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Combatives · Air Force / Space Force

Air Force and Space Force

The Air Force Combatives Program, AFI 36-2620, and the AFCCE at the Academy. Guardians train through Air Force and Army courses.

Last reviewed: Wed, Oct 7, 2026, 12:00 PM CT

BLUF

  • The Air Force Combatives Program (AFCP) is governed by AFI 36-2620 (2018). The Air Force Academy was named the Air Force Combatives Center of Excellence (AFCCE) in 2009.
  • The AFCCE runs an 18-day Master Instructor Course for Airmen and Guardians: verbal and physical management, anatomy, combat mindset, program management, and ethical decision-making. (USAFA)

At the Academy

Pugil sticks in Basic Cadet Training; mandatory Combatives I with boxing. Air Force Combatives started with the Army system as its template, then went with combat uniforms instead of gis, plus de-escalation and weapons handling. (USAFA.org)

Security Forces ran a week-long instructor class in March 2025 (Defender Magazine, per search summary).

Space Force

No separate program. Guardians attend the AFCCE Master Instructor Course and Army courses. Four Guardians finished a one-week basic combatives course at Fort Carson in December 2023. (Peterson-Schriever SFB)

AFI 36-2620 is not hosted here yet: the official PDF couldn’t be retrieved automatically, so its distribution statement hasn’t been checked.

Service names and publication titles are used for identification. No official insignia or imagery is used, and nothing here implies endorsement by the U.S. Army, any service, or the Department of War.