By Luke Waack
Assistant editor

Fort Leonard Wood will hold its first post-wide Army Combatives Tournament, March 15-19. Preliminary rounds will be held at Shea Gymnasium, March 15-18, and finals will be held at Davidson Fitness Center, at 6:30 p.m., March 19.

The tournament is free to the public for viewing, officials said.

All combative-qualified active-duty permanent party men and women are eligible to participate, said Wayne Bardell, the garrison’s Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation director.

“Soldiers that compete in the finals of this event will be qualified to train as a member of the MSCoE Combatives Team that will compete in the Army Combatives Tournament in September, at Fort Benning, Ga.,” Bardell said.

The rules for the tournament will follow the U.S. Army Combatives School Standard Competition and Regulations document, dated March 20, 2007.

Competitors will fight in several different weight classes: Flyweight (125 pounds), Lightweight (140 pounds), Welterweight (155 pounds), Middleweight (170 pounds), Cruiserweight (185 pounds), Light Heavyweight (up to 205 pounds) and Heavyweight (over 205 pounds).

The post’s top NCO is looking forward to the competition, especially since Initial Entry Soldiers will get to see more experienced service members compete.

“I want the trainees to see their drill sergeants in action. I want to continually cultivate a warrior mentality at Fort Leonard Wood,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Corbly Elsbury, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood command sergeant major.

The Army’s latest development in hand to hand fighting techniques reinforces skills necessary for Soldiers to have, Elsbury said.“Combatives stress discipline, attention to detail, and forge a warrior spirit. All Soldiers should be able to dominate their environment,” Elsbury said.

The sergeant major will accompany the post’s top contenders to the next level of competition, Elsbury said.“I intend to take the best to the All Army Competition in September, at Fort Benning, Ga.,” Elsbury said.

The Army’s backbone will be leading the way in the tournament, Elsbury said.

“You will see primarily noncommissioned officers competing in this tournament; that’s the way it should be. The NCO is the master trainer when it comes to all things individual,” Elsbury said.

For more information on the Combatives Tournament, call Staff Sgt. Becerra at 596.5821.