MCMAP

MCMAP stands for Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. First introduced in 2001 to replace the LINE combat system, MCMAP (pronounced "McMap")is a custom combination of other martial arts disciplines. Unlike LINE, which trained soldiers primarily to kill, MCMAP is a more versatile system which teaches soldiers how to most effectively subdue enemies, not necessarily kill them. This key difference has made MCMAP a useful tool for martial law enforcement and other situations in which non lethal techniques are often desirable. MCMAP is taught to all new Marine recruits, who exit boot camp with the lowest of the five obtainable belts. From lowest to highest rank, the belts are tan, grey, green, brown and black. These unconventional colors were chosen because they do not clash with Marines' camouflage uniforms. After they have complete basic training and earned their first belt, Marines are eligible to earn higher belts if they log enough instruction hours and are of a high enough rank.