July-August - Air Defense Artillery School

1t' lUll UU.'\ 1 1-.1'\U\\- iUlI Gt.l 1-.1LLt.U 1.,
Signal OorpR Photo
The man on the right didn't know.
to handle any type of attack that can be made on him. He
., taught to stick with the bayonet rarely unless he is in
a position t? t~1fOWhis riH~ th~ough his adversary. Bather.
the svstem IS lounded on last lootwork, slashinv. usirw the
, ~ b
butt stroke. and kicking. All is synchronized into swift
tl.lCkmovements that never take the soldier off balance or
Iea\'eany part of him exposed.
r\ first sergeant, after six weeks of this new training.
declared, ''There is no comparison between Judo bayonet
drill and the old G.J. I practiced G.J. training For r~early
t\ldn> years. This is tops as far as I am concerned and I
m amazed at the confidence it builds up in the enlisted
man who foresees actual hand-to-hand combat with the
enemy.
Th~ training program started with one officer and from
t\\O to four enlisted men from each unit of the AAATC.
These men first were given a course of exercises to co-
I'dinate their muscles and teach them the necessary footork.
From there, they were taught elementary "holds.
here the most effective blows could be delivered and how
III disarm even' enem\'.
The next' step \~'as bayonet trall1l11g. 1\ manuallyrontrolled,
faster-than-man dummy was invented to develop
fast footwork and correct parries. The dummy is wellequipped
to defend himself, he fights back and the soldier
bas to be good to lick him.
The soldiers and officers already trained as instructors
do not learn a "nice, clean" meth~ of fighting, but one
that will prove the saving of many Allied lives in battle
and make them more feared in combat. Thev are so enthusiastic
about it during their training period~, in rain or
ust storms, that they have to be cautioned constantlv to
oid too much reali;m. The location of principal art~ries
and nerve centers is mandatory knowledge and a written
amination is the climax of every course.
In the first classes. the Cal. .30 ~11903 rifle was used.
but after twenty or more were badly damaged a dummy riAl'
was designed and manufactured in the hobby shop for
training purposes. This riAl'. made from pipe and lumber.
costs approximately 63 cents. The instructors train men
dailY who in turn can become instructors in their \'arious
units. And at Camp Imin, the AAATC firing range. the
Judo bayonet drill receives special emphasis.
At first, the average soldier is a little apprehensi\'e about
this rouoh.
" instruction
touvh stuff. But with each succeeding hour of
" ~
his proficiency and confidence increase to the
point that he knows positively that he can give a good
account of himself against any foe, with any weapon. And
that's what they payoff on in this war!
\X'ithout parachutes.
Signal Corp. Photo