SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Loud music, sweat, violent collisions and cheering could all be heard at Schriever Air Force Base Monday, but it wasn’t an intramural sport or squadron physical training session responsible.
The 50th Security Forces Squadron conducted a combatives training session for approximately 20 members. The training comprises different forms of mixed martial arts and dominant and non-dominant body positions.
“This training is important to SFS to give them the confidence to go hands-on with a suspect and know they have another tool in their tool box to use to maintain control of a suspect or stay alive until back-up can get to them,” said Staff Sgt. Adam Dederick, 50 SFS and lead instructor for the training.
According to Air Force Instruction 36-2225, “Ground combat skills are taught as individual and collective skills . . . all security forces personnel (officer and enlisted) will be trained annually on these subjects.”
Security Forces combatives training adds an element Air Force combatives training does not, SFS members can’t run from an individual after escape.
“Security Forces must be able to control a situation and break away to pull a safer use of force option for the member, or restrain a suspect until back up arrives to help detain or apprehend the suspect,” Dederick said.
Dederick began the session having members practice dominant and non-dominant body positions and how to escape and transition to a more favorable position. Trainees then practiced “rolling” with a partner for 60 seconds with a goal of achieving the upper hand. Dederick then moved on to submission training and weapon retention.
The goal of combatives training is to prepare SFS members for non-compliant encounters.
“When an individual is under the influence or has nothing else to lose at the moment, they (might) get the idea that if they can take the member out they can get out of their current situation,” Dederick said. These can happen in domestic disputes, pulling over a drunk driver or even dealing with a disgruntled employee.”
Dederick said 97 percent of encounters involve compliant individuals, making it easy for a sense of complacency to set in. The three percent of individuals who attempt to attack, wound or kill members makes combatives training so important.
“Members can be called up to the challenge of going hands on with a suspect at every encounter they have with someone,” he said. “SFS has to maintain vigilance with every encounter as the enemy is looking for us to be complacent.”