The Air Force and Army are working together “quite a lot” in order to help the former develop a new program for training hand-to-hand combatives, says Army Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, who heads the land service’s initial military training. “Combatives is pretty freaking tough,” Hertling told reporters Wednesday during a meeting in Washington, D.C. He noted that the Army is paying close attention to combatives-related injuries. Army combatives includes martial arts, boxing, kicking, and weapons training. Soldiers are required to wear personal protection during the final phases of the instruction, said Hertling. CMSAF James Roy said last week the Air Force intends to incorporate the hand-to-hand combatives into basic military training within the next three years. But Roy said it’s not yet exactly clear what the program will look like.
Earlier this week, the People’s Republic of China confirmed it is halting its nuclear arms control talks with the U.S., in retaliation for the U.S. continuing to sell arms to Taiwan. The move reinforces a “pattern of behavior” from Beijing, experts say.