In feudal Japan, ninjas were silent, esoteric warriors cloaked by shadows.
Not silent but nonetheless esoteric, the Corps’ modern day ninjas — Martial Arts Instructors and Instructor Trainers — are a unique breed of Marines entrusted with the vital task of preserving the Corps’ warrior tradition.
“MCMAP is part of our warrior heritage we need to hold on to,” said Sgt. Nicholas Carson, noncommissioned officer in charge and chief instructor, Martial Arts Instructor Course on base, and a first-degree MAIT. “It’s one of the last vestiges of the true warrior tradition. When a Marine wears a tab [as an MAI or MAIT], they’re held to a higher standard. We’re helping develop better warriors and strengthen our noncommissioned officers.”
To become a MAI, a Marine must attend the taxing three-week Martial Arts Instructor Course. The course is taught by MAITs and offered at seven martial arts satellite schools around the Corps. Upon its completion, MAIs are awarded a green, brown or black belt (corresponding with their belt level) with a vertical tan tab signifying their instructor status.
“Marines don’t need martial arts or fighting experience to attend the MAIC,” Carson said. “They need to understand we’re not here to make a cage fighter. If they’ve got a desire to learn, lead and become a better warrior, this is the place.”
Students learn about MCMAP as “a synergy of mental, character and physical disciplines” and practice combat conditioning, learn safety procedures and how to teach and implement a successful MCMAP program, Carson said.
In the classroom and the dojo, students are taught the principles and history of MCMAP techniques. They delve into warrior and martial cultures, learning about concepts such as “the warrior as a gentleman.”
“On one hand, we’re the brutal war fighter and on the other hand, we’re that Marine in dress blues,” Carson said. “What MCMAP does is teach all of this in the context of war.”
Returning to their units as MAIs and MAITs, noncommissioned officers are better educated, more physically fit and more beneficial to their units. With the ability to advance their Marines’ belt levels, Carson noted the Marines can help increase unit cohesion, combat fitness and proficiency with weapons systems and techniques.
However, the most beneficial portion of the MAI or MAIT courses is leadership training.
“The MAIC helped me grow as a leader more than Corporals and Sergeants Courses did,” said Sgt. Steveen Lansaw, motor transport operations chief, School of Infantry West Detachment Hawaii, and an instructor with the base MAI course. “It’s the best leadership course a Marine can attend.”
Lansaw, who became a black belt MAI after attending the course at School of Infantry East, Camp Geiger, N.C., in 2007, said the draining, combat-related physical training drills and conditioning force the students to work as a team. “The course is all about teamwork and getting through the physical aspect when you’re past your limit.”
He explained the MAI can’t just go through the movement’s motions. They must grasp the full concept of the techniques by learning the fundamentals, principles and purposes.
“You’ll learn sustainment when you’re tired,” Lansaw said. “That’s when it’s going to count the most, so you need to have the techniques as second nature.”
There is a distinct difference between advancing a belt level and earning a tab as a MAI or MAIT, Carson explained. While Marines need to complete requirements and perform at the belt level to advance in belts, the MAI and MAIT courses stress mastery of physical, mental and character disciplines.
After having earned an instructor tab for the green, brown or black belt, Marines may attend a rigorous seven-week course at the Martial Arts Center of Excellence in Quantico, Va., to earn the coveted MAIT’s vertical red tab.
The small community of MAITs attests to the course’s difficulty. There are only about 300 active MAITs in the entire Corps, Carson said.
The MAIT course takes high quality MAIs and teaches them program development for units. While the courses are similar, the MAIT course is much more in-depth and greatly stresses personal development.
After Marines complete the course and return to the fleet as MAITs, they can teach and award all belt levels in addition to educating and certifying MCMAP instructors.
While doing so, MAITs can work at attaining five more degrees. Carson said advancing in degree is challenging and has many prerequisites, including rank, community service, knowledge advancement, new sets of techniques and the amount of time the Marine’s held the previous degree.
The road in becoming a Marine Corps ninja is long and difficult, but it creates legitimate warriors imbued with the Corps’ core values and warrior tradition, Carson said. And it’s accessible.
“You can come from the air wing or the chow hall, any walk of life within the Marine Corps, to become a MAI or MAIT,” Hernandez said. “Character discipline is the biggest thing you’ll need.”