MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- According to All Marine Message 042/01, every Marine must obtain a tan belt in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program by Oct. 1.
The goals of MCMAP were outlined from the time the program was created and now awaits its final requisite.
"When the ALMAR for MCMAP came out it had certain goals in mind for each year. Last year 160 more training sites opened up and an additional 700 Marines were certified as instructors. Now, every Marine is required to be qualified as a tan belt by the end of the fiscal year," said Sgt. Zachary Pope, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Operations chief and green belt instructor.
To facilitate those goals, instructors aboard the Station understand it will take hard work on their behalf to ensure every Marine here will have a tan belt around their waist by Oct. 1.
"I think everyone should be qualified, but it is going to be tough for us because there aren't enough instructors here to accommodate all the Marines," said Pope. "The other instructors and myself are trying to coordinate a big class with over a 100 Marines in it sometime in August so that will be a big help."
According to Pope, each MCMAP class runs for two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon every other day for two weeks. Pope also stated motivation and teamwork are key ingredients in successfully completing the course.
"The best students are the ones who are motivated about what they are doing and are willing to help out those around them," he said.
Green belt instructor and Station legal services specialist, Cpl. Daniel Hasbrouk added, "This training gives Marines a chance to push themselves to the limit. Once you complete this course you defiantly want to come back for more."
For more information on MCMAP training schedules and times log onto the S-3 Training site on the Intranet.