Voluntarily getting punched in the face might seem like an unusual approach to improving morale.
Since World War II, 101st Airborne Division soldiers have traded parachutes for helicopters, but apparently, some soldiers still prefer a more direct approach to combat — stepping into a cage.
At Fort Campbell, Kentucky, the Screaming Eagles Combatives Team and the 3rd Brigade Combat Team's fight night events do more than teach soldiers how to fight. They're building camaraderie, developing confidence and giving soldiers something that can be difficult to measure: a reason to stay in the Army.
For Army Pfc. David Reese, an infantryman and combatives fighter assigned to the 101st, the training has practical value.
"Every form of combat isn't always going to be a gunfight," he said. "Sometimes you're going to be in predicaments where you're going to have to do hand-to-hand [combat]."
But for Reese, the greater value lies in the relationships built through competition.
"I think when it comes to building a brotherhood and when it comes to going toe-to-toe with your buddy in that cage, it makes all the difference," he said.
Army Spc. Jefferson Da Silva, an indirect fire infantryman and combatives coach assigned to the 101st, has practiced martial arts for approximately 17 years. His experience includes about 45 fights, 22 of them professionally.
"I think all of the soldiers need to build this confidence," Da Silva said. "As a fighting force, we need that."
Da Silva said combatives help soldiers develop confidence in themselves, trust their leaders and solve problems under pressure.
Army Capt. George Morales-Lasalle, a cyber warfare officer assigned to the 101st, said combatives offer something beyond his daily duties.
"I get discipline, I get healthy, it gives me control, and situational awareness of things that could happen," Morales-Lasalle said.
The team brings together soldiers from different ranks and military occupational specialties who might otherwise never cross paths. An infantryman can train alongside a cyber warfare officer, and a junior enlisted soldier might teach an officer a thing or two.
"This is a very solid team. We're here to teach each other," Morales-Lasalle said. "It's kind of like a ."
The sense of family can make the difference between a soldier leaving the Army and signing another contract.
"I have a corporal who wants to stay in," Morales-Lasalle said. "He is willing to reenlist if he's part of the combatives team."
This raises an important point: soldiers don't always stay for bonuses, promotions or duty assignments. Sometimes, they stay because they've found a team they don't want to leave.
The 3rd Brigade Combat Team, better known as the Rakkasans, has expanded those opportunities through fight night events at Fort Campbell. The competitions allow soldiers to represent their units, test their skills and develop relationships outside of their daily responsibilities.
"It allows me to be able to connect with other people and also let out frustrations in different ways," Reese said.
He hopes to make the Army a career.
While combatives won't solve every retention challenge, the program demonstrates how competition, mentorship and shared experiences can give soldiers a stronger connection to their units and a reason to continue serving.
At Fort Campbell, the Screaming Eagles are proving that sometimes the best retention strategy isn't another briefing. It's a good fight, strong camaraderie and a reason to stay.
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