T6 T7 Pugil Sticks...among other things

Pugil Sticks – A pugil stick is a heavily padded training weapon used for bayonet training. One end is marked as bayonet and the other as the butt of the rifle. Sara and her platoon have never experienced the realities of inter-personal violence found in close combat.

This is "full contact" combative training at the entry level. It is also an effective tool for enhancing the endurance and improvisation that are building blocks to developing the physical skills and mental toughness vital to success on the battlefield.

Yesterday was "Sticks I" explaining the rules and judging and safety. The bouts are conducted in large circular pits and are controlled by a Martial Arts Instructor who starts and stops the bouts.


Each bout is stopped after a set amount of time, or when a properly executed technique is delivered to an opponent that would result in a "kill" on the battlefield. (Goodness! C'mon Dad... buck up... remember this is what being a combat prepared top notch warrior is all about. This has to be "for keeps"! God, protect her!)

Depending on the progress of the platoon, Sara learned and practiced Upper Body Strikes yesterday and today she is getting into Lower Body Strikes – an important part of the unarmed element of Martial Arts training.

Lower body strikes involve simple movements and gross motor skills and include kicks, knee strikes, and stomps. As far as Upper Body, punching is often not the best weapon to use, so Sara has to refine many skills to minimize self-injury including the eye gouge, hammer fists, and elbow strikes. She will practice these skills till she can execute them instinctively. Strikes are offensive skills. In combat, taking the offensive is the key to success.

First Aid II – The purpose of this period of instruction is to review what was learned in First Aid I, and recruits learn to identify the different types of bleeding and wounds, how to control and stopping any type of bleeding, and how to control any type of wound. Sara will have the necessary skills to evaluate a casualty for injuries, stop the bleeding, and protect the wound of a casualty.

USMC Problem Solving – During this period of instruction Sara is learning about the methods the Marine Corps uses to address concerns and solve problems. Her instructor will be covering the Marine Corps’ two informal and preferred methods for problem-solving: The chain-of-command and the Informal Resolution System. The instructor will also cover the more formal methods of problem solving which include the Request Mast process, redress of wrong, and the purpose and duties of the Command Inspector.

And finally (and I know this only covers a bit of the day) today Sara was slated to set up her automatic deposit or direct deposit for her paycheck. Whoo hoo!

Time to get that pass and make a run over to Hilton Head for some rays and waves, a burger and fries with a chocolate shake... to be enjoyed s-l-o-w-l-y !!! It's 82 degrees right now at the île de parris, there is a gentle breeze, the sand is white (right around the corner) the waves are crashing... but there is no rest for Sara. Honor, Courage, Commitment. You go girl!

I love you Sara.