Talk:Matt Larsen

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I sereved in the 3rd Battalion 5th Marines with Matt and tried to add references to both his membership on the 3rd Marine Division boxing team and in the Gulf War with 1st Ranger battalion but I couldn't figure out the system.

[edit] Speedy deletion tag

Whoever tagged this has no idea about the subject matter, nor the way the military operates. You will not find Matt Larsen's name on the byline for FM 3-25.150, because the Army DOES NOT GIVE BYLINES FOR MANUALS! Thus, the odds of anyone finding any official documentation regarding the author of any FM or AR is slim to none. However, I served with Matt Larsen while he was establishing the Combatives School and writing FM 3-25.150 and can easily testify that he did both. But, I understand that my word is not enough. Over the internet, I'm "just some guy" and could be lying about anything up to and including my identity and military service. So, don't take my word for it. Take the myriad of articles written about him and what he's done.

Virtually everyone certified as a US Army Combatives instructor knows who he is, because in the span of a very short time, he completely changed how the Army taught and viewed hand to hand combat. Over the course of a few years, the Army went from all but ignoring hand to hand, often considering the training "just enough to get your ass kicked," to being an integral part of combat training. It might be written like an advert, I'm too close to the subject matter to make an honest judgment, but that calls for an entirely different tag. EvilCouch 10:03, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

No sargeant from any army can claim to have singularly redrafted an official field manual. Such tall claims will have to be endorsed by verifications from army HQ. Furthermore Matt Larsen is unimportant as a personality in the broad development of military training doctrines. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 59.183.167.216 (talk) 04:49, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

You have no idea what you're talking about. The Army's Combatives program up until the current revision of the FM hadn't been touched since WWII and was largely ignored in training. It wasn't until the Combatives School was opened up that the Army released a new version of the FM. I know for a fact that Matt Larsen was instrumental in it, because there were only two soldiers that worked in the Combatives School when the draft version was published. One was a 1LT whose name escapes me and didn't have a lot of martial arts background as I recall and the other was Matt Larsen, who had trained me in Combatives 3 years previously. And since you're asking for verification from official Army channels, LOOK IN THE REFERENCES SECTION! I've already cited TRADOC's website and The Bayonet. Those are official sources. EvilCouch 06:31, 29 October 2007 (UTC)
Wikipedia is not about opinions of individuals. Your personal opinion doesnot matter. A verification from Army HQ regd the effect that Larsen doctored the FM needs to be obtained.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 59.183.188.37 (talk) 19:39, 29 October 2007 (PDT)
Actually, you have that backwards. Your opinion means nothing. I have sourced official sources and included them in the article before you raised any concerns, Furthermore, I directed your attention to them in my last comment. I have first-hand knowledge of the subject, as well as official citations. You have a bunch of complaints and disbelief. The Wikipedia is about proof. I can and have backed the assertions of the article. You cannot back your disbelief. Until you can (which is not possible), you should remain silent on the issue. EvilCouch 03:46, 30 October 2007 (UTC)
Dont get personal. It doesnot justify your assertions —Preceding unsigned comment added by 59.183.179.109 (talk) 11:17, 31 October 2007 (UTC)
My assertions are backed by four separate official Army references that are still available on the web, as well as an additional two training supplements that were available from the official US Army Combatives School web site seven years ago. Not to mention the various articles published by non-official sources that still qualify as reliable. I understand your initial skepticism that a soldier would be able to head such a project and see it through from start to finish and have such a big impact on the way the Army does training, but it happened, I was there and I have official sources to back me. EvilCouch 16:52, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

It sounds like somebody doesn't like Mr. Larsen to me. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 150.226.95.18 (talk) 23:37, 7 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Retirement date

Anyone know of a public ref that gives SFC Larsen's retirement date? I assume that it's close to when he was given the OSM, as it's usually a retirement award, but that's pure conjecture on my part. I could just ask him, but due to the sometimes bizarre nature of the Wikipedia, I couldn't use the email or conversation as a verifiable reference. EvilCouch (talk) 05:25, 30 November 2007 (UTC)