LINE is a
close-quarters combat
Close-quarters battle (CQB), also called close-quarters combat (CQC), is a close combat situation between multiple combatants involving ranged (typically firearm-based) or melee combat. It can occur between military units, law enforcement and Cr ...
system, derived from various
martial arts
Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; ...
, utilized by the
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...
between 1989 and 1998, and then from 1998 to 2007 by
US Army Special Forces. It was developed by Ron Donvito,
USMC
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionary ...
(Retired).
Officially, the name stands for "Linear Involuntary Neural-override Engagement"; this is, however, a
backronym
A backronym is an acronym formed from an already existing word by expanding its letters into the words of a phrase. Backronyms may be invented with either serious or humorous intent, or they may be a type of false etymology or folk etymology. The ...
coined during the project's inception.
Design
The system was designed to be executed within specific and stringent combat-oriented conditions:
* (a.) all techniques must not be vision dominant; techniques may be executed effectively in low-light conditions, or other impaired visibility conditions (i.e., smoke or gas)
* (b.) extreme mental and physical fatigue
* (c.) usable by the Marine / soldier while wearing full combat gear
* (d.) proper execution of the techniques must cause death to the opponent
* (e.) gender neutrality; must be usable by—and against—either gender
These parameters were viewed as the most likely conditions that a combat Marine or Soldier would face in close-range combat, since most close combat engagements were likely to occur at night or under reduced visibility, while the Marine or Soldier was fatigued and wearing their combat load, and when facing asymmetrical odds, such as a numerically superior force. These requirements meant that many flamboyant techniques, exotic kicks, or movements requiring extraordinary feats of strength or agility were excluded from consideration under the LINE system. Techniques like classic judo "hip throws", for instance, were excluded because of the possibility of entanglement on a practitioner's war-belt.
The system's techniques were designed to be easily learned and retained through repetition. The requirement and demands that the system be drilled, repeated, and constantly revisited led to some criticism since the primary usersmilitary, including special operations, personneloften had enormous demands upon their time, and as a consequence often lacked the ability to maintain high degrees of proficiency in the techniques.
History
USMC
LINE was adopted by the Marine Corps in 1989 at a Course Content Review Board (CRB) at
Quantico, Virginia
Quantico (; formerly Potomac) is a town in southeastern Prince William County, Virginia, United States. The population was 578 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. Quantico is approximately 35 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., bound ...
. All techniques were demonstrated for and deemed medically feasible by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner (given a single attack opponent) and a board of forensic pathologists from the
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) (1862 – September 15, 2011) was a U.S. government institution concerned with diagnostic consultation, education, and research in the medical specialty of pathology.
Overview
It was founded in ...
(AFIP) in 1991. LINE was replaced by the
Marine Corps Martial Arts Program
The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP, ) is a combat system developed by the United States Marine Corps to combine existing and new hand-to-hand combat, hand-to-hand and Close combat, close quarters combat techniques with morale and team ...
(MCMAP) by Marine Corps Order 1500.54, published in 2002, although it had been actually dropped in 1998, as a "revolutionary step in the development of martial arts skills for Marines and replaces all other close-combat related systems preceding its introduction."
[MCO 1500.54A]
US Army Special Forces
The LINE System was adopted in 1998 by
U.S. Army Special Forces at the
Special Forces Qualification Course
The Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) or, informally, the Q Course is the initial formal training program for entry into the United States Army Special Forces. Phase I of the Q Course is Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS). ...
(SFQC). Primary instruction took place during phase II and was remediated in phases III and V at
Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg (formerly Fort Liberty from 2023–2025) is a United States Army, U.S. Army Military base, military installation located in North Carolina. It ranks among the largest military bases in the world by population, with more than 52,000 m ...
,
North Carolina
North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...
. LINE was replaced by the
Modern Army Combatives Program (MACP) in October 2007.
US Air Forces
In 2007 the Chief of Staff of the Air Force read an article in the
Air Force Times
''Air Force Times'' is a newspaper published 26 times per year to provide active, reserve and retired United States Air Force and Air National Guard personnel and their families with news, information, analysis, community and lifestyle features, e ...
about Airmen training in the LINE system and ordered a review of all hand-to-hand combat in the Air Force which resulted in the Air Force adopting a program based upon the
Modern Army Combatives Program (MACP).
Units trained
During its existence, units trained included (but were not limited to):
*
1st SWTG,
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...
*
United States Army Special Forces
The United States Army Special Forces (SF), colloquially known as the "Green Berets" due to their distinctive service Berets of the United States Army, headgear, is a branch of the United States Army United States Army Special Operations Comm ...
**
1st SFG, United States Army
**
3rd SFG, United States Army
**
5th SFG, United States Army
**
7th SFG, United States Army
**
10th SFG, United States Army
**
19th SFG,
United States Army National Guard
The Army National Guard (ARNG) is an organized Militia (United States), militia force and a Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces, federal military reserve force of the United States Army. It is simultaneously part of two differen ...
**
20th SFG, United States Army National Guard
*
SEAL Team II, United States Navy
*
82nd Airborne Division
The 82nd Airborne Division is an Airborne forces, airborne infantry division (military), division of the United States Army specializing in Paratrooper, parachute assault operations into hostile areasSof, Eric"82nd Airborne Division" ''Spec Ops ...
, United States Army
*
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) ("Screaming Eagles") is a light infantry division (military), division of the United States Army that specializes in air assault military operation, operations. The 101st is designed to plan, coordinat ...
, United States Army
*
3rd Infantry Division, United States Army
*
4th Infantry Division, United States Army
*
172nd Infantry Brigade Stryker, United States Army
*
SOC South, United States Army
*
1st COSCOM, United States Army
*
96th Civil Affairs, United States Army
*
32nd MedCom, United States Army
*
44th MedCom, United States Army
*
112th Signal Bn, United States Army
*
27th Engineer Bn, United States Army
*
8th PsyOps, United States Army
*
CGSC, United States Army
*
5th ASOS,
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
*
5th CBCG, United States Air Force
See also
*
Combatives
Combatives is the term used to describe the hand-to-hand combat systems primarily used by members of the military, law enforcement, or other groups such as security personnel or correctional officers. Combatives are based in martial arts but a ...
*
List of martial arts
*
Marine Corps Martial Arts Program
The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP, ) is a combat system developed by the United States Marine Corps to combine existing and new hand-to-hand combat, hand-to-hand and Close combat, close quarters combat techniques with morale and team ...
*
S.C.A.R.S. (military)
*
SPEAR System
*
Taijutsu
is a Japanese martial art blanket term for any combat skill, technique, or system of martial art using body movements that are described as an empty-hand combat skill or system. Taijutsu is a synonym for jujutsu (method of close combat either u ...
*
United States Army Combatives School
The US Army Combatives School was founded in 2000 by then Sergeant First Class Matt Larsen and is located at building 69, Fort Benning, Georgia. It teaches a martial art unique to the United States Army called Modern Army Combatives (MAC).
Hi ...
References
External links
U.S. Marines Close-Quarters Combat Manual
{{DEFAULTSORT:Line (Combat System)
Combat
North American martial arts
United States Marine Corps in the 20th century