SAN DIEGO -- Marines of Company M, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion fought their way through the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program test aboard the depot, April 2.
The MCMAP test was given to ensure they retained all of the techniques they learned during recruit training.
“MCMAP is taught to the recruits from the very first week of recruit training,” said Sgt. Richard R. Kennedy, drill instructor, Platoon 3271. “The test lets us know how well they paid attention and how well they execute the technique.”
Each platoon was broken up in groups of 20. The Marines were assigned a martial arts instructor who would ensure they were executing each technique correctly. Some techniques were done as a group while some were done individually.
Marines received a list of all the techniques. If they executed a technique wrong, they received an “X.” Too many “X”s on their score card means fail and they’ll be dropped into the next training company.
Drill instructors and MCMAP instructors made sure Marines were all on the same page and there was no confusion during the test.
A majority of MCMAP techniques have specific movements one would need to complete in order to execute the move correctly. The pressure to remember each detail caused some to make an error.
“I over thought a lot of the techniques and it made me miss the small details,” said Pvt. Franklin H. Smith, Plt. 3275. “Your foot or hand could be off just slightly and it would throw off your entire technique.”
Getting through the MCMAP test successfully was just one obstacle they needed to overcome in their journey to become Marines. Passing these tests and obstacles sets Marines up for further success in their careers.
“MCMAP instills warrior ethos in the recruits,” said Kennedy, a native of Killeen, Texas. “Not only do they get the discipline from MCMAP, they also get the pride knowing it is something that they earned.”
Nearing the end of recruit training, Company M has faced a majority of the challenges that recruit training had to offer, the MCMAP test being one of them. Soon they will leave recruit training and continue on with their Marine Corps careers where they can work on their MCMAP skills and earn up to a black belt.
“One day your weapon might not work,” said Smith. “Learning the basics while in recruit training will set future Marines up for success to build on their skills during their careers in the Corps.”