Product Description
1. Purpose of Close Combat
Close combat is the physical confrontation between
two or more opponents. It involves armed and unarmed and lethal and nonlethal fighting techniques that range from enforced compliance to deadly force. The purpose of close combat is to execute armed and unarmed techniques to produce both lethal and nonlethal results. Unarmed
techniques include hand-to-hand combat and defense
against hand-held weapons. Armed techniques include techniques applied with a rifle, bayonet, knife, baton, or any weapon of opportunity.
2. Continuum of Force
Marines will find themselves in both combative and noncombative situations. The threat level in these situations can rise and fall several times based on the actions of both Marines and the people involved. The escalation of force stops when one person complies with the demands imposed by another person. This range of actions is known as a continuum of force. Continuum of force is the concept that there is a wide range of possible actions, ranging from voice commands to application of deadly force, that may be used to gain and maintain control of a potentially dangerous situation (MCO 5500.6_, Arming of Security and Law Enforcement [LE] Personnel and the Use of Force). Continuum of force consists of five levels that correspond to the behavior of the people involved and the actions Marines use to handle the
situation (see the table below). Close combat techniques are executed in levels three, four, and five.
Level One: Compliant (Cooperative)
The subject complies with verbal commands. Close combat techniques do not apply.
Level Two: Resistant (Passive)
The subject resists verbal commands but complies immediately to any contact controls. Close combat techniques do not apply.
Level Three: Resistant (Active)
The subject initially demonstrates physical resistance.
Marines use compliance techniques to control the situation. Level three incorporates close combat techniques to physically force a subject to comply. Techniques include—
l Come-along holds.
l Soft-handed stunning blows.
l Pain compliance through joint manipulation and the use of pressure points.
Level Four: Assaultive (Bodily Harm)
The subject may physically attack Marines, but he does not use a weapon. Marines use defensive tactics to neutralize the threat. Defensive tactics include the following close combat techniques:
l Blocks.
l Strikes.
l Kicks.
l Enhanced pain compliance procedures.
l Nightstick blocks and blows.
Level Five: Assaultive (Serious Bodily Harm/Death)
The subject usually has a weapon and will either kill or seriously injure someone if he is not stopped immediately and brought under control. Typically, to control the subject, Marines apply deadly force through the use of a firearm, but they may also use armed and unarmed close combat techniques.
Close combat is the physical confrontation between
two or more opponents. It involves armed and unarmed and lethal and nonlethal fighting techniques that range from enforced compliance to deadly force. The purpose of close combat is to execute armed and unarmed techniques to produce both lethal and nonlethal results. Unarmed
techniques include hand-to-hand combat and defense
against hand-held weapons. Armed techniques include techniques applied with a rifle, bayonet, knife, baton, or any weapon of opportunity.
2. Continuum of Force
Marines will find themselves in both combative and noncombative situations. The threat level in these situations can rise and fall several times based on the actions of both Marines and the people involved. The escalation of force stops when one person complies with the demands imposed by another person. This range of actions is known as a continuum of force. Continuum of force is the concept that there is a wide range of possible actions, ranging from voice commands to application of deadly force, that may be used to gain and maintain control of a potentially dangerous situation (MCO 5500.6_, Arming of Security and Law Enforcement [LE] Personnel and the Use of Force). Continuum of force consists of five levels that correspond to the behavior of the people involved and the actions Marines use to handle the
situation (see the table below). Close combat techniques are executed in levels three, four, and five.
Level One: Compliant (Cooperative)
The subject complies with verbal commands. Close combat techniques do not apply.
Level Two: Resistant (Passive)
The subject resists verbal commands but complies immediately to any contact controls. Close combat techniques do not apply.
Level Three: Resistant (Active)
The subject initially demonstrates physical resistance.
Marines use compliance techniques to control the situation. Level three incorporates close combat techniques to physically force a subject to comply. Techniques include—
l Come-along holds.
l Soft-handed stunning blows.
l Pain compliance through joint manipulation and the use of pressure points.
Level Four: Assaultive (Bodily Harm)
The subject may physically attack Marines, but he does not use a weapon. Marines use defensive tactics to neutralize the threat. Defensive tactics include the following close combat techniques:
l Blocks.
l Strikes.
l Kicks.
l Enhanced pain compliance procedures.
l Nightstick blocks and blows.
Level Five: Assaultive (Serious Bodily Harm/Death)
The subject usually has a weapon and will either kill or seriously injure someone if he is not stopped immediately and brought under control. Typically, to control the subject, Marines apply deadly force through the use of a firearm, but they may also use armed and unarmed close combat techniques.
