Marines and sailors listen to instruction provided by Sgt. Michael Little during a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training session onboard the USS Boxer June 17, 2016. (Chris Church/Stars and Stripes)
Marines and sailors listen to instruction provided by Sgt. Michael Little during a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training session onboard the USS Boxer June 17, 2016. (Chris Church/Stars and Stripes)
Sgt. David Lam provides instruction for applying the arm bar during Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training onboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer June 17, 2016. (Chris Church/Stars and Stripes)
Sgt. Michael Little provides instruction for applying an arm bar during Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training onboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer June 17, 2016. (Chris Church/Stars and Stripes)
Sgt. Michael Little corrects the arm bar of one of his Marine Corps Martial Arts Program students during training onboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer June 17, 2016. (Chris Church/Stars and Stripes)
Lance Cpl. Matthew Russo applies the arm bar against his opponent during Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training onboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer June 17, 2016. (Chris Church/Stars and Stripes)
Seaman Enos Chapman applies the arm bar against his partner during Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training onboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer June 17, 2016. (Chris Church/Stars and Stripes)
Seaman Enos Chapman applies the arm bar against his partner during Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training onboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer June 17, 2016. (Chris Church/Stars and Stripes)
Lance Cpl. John Thompson applies pressure to his opponent?s arm during Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training onboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer June 17, 2016. (Chris Church/Stars and Stripes)
Cpl. Steven Breslin prepares to execute the arm bar from the guard technique against his opponent during Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training onboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer June 17, 2016. (Chris Church/Stars and Stripes)
Cpl. Steven Breslin applies pressure to his opponent?s arm after executing the arm from the guard technique during Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training onboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer June 17, 2016. (Chris Church/Stars and Stripes)
Seaman Enos Chapman prepares to ?tap put? as pressure is applied to his arm during Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training onboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer June 17, 2016. (Chris Church/Stars and Stripes)
Seaman Enos Chapman executes a wrist-lock takedown of his opponent during Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training onboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer June 17, 2016. (Chris Church/Stars and Stripes)
Sgt. David Lam demonstrates and arm bar takedown to Marine Corps Martial Arts Program students during training onboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer June 17, 2016. (Chris Church/Stars and Stripes)
Lance Cpl. Niilo Taina executes weapons techniques during Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training on the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer June 17, 2016. (Chris Church/Stars and Stripes)
Marines execute weapons techniques during Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training on board the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer June 17, 2016. (Chris Church/Stars and Stripes)
Cpl. Princesse Aldrete executes a disrupt-and-thrust technique during Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training on the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer June 17, 2016. (Chris Church/Stars and Stripes)
ABOARD THE USS BOXER — Marines with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Brigade embarked with the USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group have to be ready for a variety of contingencies and operations they could face at a moment’s notice in the Middle East.
Marines stay sharp through the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, or MCMAP, which focuses on hand-to-hand and close-quarters combat.
The Marines on board the Boxer use any opportunity they can to learn and practice MCMAP in the hangar bay, said Sgt. Michael Little, a MCMAP instructor.
“It reminds us what the mission at hand really is,” Little said. “It’s prepare for combat. So we are out here doing combative techniques, learning rules of engagement and just fighting.”
The training isn’t just about striking and grappling, Little said. It’s about the three pillars of MCMAP: physical, mental and character development. It’s about creating an ethical warrior.
