Pfc. Cody Canida, top, grapples with Cpl. Christopher McKinney, both infantrymen with Company C, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, at the Fort Carson Modern Army Combatives Program Facility May 21, 2016. (Photo by 1st Lt. Frederick Stepat)
By 1st Lt. Frederick Stepat
1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
Grunts could be heard as Soldiers pinned each other to the mat during a company combatives tournament at the Fort Carson Modern Army Combatives Program Facility May 21, 2016.
The tournament was the culmination of a weeklong train-up that certified 33 Soldiers from Company C, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, in their newly acquired Level 1 Combatives Skills, as well as recertifying three Soldiers who were previously trained.
The double-elimination contest involved 36 “Chaos” Company Soldiers across four weight classes; lightweight, welterweight, middleweight and heavyweight.
“It teaches Soldiers some fundamentals and builds in them the confidence to close with and destroy the enemy in close combat, in the instance of a weapon malfunction or other extreme situation,” said Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Pretat, squad leader and referee for the event.
After a week of hard training, four Soldiers emerged victorious in their weight class. Spc. Alberto Aguirre, lightweight; 1st Lt. Chris Dinkelacker, welterweight; Sgt. Rene Marquez, middleweight; and Sgt. Patrick Seaman, heavyweight.
“It was a great opportunity to compete against guys in the company and beat them,” said first time competitor Pvt. Clayton Claar, infantryman. “We were talking about it for several days after. (I) can’t wait to do it again.”