The LINE (Linear Infighting Neural Override Engagement) Combat System was a martial arts program used by the United States Marine Corps between 1989 and 1998.
The LINE System is a system of close combat. It is a standardized system of close combat skills for every warrior at entry level training.
It is designed to do is give a military unit a close combat system that is the same regardless of MOS, regardless of age and regardless of gender or rank enabling everyone to train together. This gives you a standard, similar to a PT test.
The system was designed to be executed within specific combat conditions: limited visibility, extreme mental and physical fatigue, and when numerically inferior. The system was also designed to be executed within specific training parameters: Not vision dominated, mentally and physically fatigued while wearing full combat gear, techniques easily learned and retained through repetition, and designed to cause death to the opponent.
LINE was adopted by the Marine Corps in 1989 at a Course Content Review Board (CCRB) at Quantico, Virginia. All techniques were demonstrated for and deemed medically feasible by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner and a board of forensic pathologists from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) in 1991.
LINE was removed in 1998 after a CCRB and was replaced that year by a close combat program more in line with the "millennial" battlefield, where Marines are engaged in many scenarios that require the use of less than lethal force. This system was refined and became the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) in 2002.
The LINE System was adopted in 1998 by U.S. Army Special Forces at the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC). Primary instruction took place during phase II and was remediated in phases III and V at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. LINE is still currently taught at the SFQC, but will be replaced by the Modern Army Combatives Program (MACP) in October 2007.
Basic LINE is broken down into six parts:
The first part is LINE I. LINE I deals with attacks in the grappling range and in today’s era of BJJ and MMA, the word grappling sometimes has the wrong connotation. Grappling is the time when some one has their hands on someone else. It does not have to be on the ground, it could be standing, because that is normally where it starts. So LINE I takes care of all your grabs, chokes, and headlocks.
LINE II deals with punches and kicks. LINE III is our ground fighting phase. LINE IV defence against an edged or hand held weapon. LINE V is using the edged weapon and LINE VI is enemy neutralisation.
LINE six is not sentry neutralisation. It is designed for use when someone has been separated from their unit; these techniques are designed to upgrade their situation when they don’t have the capabilities the enemy does have.
Within the military training community stress is simulated by time constraints, we have three basic tests for the instructors. The first is a simulated stress test, which is called time trials; they have to be able to do their techniques in proper form within a certain timeline. That timeline induces stress so we see how they work under stress.
The second thing they have to do is do the technique under a fatigued condition, so on the final day of testing they are doing aerobic and anaerobic exercise starting in the dark with full kit on for approximately four to six hours. This is before they do their physical test on technique, so we know that their technique has been degraded through fatigue. The final phase is a teaching test and the teaching test is done to ensure that the system is taught the same way by all students.
History of the Marine Corps Martial Art Program By Mack Corbin
The mission of the United States Marine
Corps in combat is to close with, and
destroy the enemy, by fire and maneuver, and
assault by fire and close combat. A Marine
has always been feared by his aggressiveness
and his lack of fear to everything around
him, no matter the environment, the enemy,
or the task.
All of this is instilled into a Marine the
first day he or she steps foot on Parris
Island or San Diego for Recruit Training,
where they are introduced to the Marine
Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) along
with other Marine Corps military subjects
that will prepare them for future combat.
The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program has
gone through many changes through the years.
The Marine Corps was born during the battles
that created this country upon the
experiences of the first Marines. The
Marines Corps has developed a martial arts
program unrivaled in the world today. This
legacy includes not only our fighting also
the character and soul of what makes us
unique as Marines.
Beginning with the Continental Marines
who were renowned as sharpshooters in the
rigging of Naval Ships, to their skills as
boarding and landing parties where the
rifle, sword, and bayonets were the tools of
their trade. Marines have continued to
develop and hone their skills through the
years. Prior to and during World War I, the
skill of the bayonet was supplemented with
the first training in unarmed techniques to
meet the challenges of trench Warfare.
Marines such as Drexel Biddle developed and
taught bayonet and close combat techniques
based upon fencing, boxing and wrestling.
During the inter-war years, Major Biddle and
others such as Lieutenants Yeaton, Moore,
and Taxis, Captains W.M. Greene and Samuel
B. Griffith all trained Marines and worked
on developing effective programs for their
units. Many of these men were influenced by
their experiences while stationed with China
Marines in Shanghai. This influence included
the techniques of Fairbairn and Sykes.
During these early years the leadership
and core values training that are our
hallmark today developed in concert with the
martial skills. Guided by leaders, the
Marine Corps developed a spirit that we know
today as Honor, Courage, and, Commitment.
This Training continued to evolve up to
World War II. Those who had taught the
inter-war years were joined by Marines such
as Captain Stephen Stavers and Corporal John
J. Styers. As World War II burst upon the
Corps, individuals and units were developing
specialized training based upon the
experiences of Marines from the inter-war
years, this included exposure by Marines
that were stationed overseas, who had the
opportunity to study far eastern martial
arts systems such as judo, karate, and
jujitsu. Additionally, the techniques of
Major Dermot O'Neill and Lieutenant Colonel
Rex Applegate were introduced to Marine
units and all of these were employed by
Marines during the Island Hopping Campaigns.
Additionally, the rapid expansion of the
Marine Corps saw a refinement to our
character and leadership programs.
After the Vietnam War the Marine Corps
saw a need to make changes and develop a new
martial arts system. 1980 the Marine Corps
developed the LINE System (Linear Infighting
Neurological Overriding Engagement). The
Line System, developed MSgt Donvito was a
response to a perceived need for a
standardized close combat system, was an
important step in the evolution of a Marine
Corps specific martial art. The concept of
the LINE system was that when attacked the
defender would destroy the enemy's attack by
manipulating joints, breaking joints, and
damaging nerves. The pain that was inflicted
on the enemy would cause his Central Nervous
System to go into break down, disrupting all
continuous thought process.
The LINE and its descendants continue to
grow and develop over the past 20 years. In
1996, a review of the LINE system was
conducted on how effective it was from
lessons learned and due to the mission of
the Marine Corps constantly changing from
high tempo combat operations to Missions
Other Than War (MOTW), and peace keeping
missions, there was need for a new system
that would adapt to different situations. A
Marine would not defuse a potential conflict
in peacetime the same way that he would in a
hostile combat environment.
General Jones the Commandant of the
Marine Corps at that time, gave specific
orders on his vision of a Martial Art Combat
Program, as well as other programs outside
the Marine Corps that would best fit the
needs of the Corps. General Jones wanted a
martial art program that could be use in any
environment, terrain, or situation. His
vision was also was that he wanted something
that would keep the Marine natural
competitive nature fueled. His vision was to
have Marines qualify for different belt
rankings from Tan, Grey, Green, Brown, and
Black. General Jones chose 10 subject matter
experts from numerous martial arts
disciplines to develop the Marine Corps
Close Combat Program currently used by the
Marine Corps. From this testing and
evaluation is the result of the martial art
program currently used by the Marine Corps
today.
Caution:
The contents of this article are for education purposes only. The principles described are extremely dangerous and are for military close combat training and operations only. Their application applies solely to the military.
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Wikipedia article "Marine Corps LINE Combat System".
