The focus of Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) is the personal development of each Marine in a team framework using a standardized, trainable, and sustainable close combat fighting system. As a weapon-based system, all techniques are integrated with equipment, physical challenges, and tactics found on the modern battlefield. The MCMAP is designed to increase the warfighting capabilities of individual Marines and units, enhance Marines’ self-confidence and esprit de corps, and foster the warrior ethos in all Marines. The MCMAP is a weapon-based system rooted in the credo that every Marine is a rifleman and will engage the aggressor from 500 meters to close quarter combat.
Purchase a physical copy of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) Book
Training Equipment
Most of the protective gear worn during Marine Corps martial arts is standard issue from the Individual Issue Facility (IFF). However, there are some items that must be purchased on your own.
Mouth Guard – For the most part, you don’t have to worry about getting hit in the face, but sometimes it just happens. An inexpensive mouth guard will protect your teeth from chipping, and prevent them from getting knocked out. These are always required during martial arts training, especially when ground fighting or sparring.
Hand Wrap and/or Gloves – Protect your knuckles from abrasions and bleeding. Some Marines prefer to act tough and hit the pads bare knuckled. The problem with that mentality is that it’s going to slow your training, slow your recovery, and detract from focusing on technique. Marines have to wear gloves during sparring, so you might as well have a pair of your own.
If your training at home consider getting some Muay Thai Pads. A set of strike pads is all you’ll need to be able to sustain and train at home. I like to get my wife to hold them!
MCMAP Training Log
The logbook is a very important part of MCMAP and should be maintained seriously. Most Marines will find themselves learning techniques on an inconsistent basis and without an accurate log the sustainment and instruction hours you put in won’t matter to a different MAI. This is the proof that you have met the requirements to test out for the next level belt.
Tan Belt
The Tan Belt is the first belt level in MCMAP and is the minimum basic requirement for all Marines. Tan Belt training includes the introduction to the basic fundamentals of the mental, character, and physical disciplines of MCMAP conducted during entry-level training. Warfighting concepts, character values, and the basic fighting techniques that are required of a basically trained Marine are also included in Tan Belt training. In addition to MCMAP requirements, Tan Belt training and readiness events are also a component of Marine Corps common skills volume I in accordance with Marine Corps Order P3500.72A, Marine Corps Ground Training and Readiness (T & R) Program.
Prerequisites: None
Training Hours: Minimum of 27.5 hours of instruction, excluding remedial practice time and testing
Sustainment Hours: None
Tan Belt Publication
Tan Belt Test (download the files and open with Adobe Reader)
Gray Belt
Gray Belt is the second belt ranking within MCMAP. Within two years of qualifying as a Tan Belt, all Marines are expected to advance to Gray Belt. Gray Belt includes the completion of basic fundamentals and introduction to intermediate fundamentals of each discipline and is the minimum requirement to attend the Martial Arts Instructor Course. The purpose and principles remain the same as outlined in Tan Belt.
Prerequisites:
Recommendation of reporting senior
Complete Tan Belt sustainment and integration training
Complete MCI [Marine Corps Institute] 0337, Leading Marines
Training Hours: Minimum of 20 hours of instruction, excluding
remedial practice time and testing
Sustainment Hours: Minimum of 5 hours of sustainment, excluding integration training time and
practice time for testing
Gray Belt Publication
Gray Belt Character Tie-ins
Gray Belt Test (download the files and open with Adobe Reader)
Green Belt
Green Belt is the third belt ranking within MCMAP. Within two years of qualifying as a Gray Belt, all Marines are expected to advance to Green Belt. Green Belt includes completion of intermediate fundamentals. Purpose, principles, and movement remain the same as outlined in Gray Belt.
Prerequisites:
Recommendation of reporting senior
Complete Gray Belt sustainment and integration training
Appropriate level PME complete
Training Hours: Minimum of 17.65 hours, excluding remedial practice time and testing
Sustainment Hours: Minimum of 8 hours of sustainment, excluding integration training time and
practice time for testing
Green Belt Publication
Green Belt Character Tie-ins
Green Belt Test (download the files and open with Adobe Reader)
Brown Belt
The fourth belt ranking within MCMAP is Brown Belt. Upon qualifying as a Green Belt, all Marines are highly encouraged to continue MCMAP sustainment training in order to advance to Brown Belt. Brown Belt is the introduction to advanced fundamentals of each discipline. Brown Belt is the minimum training goal of all infantrymen. Purpose and principles remain the same as in Gray Belt.
