By
LACW Simone Liebelt
 |
|
MIDN
Brandon Horn practices a knife disarm controlling technique
on WGCDR Robert Lewis as part of the Military Self Defence
course held at ADFA
|
|
Photo:
LACW Simone Liebelt
|
Navy
members honed their defensive skills in a new tri-service Military
Self Defence (MSD) course at the Australian Defence Force Academy
(ADFA) from September 29 to October 3.
Sponsored by the Special Forces Training Centre (SFTC), MSD is
a subset of the Close Quarter Fighting skills that allow ADF members
to deal with personal contact in a range of operational scenarios.
More than 50 ADF members participated in the intensive one-week
course, which was introduced following two successful pilot courses
last year.
MSD is physically and mentally challenging and teaches simple
capture and control techniques using the law of armed conflict,
the rules of engagement and civilian and UN laws relating to self
defence.
“We take a person that doesn’t know any form of self-defence and
train them, so at the end of the course, they can defend themselves
while either armed or unarmed,” MSD Supervisor Major Travis Faure
said.
“Using basic motor skill techniques, including striking, throwing
and locking, they can block the line of attack to overcome an
opponent without harming them.”
The competency-based course is flexible in delivery and can tailor-meet
unit commander’s objectives from a range of non-lethal subjects.
It is suitable for employment by all members of the ADF.
Volunteer instructors from all three services helped SFTC develop
the course, which uses a range of operational scenarios to test
student’s skills in a controlled attack environment.
“We may devise a scenario using the gangway of a ship, where an
intruder becomes violent after trying to gain access. The students
would then have to respond by using their voice and hand techniques
to gain compliance and take control of the situation,” MAJ Faure
said.
On successful completion of the course, members who demonstrate
certain attributes may be invited to attend a future MSD instructor’s
course.
A new website is currently under construction, which will contain
details on all future MSD courses and training for instructors,
students and commanders, and can be found at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/armyweb/sites/cqf_msd
For further information on MSD, contact Captain Gary Bergman from
SFTC on (02) 6570 3211.
