Special Operations Combatives Program

SOCP also known as Special Operations Combatives Program, was founded by Greg Thompson on March 23, 2010.
History
SOCP historically became the first Combatives Program officially designated for all United States Army Special Operations Command. This is a significant milestone which directly enhances the fighting qualities of our current and future special operations personnel . What this serves to do is to ensure that there will always be a combatives program for the special operator uniquely attuned to his changing requirements based on today's missions downrange as well as those in the future. Historically, combatives training in the U.S. Army has suffered from the lack of an established training program. And this has also been the case in the Special Operations community. Acceptance of SOCP is recognition by the Special Operations senior command that a mission-specific combatives capability is one of the core skill sets needed by the special operator to effectively carry out his demanding assignments.
We can credit the terrorist attack against this country on September 11, 2001, and the declaration by the U.S. of a Global War on Terror as the catalyst responsible for the growth and development of SOCP. U.S. Army Special Operations Forces were tasked with targeting the terrorist's critical infrastructure, those significant field commanders and the technical and support specialists within the terrorist networks, now designated as High-Value Targets (HVT).
Greg Thompson, the developer of SOCP, already had a working relationship with the U.S. Army's Special Operations Forces and they turned to him for assistance. As operators returned from the field they would discuss with Greg tactical problems they encountered which over time tended to show a predictable pattern, that of a personal surprise attack upon an operator by an individual which takes place in a residence housing HVT's and possibly their family members. These attack characteristics, as they were identified, combined to form the SOCP Core Concepts as currently taught:
* Fighting in kit with weaponry
* Weapon transition and retention standing or on the ground
* 360 degree ambush attacks into and over objects
* Fighting multiple assailants solo or as a team
* Compliant and non-compliant cuffing and vehicle extractions
* Prisoner Handling Module
* Force continuum (lethal/less-than-lethal options)
* Technique “linkage”
Thus SOCP developed as a Combatives Program designed as such a program must be but often is not. It developed from the field up, not from the instructor down. This approach continues to be in use today.
To date SOCP has established a number of benchmarks which are not found in other combatives programs. These includes:
* The SOCP system was developed by Greg Thompson with over 10 years of feedback from special operations soldiers
* ECQB techniques specifically designed for the HVT environment
* A prisoner handling module

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