U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, cOLO. -- Israeli Defense Force soldiers visited the Air Force Academy June 22 to check out the school’s hand-to-hand combat training.
Their stopover was part of a two-week visit to the U.S. to compare the IDF’s hand-to-hand combat and grappling training to similar training at U.S. military and civilian colleges.
Col. Oren Gil, head of Israel’s Ground Forces Combat Fitness School was with the IDF soldiers. Gil is a Maglan commando, a member of the IDF’s elite special forces unit specializing in covert operations.
“We share information among all allies,” Gil said. “There is nothing, if asked to show the U.S., we won’t share. Our relationship is the very definition of friendship.”
David Durnil, the Academy’s combatives coach, led the visit. He said the combatives training here teaches cadets the basic moves of grappling styles and striking techniques.
“Our course trains cadets to survive combat and protect themselves,” he said. “Situational awareness is the No. 1 aspect of the training, whether in combat or day-to-day life.”
Ray Bear, human performance coordinator with 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Carson, was with the group.
“We share ideas with Israel that could positively affect how we train soldiers,” he said. “We all share best practices. It’s a holistic approach to this type of training.”
The group discussed the philosophies behind their individual curriculum.
“The best way to get off the ground is to learn how to fight on the ground,” Durnil said.
Gil agreed.
“We don’t want to get into a fight, but we do want to finish it.”