According to The National Interest, US Army Rangers will undergo updated bayonet combat training.

The publication reported that most US Army units replaced bayonet instruction with hand-to-hand combat courses back in 2010. For Rangers, however, a new bayonet program has been developed and added to the certification system. As part of the course, soldiers must navigate difficult terrain, overcome obstacles and strike targets using a bayonet.

The authors suggested that such training may still have practical value by helping develop a fighter’s mindset. They noted that using a blade at close range is a more instinctive experience than shooting at a target hundreds of yards away.

The National Interest also pointed out that the US Marine Corps still retains bayonet training. Under Marine Corps tradition, every Marine, regardless of specialty, is first and foremost considered a rifleman, and standard weapons continue to be issued with bayonets.

The publication added that the United States still produces the M9 bayonet, which is compatible with all rifles of the M16 family, including the current M4. According to the authors, the last major bayonet charge by American forces took place during the Korean War in 1951.