Official Department Of Defense Letters
Official Naval Letter Of Recommendation and Description of the Utilization of SCARS
OFFICIAL US NAVSPECWARCOM TRAINEE GUIDE For SCARS 300-Hour LEVEL-1 Instructor Course.
Navy SEAL Rights to Reproduce SCARS Training Material given by Jerry Peterson
SCARS was an "In House" training program.
In 1988 Jerry Peterson’s credibility received the attention of the United States Navy Special Warfare
Command at Coronado, CA (US Navy SEAL headquarters - US NAVSPECWARCOM). The Special Warfare Department of the Navy began
contracting Jerry Peterson and his corporation to develop a program, later titled "the SCARS project," that
would universally apply both physiological and physical fields of CQB (Close Quarters Battle).
Between November 1988 and February 1989 Jerry Peterson and the US Navy began testing the SCARS project using
combat veterans within the SEAL ranks. The Navy was restricted to combat veterans that had either real world
hand-to-hand combat and/or advanced training in any form of fighting art (martial arts).
SCARS is 100% effective in all CQB actions.
After three months of physical testing the Navy agreed that SCARS had proven, beyond a
shadow of a doubt, not to stem from a style of martial arts. This system could possibly be the standard for
hand-to-weapons combat for the US Navy Special Warfare Command Department (SEALs).
In March 1989 the Navy and Jerry Peterson agreed that further development and testing was warranted. The Navy
agreed not to divulge any information on the SCARS project to the public. Jerry Peterson also agreed not to
release any mission specific information about the training and SCARS. Should SCARS be given official sanction
and approval by NETC (Naval Education and Training Command), limited statements could then be released.
Being classified information allowed SCARS to be tested in
every condition of international combat and/or police action that arose where the
military may be used, hence our motto: PROVEN IN COMBAT. Around April of 1989 the Department
of the Navy officially contracted Mr. Peterson and his corporation to begin further development of the SCARS
program.
The SCARS project was tasked with four main objectives:
- Develop and implement a hand-to-weapon program for the Basic Underwater Demolition School (BUDS)
- Develop and implement a platoon combat course for qualifying platoon deployment.
- Develop and implement combat ready course for Special Boat Units.
- Develop and implement a Force Multiplier program to certify U.S. Navy SEALs as subject matter experts in the
field of Hand-to-weapon combat, both in non-lethal and lethal use of force.
From 1989 to 1994 Jerry Peterson personally headed up the development and training of the SCARS programs.
After 5-1/2 years of development and testing of SCARS by the Special Warfare Command, the US NAVY SEALs received
official approval from NETC. This was the first time in the history of the US
Navy that a hand-to-weapons system had officially been approved as a standard of combat.
To date, Jerry Peterson is the only individual ever to have established a proven set of principles based in
modern sciences. After official approval of all of the SCARS programs Mr. Peterson licensed the Navy to conduct
the SCARS Force Multiplier Train the Trainer Program. This was a Level-2 300-hour SCARS "Train the Trainer"
course, it was developed and instructed by Jerry Peterson. This final course was the procurement of Jerry Peterson's
work for US NAVSPECWARCOM. Shortly after the SCARS/CFC (Combat Fighting Course) was officially implemented the US
Navy West-coast command requested a SCARS military demonstration.
The SCARS program was presented to The United States Secretary Of State,
the Commanding Four Star General of the US Army, the
Secretary of the Navy and other political
personnel whom all gave their overwhelming approval of the program.
This program taught by Level 2 SCARS Instructors was a "closed" course, meaning there was only a certain
allotment of trainees that could request a slot to go through the program. The SCARS train the trainer program
produced 300 SCARS subject matter experts in the field of non-lethal to lethal hand-to-weapons action.
Thousands of US military personnel have gone through the official SCARS programs.
During this time, 1 in 10 Navy SEALs was a subject matter expert in SCARS and qualified to train other SEALs.
After the Force Multiplier program was completed the Instructor program was finalized. Today SCARS
principles and the Offensive Mindset™ are still taught and utilized within the Special Forces
Community.
No military SCARS instructor is allowed to teach the SCARS programs outside of the military. To this date Mr.
