SOCP - Special Operations Combatives Program

The History of the Special Operations Combative Program (SOCP)

On 23 March, 2011, SOCP became the first officially designated combatives program for all U.S. Army Special Operations Forces. This is a significant milestone with 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 on e 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 11 September, 2011, 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 specialist 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
• 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 form 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
• Combatives techniques the operator can use on assignments with do not allow him to access to a firearm
• Combatives techniques which can assist the operator’s SERE capability
• Adopted in 2008 as the official combatives training program at Range 37 for operators with the HVT mission; the primary SF instructor for SOCP was Sergeant First Class (now Master Sergeant) Carl Haskins
• In 2009 MACP adopted SOCP’s Post-Frame-Hook and standing and ground
• Adopted in 2010 as the official combatives training program for the U.S. Army’s Special Operations Forces; the first SOCP course of record was taught to the class beginning 26 March 2010
• On 7-8 June 2010 MACP instructors were trained in SOCP basic cuffing; the SOCP cuffing techniques and vehicle extraction procedure will be added to the MACP programs

Master Sergeant Haskins was to prove himself to be one of the primary forces in the development of the SOCP program for the HVT operators. His combat experiences during HVT operations gave him the ability to quickly determine what was going to work and what was not in high threat situations. In addition he was an experienced combatives instructor as well. As a senior SF NCO with these qualifications, he led by example, setting the performance standards for students he was responsible for. He knew all too well that there were no second place winners in these operations and would accept no less than their very best. Greg makes it a point to tell each SOCP class that the program would not be where it is today without the professionalism, experience, and the critical eye for detail that Master Sergeant Haskins has provided.

Also worthy of special mention is the critical importance of the prisoner handing module in the training for the HVT operator. As an intelligence source to the HVT is without equal and must be treated with this in mind. Without proper training, this is an area that is especially vulnerable to the use of excessive force. SOCP recognizes this and teaches techniques that address each prisoner handling sub-set, i.e., handcuffing, searching and transporting. Handcuffing a resisting subject with flexcuffs is the centerpiece of this module and the techniques SOCP has developed are under consideration for adoption Army-wide.

One of Greg’s current project is the development of his edged weapons program. From his continuous debriefings of operators returning from the field he has learned that at least 50% of all knife injuries sustained by our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan are caused by an insurgent awareness program was needed. This program will use actual footage of knife attack incidents which he is in the process of collecting from around the world.

In summary, the SOCP owes its continuing success in meeting “the unique needs of the modern day Special Operations soldier” to several contributing factors. To understand the importance of a combative program for the HVT operator, one must understand the characteristics of the HVT operation itself. This is an extremely high-risk undertaking driven by actionable intelligence which is by nature, highly perishable. Consequently this frequently results in an operation that must be quickly launched with minimal preparation time. Regardless the operation must be conducted with surgical precision and control. So Greg Thompson and SOCP must be recognized as major factors in the success of the program. As the primary instructor and course developer for SOCP, the combatives training for the operators who will undertake these HVT missions, missions which have saved countless lives by disrupting terrorist attacks, Greg must be considered as a national resource. He is not only an experienced professional MMA coach with an impressive knowledge of a variety of fighting skills, he is also and articulate, passionate, tireless instructor. This combination of capabilities uniquely qualifies Greg to direct SOCP. Developing a continuous feedback loop with the operator has given him a clear perspective of their operational realities which serves to guide him in the design and development of the specific skills which the operator needs in order to better perform this complex mission. The UOCP instructor program needs to be recognized here as n indispensable component which facilitates getting the needed training as well as changed to the training to the end-user in a timely fashion. And the fact that SOCP is a constantly evolving work-in-progress in another key to its success. Finally, official acceptance of SOCP, while it has been a long time in coming, is fitting recognition that the U.S. Army’s Special Operations Forces deserve no less if we are to keep them America’s best in time of war as well as during peacetime.

Written by Ed Lovette CIA Officer Retired
Former A Detachment Commander 1st Special Forces Group Airborne

I strongly recommend Mr. Greg Thompson for consideration as a primary trainer and/or advisor for any unit’s combative program. I am currently responsible for the planning and execution of the Army’s Special Forces advanced Close Quarters Battle program and for the past 3 years we have incorporated Mr. Thompson’s combative program into...
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I strongly recommend Mr. Greg Thompson for consideration as a primary trainer and advisor for any unit combatives program. As commander of Range 37 I have the responsibility to train and to familiarize all of our Special Forces assaulters on the most up to date and current techniques, tactics, and procedures. This includes a comprehensive combatives...
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It has been my personal and professional pleasure to be acquainted with Mr. Greg Thompson for more than ten years. As a fourteen year veteran of the Special Operations Forces (SOF) community, with service in the Ranger Regiment and Special Forces Group, and better than twenty years of martial arts training and experience, I have found the...
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“Training with Greg Thompson for the past 5 years has been the best thing that could have happened to me. Since I started training with Greg I have gone 6-1 in my professional mixed martial arts career. He has been my premier ground and Jiu Jitsu coach. During my time with Special Forces Greg has been the primary instructor for all combatives...
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Two words describe Greg Thompson: ability and wisdom. As a martial arts instructor, Greg Thompson is a rarity. He has the natural physical and mental abilities of a worldclass fighter and has the skills to back it up. His wisdom as an instructor is unsurpassed, having exceptional skills in all areas of martial arts, from weapons to all ranges...
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Greg Thompson’s H2H program is the Close Combat overhaul Special Forces has been waiting for! As an instructor for Close Combat at SFARTAETC I had to fill a void that was painfully obvious. Conducting Close Combat with full kit is an expected part of CQB but not properly trained for. . . Greg formalized a program that fit the CQB environment,...
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As a nineteen year veteran of law enforcement, defensive tactics instructor, military veteran and 2nd Dan Black belt in Tae Kwon Do . . . Being a Certified North Carolina Subject Control and Arrest Techniques Instructor and former Defensive Tactics Coordinator of North Carolina’s largest law enforcement agency, I know the importance of accomplishing...
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Greg has developed his programs based on the feedback of soldiers who have “been there and done that” in the Close Quarters setting of Iraq and Afghanistan during the War on Terror . . . Greg Thompson is a true asset to the military or any other agency that he is acquainted with and I am honored to call him my friend.

William Clark,...
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