MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The students are now teachers.
More than 50 Marines on Station have qualified as Marine Corps Martial Arts Program green belt instructors, preparing them to train their fellow Marines in the program.
Unlike the regular green belt course, the green belt instructor program teaches not only techniques but also the proper way to teach these techniques.
"Green belt instructors are the first instructors in the program," said Gunnery Sgt. Brian Schaefer, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Marine Corps Martial Arts instructor trainer. "They can teach up to green belt."
To become an instructor, Marines have to meet certain qualifications.
"To be qualified, you now have to have a gray belt in the program and be a corporal or above," said Schaefer, "or be a lance corporal with a black belt in an appropriate civilian martial art."
The tough qualifications make sure students are ready for the tough three-week course.
"We push the class to the point of exhaustion, and they're still required to perform," said Schaefer. "Nothing can simulate combat, but we really push stress and fatigue. The students are really going to appreciate that belt. They put forth an effort."
The class' difficulty is not linked only to its physical aspects.
"There are three instructor exams, three written exams over everything we've studied and a warrior case study," said Schaefer. "And they also take the tests for tan, gray, and green belts."
The rigor of the training was designed to prepare the students to be qualified martial arts instructors at the end of the course.
"We got a lot of instruction on how to teach classes," said Cpl. Zehila Elizandro, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 power plants jet engine mechanic. "We also learned a lot about mental, character and physical discipline, and went over all the moves repeatedly."
For the Marines who complete the course, there are more challenges in the road ahead.
"As they move up, they stay instructor qualified as long as they stay proficient," said Schaefer. "And after becoming black belt first degree, nobody can progress unless they become an instructor trainer."
But there are still challenges ahead for the graduates in their role as green belt instructors.
"I'm probably going to start with getting my shop qualified for tan belt," said Elizando. "After that, I'll work in the squadron to get everybody up to tan, and then move on to gray and green."
For more information on MCMAP training, contact your unit training section.