The SOCP® program is one of two combative programs for the Army that counts towards promotional points.
ERB Codes: (SOCP® I: BRT), (SOCP® II: FBR)
The United States Air Force has at times in its history been at the forefront of Combatives Training. Soon after the establishment of the Air Force as a separate service in September of 1947, GEN Curtis Lemay was appointed as the Commanding General of the Strategic Air Command (SAC). GEN Lemay, who had masterminded the US air attacks on the Japanese mainland during World War II, knew that more US bomber groups in Europe had suffered more combat casualties than the US Marine Corps had in the pacific.
In 1951 GEN Lemay appointed Emilio “Mel” Bruno, his Judo teacher and a former national American Athletic Union (AAU) Wrestling champion and fifth degree black belt in Judo, to direct a command wide Judo and combative measures program.
From 1959 to 1966 the Air Force Combative Measures (Judo) Instructors Course was taught at Stead Air Force Base in Reno Nevada. The 155 hour course consisted of: 36 hours fundamentals of Judo, 12 hours Aikido, 12 hours Karate, 12 hours Air Police Techniques, 12 hours Aircrew self-defense, 18 hours Judo tournament procedures, 5 hours code of conduct and 48 hours training methods. There were also a 20 hour Combative methods course and a 12 hour Combative survival course for Aircrew members.
With the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan the demand for Airmen with the ground troops on the battlefield grew significantly over their historic role. In response Commanders around the Air Force started independent training programs to both teach hand-to-hand combat and instill a warrior ethos in deploying Airmen. Because of the decentralized nature of the training, approaches varied wildly.
In 2007 the Chief of Staff of the Air Force ordered a review of all hand-to-hand combat in the Air Force. He tasked the Air Education and Training Command (AETC) to form a study committee to plan a way forward. The result of all of this was the Air Force deciding to adopt a program based upon the Army Combatives Program but modified to fit the needs and culture of the Air Force. In 2009 USAFA was appointed the Center of Excellence for Air Force Combatives. Currently, USAFA, OTS, ROTC, BMT and AFSCs including Para Rescue/CRO, TAC-P and Security Forces are in the process of implementing the Air Force Combatives Program.
David Durnil
Area Coordinator Combatives United States Air Force Academy, Colorado
Coach Durnil is the Chief of Training and Instruction at the Air Force Combatives Center of Excellence (AFCCOE). He is responsible for developing the implementation of the Air Force Combatives Program (AFCP) which trains 30,000 Airman annually in accession level and tech school training including TACP, ParaRescue, and Security Forces. As Area Coordinator of Combatives at the United States Air Force Academy Coach Durnil directs a teaching cadre that trains 2,000 students annually for college credit. He is responsible for program development, safety within the athletic department, and joint training with 4th Infantry Division and 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
Before joining USAFA, Coach Durnil worked as Senior Instructor at Kansas States University’s Modern Combatives Program. He supervised the creation of Modern Combatives Education classes that targeted soldiers, ROTC cadets, and student athletes. In addition he developed additional supplemental resources for nutrition, risk analysis, and methodology.
Coach Durnil is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Daniel “Montanha” De Lima.
Ep 187 A Look Into Special Operations Combatives Program® With Greg Thompson
SOCP® Dagger - Benchmade 176/178 SOCP® Dagger Military Application
SOCP® Rescue Tool
SOCP® (Special Operations Combatives Program®)
SOCP® Creator Greg Thompson's Combative Tips
To evolve the Modern Army Combatives Program (MACP) Greg Thompson was asked to help. He volunteered his time to be videoed demonstrating cuff prisoner handling vehicle extractions, post, frame, hook and other techniques. The Techniques will go on a secure military site for soldiers and Instructors. He closed with lecturing on things that soldiers forget or get complaisant with.
I strongly recommend Mr. Greg Thompson for consideration as a primary trainer and/or advisor for any unit’s combative program. I am currently responsible for the planning and execution of the Army’s Special Forces advanced Close Quarters Battle program and for the past 3 years we have incorporated Mr. Thompson’s combative program into...
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I strongly recommend Mr. Greg Thompson for consideration as a primary trainer and advisor for any unit combatives program. As commander of Range 37 I have the responsibility to train and to familiarize all of our Special Forces assaulters on the most up to date and current techniques, tactics, and procedures. This includes a comprehensive combatives...
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It has been my personal and professional pleasure to be acquainted with Mr. Greg Thompson for more than ten years. As a fourteen year veteran of the Special Operations Forces (SOF) community, with service in the Ranger Regiment and Special Forces Group, and better than twenty years of martial arts training and experience, I have found the...
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“Training with Greg Thompson for the past 5 years has been the best thing that could have happened to me. Since I started training with Greg I have gone 6-1 in my professional mixed martial arts career. He has been my premier ground and Jiu Jitsu coach. During my time with Special Forces Greg has been the primary instructor for all combatives...
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Two words describe Greg Thompson: ability and wisdom. As a martial arts instructor, Greg Thompson is a rarity. He has the natural physical and mental abilities of a worldclass fighter and has the skills to back it up. His wisdom as an instructor is unsurpassed, having exceptional skills in all areas of martial arts, from weapons to all ranges...
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Greg Thompson’s H2H program is the Close Combat overhaul Special Forces has been waiting for! As an instructor for Close Combat at SFARTAETC I had to fill a void that was painfully obvious. Conducting Close Combat with full kit is an expected part of CQB but not properly trained for. . . Greg formalized a program that fit the CQB environment,...
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As a nineteen year veteran of law enforcement, defensive tactics instructor, military veteran and 2nd Dan Black belt in Tae Kwon Do . . . Being a Certified North Carolina Subject Control and Arrest Techniques Instructor and former Defensive Tactics Coordinator of North Carolina’s largest law enforcement agency, I know the importance of accomplishing...
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Greg has developed his programs based on the feedback of soldiers who have “been there and done that” in the Close Quarters setting of Iraq and Afghanistan during the War on Terror . . . Greg Thompson is a true asset to the military or any other agency that he is acquainted with and I am honored to call him my friend.
William Clark,...
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