They have a poster about it that I've seen, been I think that's for internal motivation purposes only. I really don't think most recent HS grads would be swayed one way or the other about the Corps upon learning that we have our own weird form of martial arts. If they're the kind of kid who likes punching people, they won't care if it has flair or whether they're only promised the opportunity to punch people weekly with no special haberdashery involved, e.g. the old LINE program. Either way, in most MOSs, they'll end up pretty disappointed about the lack of regular ass-kicking opportunities.
Its just the whole package that HS kids look at when thinking about joining the military, and if so, which branch. MMA is pretty trendy these days and when a recruiter tells the kid that he will get trained in MCMAP which was developed by MMA coaches using some Muy Thai and BJJ he will add it to the list of things he likes about the Corps. That plus running around in the mud with cammo face paint on and shooting M-16s and machine guns. Its something that distinguishes us and attracts a certain kind of motivated individual (for the most part).
Maybe one kid in 50 gets pushed over the edge by MCMAP. I don't think it makes any significant difference in recruiting, so should just be evaluated on its worth to the Corps in training and combat. In the eight years since implementation, all of which included combat ops, I'm going to speculate that no Marine has been saved by knowing moves that were in MCMAP but not in LINE. All the hard PT and warrior ethos ooh-rah stuff have value, but don't need 20 Jackie Chan moves to accompany them.
I've never really gotten into MCMAP, then again as a reservist there aren't too many chances to get your belts up. As Motor T I am required to get a green belt, but really, who actually follows that? I got a question about it though, flame me if it has been covered, since I didn't read this whole thread, but is there a rank requirement to the different levels of belts on the officer side? I know the enlisted side has that requirement.
No. Actually the higher up an officer goes, the less he cares about belts. More specifically, the less chance he has to take a week off work to go beat people up.
All rank limits are waiverable by CO discretion. The only slightly stricter guidance comes with MAI and MAIT. They prefer you to be a CPL and above to attend the MAI course. I was lucky enough to go thru an MAI course before I started flight school down in pensacola. Finished up my Black and re-certified right before I left. I remember TAN belt at TBS and it did feel like a haze-ex at times. The thing you have to realize though is that TAN, MAI, and MAIT are all courses. Other than that it should be run as sustainment. Meaning that the MAI/MAIT gives a time and place and students show up. There should not be grey "courses" and such being run. Whenever a command runs MCMAP "courses" they are asking for injuries because there is a sense of urgency to get everyone to the next belt level in a week or two. That is when injuries happen. Sustainment is meant to be done over a longer period of time. Also spreading training out allows the students to further solidify the techniques they learn and not just memorize them for a week and throw them out after they test out. Ideally MCMAP should be done for an hour or two at a time not 8-10 hours a day. I know there are a lot of criticisms to MCMAP but it is a good system especially when run in a proper way. In my honest opinion it should be optional except for Tan. I would rather have 5-6 motivated students that want to advance in belt levels than 50 who feel they are being forced to be there and have a bad attitude. With that being said their are mandatory requirements for different MOS's and ranks. For the junior Lieutenants going down to Pensacola there was and still should be Belt sustainment for you at both Sherman and Whiting. When I left they had added grey belt as another check in the box before starting API if you could get it done. Thats a nice addition since I knew a good amount of 1stLt's suddenly struggling to get their grey belt completed the week before their Captains boards. Don't think anyone is getting skipped over for not having them but I am sure it looks better to have it than not.
I'm all about working it into the normal PT schedule as sustainment. I've yet to see a squadron get unit PT in more than 1-2 times a month, even after COs have claimed they're making it a top priority. Then they see their AMRRs and realize that the MAG CO doesn't care as much about PT as about producing hours. Probably 1 of those is a formation run, anyways, leaving 1 period of instruction/month max. So, just like all other ground training requirements, MCMAP crammed in at the last possible second, just like a college student does for finals. Not saying it's right, not saying that's how I'd do it, but that's the way it's done.
