HAFB airmen learning martial arts

HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah — Airmen deploying to Iraq are getting a little hand-to-hand combat training.

The integrated martial arts program being developed here teaches airmen tactics from various disciplines of martial arts to defend themselves when their weapons don't work or aren't available.

"We know the terrorist organizations are training right now in self-defense," said Maj. Doug Ballinger, commander of the 75th Security Forces Squadron. "The enemy has risen it to the next level; we're just responding to them."

Ballinger believes airmen need to be exposed to the extensive martial-arts training done in the Marine Corps to be fully prepared to be in a combat zone.

The U.S. Air Force Martial Arts Combat School was Ballinger's brainchild, and all those being deployed from the 75th Air Base Wing will go through the training.

"I think the Air Force needs a standard system across the board," said Ballinger, who hopes his program can spawn something more significant and universal down the road.

Manuel Taningco, a master martial artist, is not in the military but was hired by Hill to help develop an integrated program. He already has trained a group of a dozen assistant trainers who will spend the next month helping him train more airmen and learning to become trainers themselves.

"Because wherever they go, they can take this: work, home, definitely in combat and on the streets," Taningco said.

The rigorous program trains airmen for a week, teaching them techniques from seven different concentrations of martial arts — pitting the airmen against each other in simulated situations with various simulated weapons, from knives to guns.

Two hundred airmen will be trained this week and next, with more training scheduled for assistant trainers next month.

"If you do run out of ammunition, if we do get attacked, we need to be prepared," said Airman 1st Class Ben Finch, who trained as an assistant instructor.

"This training is critical for all U.S. military personnel," said Staff Sgt. Jason Leap, a criminal investigator with the 75th Security Forces Squadron.