course is designed to teach soldiers what to do in situations such as civil disturbances or peacekeeping operations, and to provide augmentation to the police force, if needed.

"I learned a lot of techniques that will definitely be useful in the future," said Kaibil Infantry Lt. Jose Luis Lantan Tuch, 2nd Company, special forces. "I learned how to extract friendly personnel from a riot or mob, safely block a street, provide a quick deployment of forces and successfully gain the overall control of an area."

The Kaibil soldiers said they plan on taking everything they learn from the exchanges to continue their own training, pass on the knowledge to others, and update their manuals to continue to advance their training of infantry soldiers.

"Today is just the first day of exchanges, and we have already covered a lot of good information, and I think we made a good first impression," said Strelke. "I am looking forward to learning from them."

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