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wrbones
06-13-03, 11:35 PM
Martial arts belts by 1 October, folks! Just a reminder.




http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/BEDC151FAAC7091585256D3D005C36A1?opendocument




Submitted by: MCRD San Diego
Story Identification Number: 200366124713
Story by Cpl. Anthony D. Pike



MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif.(June 6, 2003) -- With the upcoming deadline for all Marines to be tan belt qualified in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program by Oct. 1, the Marine Corps is also preparing to get all Marines to the gray belt level and beyond.

The Depot is in a good position to help Marines looking to advance through the MCMAP ranks. The Depot as a training base has several martial arts instructors.

"Here we have more (martial arts instructor trainers) than other units," said Staff Sgt. Geffrey S. Martin, martial arts instructor trainer.

"Support Battalion has maybe three or four instructors. A grunt unit on the other hand may only have one for the entire battalion."

"You can go through the training, test for the next belt level and still not be authorized to wear the next belt if the commanding officer does not sign off," said Martin.

Just as MCIs award points to a Marine's composite score, MCMAP training is likely to become a part of the promotion system as well, according to Martin.

A Marine's military occupational specialty will dictate what belt level is required. For instance, all infantrymen will be required to be brown-belt level according to rank. Lance corporals and below do not rate brown-belts.

Combat arms Marines will be required to be green-belt qualified and all other Marines are required to be gray-belt by the deadline of Oct. 1, 2004.

These belt level deadlines apply to all Marines, regardless of when they entered the Marine Corps, according to Maj. Chad T. Hedleston, commanding officer, Headquarters Company.

Marines looking to advance through the MCMAP belt system, need not look far from their work sections.

The Marine Corps is beginning to shy away from large classes in favor of unit level training, according to Martin.

"Combat conditioning should all be done through the units," said Martin. A martial arts instructor can conduct unit training. "To sign off on the hours, the Marine signing off needs to be a martial arts instructor."

To become a martial arts instructor, Marines have to be a corporal or higher, be gray belt qualified or higher, have a first class physical fitness test, complete specific MCIs and pass the martial arts instructor course.

Having completed certain MCIs such as Fundamentals of Leadership and Financial Management are necessities for Marines to move up through the belt ranks. The reason for this is to ensure the Marine is not lacking in professional military education, according to Martin.

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