If a Soldier was in combat standing three feet away from an enemy and a weapon jammed, would he or she be prepared?

Staff Sgt. Suzie Lopez has made sure she is prepared for any hand-to-hand combat, thanks to her military combatives training.

Lopez is assigned to Enlisted Promotions (G1), which is part of Joint Forces Headquarters (JFHQ) for the Washington National Guard.

She has to stay physically fit for PT tests and deployments, and combatives training keeps her fit while keeping her prepared.

"When I am deployed I may have to defend myself one day downrange; you never know," she said. "Anything can go down on the battlefield."

The goal of modern combatives is to change the culture so that real combative ability is expected of every Soldier. 

This is achieved by teaching realistic training methods and growing self-sustaining indigenous combatives programs within units and organizations.

"I was hooked the first day we started learning techniques," Lopez said. "It (doesn't) matter the size if you know how to apply yourself in this art. The course was very challenging, and for females it could be intimidating since you will get punched in the face and roll with people bigger than you in order to graduate from the course."

In modern warfare, more time is spent clearing out rooms and engaging in hand-to-

hand combat with the enemy than in previous wars. This makes the ability to subdue an enemy without using a weapon much more important.

"My second deployment to Iraq (her first was while on active duty) with the Washington Army National Guard (Aug. 2008 to Aug. 2009), I had the opportunity to go to level one combatives (the first of four levels) training at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin," Lopez said. "I completed level 2 in Iraq and level 3 at JBLM last year. I am headed to the final course in Fort Hood, Texas next month."

When Lopez graduates, she will be Washington's only female Tactical Combatives instructor, she said, "where I will be able to instruct and certify level 1 through 3 at the beginner level."

The techniques and concepts of Army combatives are taken from different types of fighting techniques from all around the world.

 "Combatives to me has been the most realistic, mentally and physically challenging training I have been able to attend in the Army," Lopez said. "Combatives instills confidence, discipline and motivation in Soldiers."

Lopez is also proving that elite physical fitness isn't just a man's attribute.

"Combatives is for every Soldier, big or small, male or female," Lopez added. "The combatives program teaches all Soldiers how to react in stressful or painful situations and to be able to defend themselves. "

Along with combatives, Lopez has recently been involved in a basketball league, an insanity workout training course, a dodge ball league, cross-fit training and a weekly stair climb with more than 1,400 steps at Stadium High School.

She has received a perfect score on her PT tests several times, even beating out many of her male counterparts.

Being involved in so many physical activities may make one wonder how any male or female could find the time to remain in such an elite physical state.

However, this Washington National Guardsman doesn't have the time to wonder - she's too busy working out.