Prerequisites:
Recommendation of reporting senior
Complete Green Belt sustainment and integration training
Complete PME
Training Hours: A minimum of 18.5 hours, excluding remedial practice time
and testing
Sustainment Hours: A minimum of 15 hours of sustainment, excluding integration training time and practice time for testing
Brown Belt Publication
Brown Belt Character Tie-ins
Brown Belt Test (download the files and open with Adobe Reader)
Black Belt
The Black Belt is the fifth belt ranking within MCMAP. Upon qualifying as a Brown Belt, all Marines are highly encouraged to continue MCMAP sustainment training in order to advance to Black Belt. At an advanced level, the purpose and principles remain the same as outlined in all of the previous belts.
Prerequisites:
Recommendation of reporting senior
Complete Brown Belt sustainment and integration training
Appropriate level PME complete
Training Hours: Minimum of 20.7 hours, excluding remedial practice time and testing
Sustainment Hours: Minimum of 20 hours of sustainment, excluding integration training time and practice time for testing
Black Belt Publication
Black Belt Character Tie-ins
Black Belt Test (download the files and open with Adobe Reader)
As a former 8551, how will I ever get the certificate from the Training Center Year 2000-2001 Camp Pendleton??
8551 is now 0916 (Martial Arts Instructor). Even if you could track down the certificate it would be long expired. I doubt any records still exist from that time period.
The gray belt as well as the green belt performance tests are not coming up, even with the latest version of Adobe present
The documents have special formatting that can’t be opened in a browser. Right-click and “Save link as”, then open it using the actual software and not from the browser.
Thanks for this, my computer crashed and lost all my documents. This really helped me out.
Is the any short course just for learn the basic and can I know the fees?
Unfortunately Marine Corps Martial Arts training is only available to military personnel.
Is it possible to become even more proficient than a black belt? Or does simply experiment on his or her own once the black belt is achieved?
You can become an instructor.
Yes; become an Instructor. You can also do outside martial arts. The MCMAP program actually embraces being “well rounded.”
If I go into the Marines after getting my bachelor’s and sign up, get a good asvab score, how long should it take to become an officer? Also can officers in the Marines take the MCMAP program?
If you already have a degree, I would estimate it taking about a year to apply, get selected, go to OCS, and commission upon OCS graduation. Yes, MCMAP is a requirement for officers. You will obtain at least a tan belt during The Basic School. I’ve seen several officers also have the opportunity to become instructors.
Hi there. Thank you for the detail here.
Question for you: If you are someone who has had little to no training or experience with hand-to-hand fighting, what are good civilian martial arts programs you can enroll in as preparation for MCMAP? I would like to build a good foundation in hand-to-hand combat before going to OCS and then TBS, where I understand they will sparring and wrestling units. Thank you in advance!
I’ve been out for 4 years now and was wondering where I could get another black belt with tabs. For the shadow box.
You can get a black belt on amazon. The tabs are just cloth that you can get from anywhere and have someone sew them on.
I M trying to make contact with the top Marine Corps martial arts program instructor. Who and how do I make contact with this individual
I am a former Captain of Marines Aviator and Vietnam veteran. I want to correspond with a senior officer in the MCMAP Program to discuss the how the body pressure points might be inducing the temporary loss of awareness in flight. I consider this to be an important saftyof flighti issue.
I’m sorry, I have no expertise in this area and am not sure who you should contact.
I would like to speak to the commanding Officer or the Officer in Charge. May I have a contact phone number, please?
David, this is an unofficial website and is not associated with any command. Neither the United States Marine Corps nor any other component of the Department of Defense has approved, endorsed, or authorized this product.
Can you potentially earn belts while in the NROTC program before going to TBS? I am currently practicing muay thai and BJJ outside of NROTC but just thinking if I have extra time and its a possibility there would be no reason not to work on martial arts that would help a career.
No. It is not permitted for safety reasons.
How do I track down and print out my certificates from 2004-2006? I would like to add them to my records but am unable to find where they might be located.
As long as they are in MOL you are OK. If not, you would have to find the instructor who certified you.