Peterson has restricted all licenses to certify subject matter experts in the SCARS system of sciences solely to
the US Special Operation Community.
Read what US Navy SEALs say about SCARS
“I was in Naval Special Warfare for over 23
years (1989-2012). I have been exposed to every fighting course that
has been offered to the SEAL Teams and I have not found a more effective system than what Jerry and Blake
Peterson offer. Not Duane Dieter, not Gracie Ju-jitsu, not any of them. Period. The lethal and non-lethal
interactions I have personally survived, and have heard of others surviving, are attributable to the lessons
Jerry taught me back in 1990 and that was only 1, 2 week course.“
M. Eggelston, USN Ret.
“I give my strongest endorsement for the character and
capability of Mr. Jerry Peterson to instruct members of U.S. Special Operations Forces in methods of
individual offense and defense. His record and reputation were sterling while teaching Naval Special Warfare
in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. Mr. Peterson’s signature COI for NSW, known as SCARS, still has its faithful
followers today in the SEAL and SWCC communities. However, I personally have always been most impressed by
the manner in which Jerry Peterson carries himself and lives a life of honor. He and his hand-selected
Instructor Cadre will deliver handsomely on the terms of any contract supporting U.S. SOF.“
S. Pybus Vice Admiral, USN Ret.
“Mr. Jerry Peterson developed a form of hand-to-weapon
training, called SCARS. This training was provided during the period that I was the Commanding Officer of
the Naval Special Warfare Center, from summer of 1991 through the summer of 1993, where the basic BUD/S
course, the basic SWCC (Special Warfare Combatant Crewman) course and numerous Advanced SEAL courses
were taught. These courses continued to be taught while I was Commander of all Naval Special Warfare Forces
starting in 1996-1998.“
RDML T. Richards, USN Ret.
“I attended the
300-hour SCARS course in 1991 as a Seal Instructor. Having many years in other Martial Arts before SCARS, I
can say it is the most no nonsense fighting system I have ever learned. I have applied SCARS to everyday
life, my job requires me to use the SCARS offensive mindset, if you don’t you will not make it. You
will be DEAD! I challenge anyone to apply their fighting system in a combat role. In my opinion, SCARS is
not just the greatest fighting system around, it can also be applied to your everyday life.“C. F. Harmon BUD/S Class 148 AF&AM 1174
“In today’s
high tech military, the most important weapon system in the Naval Special Warfare inventory is the Navy SEAL
himself. The SCARS training has given new teeth to the term ‘The Naked Warrior’.”
D.L., LCDR, USN
“At a recent
meeting held with the STO, BTO and the phases. A consensus was reached concerning combat fighting,
specifically the SCARS System, and it’s relevance to our mission. All concerned agreed that it is a
fundamental skill and should be part of the BUD/S course… The West Coast Teams are also incorporating
SCARS principles into their CQB training for SEAL platoons… Since SCARS is not a form of “martial
arts” four weeks is a realistic time frame to train some one to be an instructor.” L. Hicks, BMC, USN
“In my 29
years of NSW I have had numerous hand to hand courses, this is the only one I feel confident and positive
the fighting system will work in combat and would be extremely beneficial to the NSW operator.”
Roger H., CWO3, USN
“… I
consider a large part of the future of Naval Special Warfare greatly depends on the SCARS/CFC System.
Special Operations personnel are anytime, anyplace soldiers with a very difficult mission…. We cannot
afford indecision or lack of confidence at a critical time. However, the SCARS/CFC System greatly enhances
the skills of a soldier, mentally and physically, thereby greatly increasing mission success.”
F. B. , Op Chief SEAL Team THREE.
“In
conclusion, SCARS is a very good scientific fighting system. Many different arts and sports have by the
Teams in the past, but they have all been discarded. I feel SCARS will become widely accepted by the special
operations community once it is experienced firsthand.” Michael D., USN
“Based on my
personal observations, participant course critiques and similar endorsements provided by Naval Special
Warfare Center instructors and West Coast SEAL Teams, I highly recommend SCARS training be incorporated into
EAST Coast pre-deployment training. I would encourage each Team Commanding Officer to take advantage of the
excellent training course. It is worth it.” Commanding Officer NSW Unit TWO
SCARS is for everyone, learn how to access this life saving training!
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