BLUF
The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) is a belt system: tan → gray → green → brown → black 1st–6th degree. Motto: “One mind, any weapon.” Three disciplines: mental, character, physical. The current order is MCO 1500.59A (23 Sep 2019).
History
- Implemented October 2000 under Commandant Gen. James L. Jones. ALMAR 042/01 (Sep 2001) set belts “from tan through sixth degree black belt,” with 700+ trainers certified and a goal of every Marine a tan belt by the end of FY03. (marines.mil)
- Curriculum built by LtCol George Bristol and MGySgt Cardo Urso; formalized by MCO 1500.54 (2002). Predecessors: the LINE system (1980s) and Close Combat (1997–99). (Wikipedia, secondary.)
Instructors
- MAI (Martial Arts Instructor, tan stripe) and MAIT (Instructor Trainer, red stripe), trained at the Martial Arts Center of Excellence, Quantico.
- MAITC prerequisites include brown-belt MAI and a first-class PFT/CFT (235).
MCO 1500.59A (2019) changes
- Recommends gray belt within 2 years and green within 4 of primary MOS school (reserves 4/8).
- Rank requirements for brown belt and up; non-resident PME before advancing.
- Recruit belt test pass mark raised to 80% (from 70%). Waivers go to the first general officer.
- Ratios: 1 MAI per 50 Marines, 1 MAIT per 500.
What’s current
The Martial Arts & Fitness Center of Excellence (MAFCE) at The Basic School runs a Resident Technique Symposium, Oct 26–30, 2026, with MAIT courses into 2027 and East/West Coast roadshows in 2027. No 2025–2026 overhaul has been announced. (MAFCE)
Manuals
MCRP 3-02B Close Combat (1999) is public and in the library. Later MCMAP editions (2002, 2011) are Distribution B and are not hosted here.