U.S. Military Academy Gold Team takes top spot as 12 teams earn place in spring after Fall Sandhurst Competition

By Eric Bartelt Pointer View Managing EditorOctober 26, 2023

The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills...
1 / 23 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills Competition.
The purpose of the military skills competition is the enhance professional development and military excellence of Soldier skills in a competitive environment.
Among the events during the competition were a ruck march, maneuvering the Marne Obstacle Course, a stress shoot event at Range 11 and then “The Crucible” along The Plain that culminated with a three company combatives event.
The top 12 teams that will move on to the spring were in order: Gold, Co. A-3, Co. D-4, Co. A-1, Black, Co. E-4, Co. B-3, Co. E-2, Co. H-4, Co. A-2, Co. F-2 and Co. G-3.

(Photo Credit: Eric S. Bartelt/PV)
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The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills...
2 / 23 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills Competition.
The purpose of the military skills competition is the enhance professional development and military excellence of Soldier skills in a competitive environment.
Among the events during the competition were a ruck march, maneuvering the Marne Obstacle Course, a stress shoot event at Range 11 and then “The Crucible” along The Plain that culminated with a three company combatives event.
The top 12 teams that will move on to the spring were in order: Gold, Co. A-3, Co. D-4, Co. A-1, Black, Co. E-4, Co. B-3, Co. E-2, Co. H-4, Co. A-2, Co. F-2 and Co. G-3.
(Photo Credit: Cadet Media Group)
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The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills...
3 / 23 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills Competition.
The purpose of the military skills competition is the enhance professional development and military excellence of Soldier skills in a competitive environment.
Among the events during the competition were a ruck march, maneuvering the Marne Obstacle Course, a stress shoot event at Range 11 and then “The Crucible” along The Plain that culminated with a three company combatives event.
The top 12 teams that will move on to the spring were in order: Gold, Co. A-3, Co. D-4, Co. A-1, Black, Co. E-4, Co. B-3, Co. E-2, Co. H-4, Co. A-2, Co. F-2 and Co. G-3.
(Photo Credit: Elizabeth Woodruff/USMA PAO)
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The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills...
4 / 23 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills Competition.
The purpose of the military skills competition is the enhance professional development and military excellence of Soldier skills in a competitive environment.
Among the events during the competition were a ruck march, maneuvering the Marne Obstacle Course, a stress shoot event at Range 11 and then “The Crucible” along The Plain that culminated with a three company combatives event.
The top 12 teams that will move on to the spring were in order: Gold, Co. A-3, Co. D-4, Co. A-1, Black, Co. E-4, Co. B-3, Co. E-2, Co. H-4, Co. A-2, Co. F-2 and Co. G-3.
(Photo Credit: Cadet Media Group)
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The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills...
5 / 23 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills Competition.
The purpose of the military skills competition is the enhance professional development and military excellence of Soldier skills in a competitive environment.
Among the events during the competition were a ruck march, maneuvering the Marne Obstacle Course, a stress shoot event at Range 11 and then “The Crucible” along The Plain that culminated with a three company combatives event.
The top 12 teams that will move on to the spring were in order: Gold, Co. A-3, Co. D-4, Co. A-1, Black, Co. E-4, Co. B-3, Co. E-2, Co. H-4, Co. A-2, Co. F-2 and Co. G-3.
(Photo Credit: ELI WRIGHT/Cadet Media Group)
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The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills...
6 / 23 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills Competition.
The purpose of the military skills competition is the enhance professional development and military excellence of Soldier skills in a competitive environment.
Among the events during the competition were a ruck march, maneuvering the Marne Obstacle Course, a stress shoot event at Range 11 and then “The Crucible” along The Plain that culminated with a three company combatives event.
The top 12 teams that will move on to the spring were in order: Gold, Co. A-3, Co. D-4, Co. A-1, Black, Co. E-4, Co. B-3, Co. E-2, Co. H-4, Co. A-2, Co. F-2 and Co. G-3.
(Photo Credit: Cadet Media Group)
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The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills...
7 / 23 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills Competition.
The purpose of the military skills competition is the enhance professional development and military excellence of Soldier skills in a competitive environment.
Among the events during the competition were a ruck march, maneuvering the Marne Obstacle Course, a stress shoot event at Range 11 and then “The Crucible” along The Plain that culminated with a three company combatives event.
The top 12 teams that will move on to the spring were in order: Gold, Co. A-3, Co. D-4, Co. A-1, Black, Co. E-4, Co. B-3, Co. E-2, Co. H-4, Co. A-2, Co. F-2 and Co. G-3.
(Photo Credit: Cadet Media Group)
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The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills...
8 / 23 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills Competition.
The purpose of the military skills competition is the enhance professional development and military excellence of Soldier skills in a competitive environment.
Among the events during the competition were a ruck march, maneuvering the Marne Obstacle Course, a stress shoot event at Range 11 and then “The Crucible” along The Plain that culminated with a three company combatives event.
The top 12 teams that will move on to the spring were in order: Gold, Co. A-3, Co. D-4, Co. A-1, Black, Co. E-4, Co. B-3, Co. E-2, Co. H-4, Co. A-2, Co. F-2 and Co. G-3.

(Photo Credit: Eric S. Bartelt/PV)
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The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills...
9 / 23 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills Competition.
The purpose of the military skills competition is the enhance professional development and military excellence of Soldier skills in a competitive environment.
Among the events during the competition were a ruck march, maneuvering the Marne Obstacle Course, a stress shoot event at Range 11 and then “The Crucible” along The Plain that culminated with a three company combatives event.
The top 12 teams that will move on to the spring were in order: Gold, Co. A-3, Co. D-4, Co. A-1, Black, Co. E-4, Co. B-3, Co. E-2, Co. H-4, Co. A-2, Co. F-2 and Co. G-3.
(Photo Credit: Cadet Media Group)
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The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills...
10 / 23 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills Competition.
The purpose of the military skills competition is the enhance professional development and military excellence of Soldier skills in a competitive environment.
Among the events during the competition were a ruck march, maneuvering the Marne Obstacle Course, a stress shoot event at Range 11 and then “The Crucible” along The Plain that culminated with a three company combatives event.
The top 12 teams that will move on to the spring were in order: Gold, Co. A-3, Co. D-4, Co. A-1, Black, Co. E-4, Co. B-3, Co. E-2, Co. H-4, Co. A-2, Co. F-2 and Co. G-3.

(Photo Credit: Eric S. Bartelt/PV)
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The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills...
11 / 23 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills Competition.
The purpose of the military skills competition is the enhance professional development and military excellence of Soldier skills in a competitive environment.
Among the events during the competition were a ruck march, maneuvering the Marne Obstacle Course, a stress shoot event at Range 11 and then “The Crucible” along The Plain that culminated with a three company combatives event.
The top 12 teams that will move on to the spring were in order: Gold, Co. A-3, Co. D-4, Co. A-1, Black, Co. E-4, Co. B-3, Co. E-2, Co. H-4, Co. A-2, Co. F-2 and Co. G-3.

(Photo Credit: (Photo by Eric S. Bartelt/PV))
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The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills...
12 / 23 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills Competition.
The purpose of the military skills competition is the enhance professional development and military excellence of Soldier skills in a competitive environment.
Among the events during the competition were a ruck march, maneuvering the Marne Obstacle Course, a stress shoot event at Range 11 and then “The Crucible” along The Plain that culminated with a three company combatives event.
The top 12 teams that will move on to the spring were in order: Gold, Co. A-3, Co. D-4, Co. A-1, Black, Co. E-4, Co. B-3, Co. E-2, Co. H-4, Co. A-2, Co. F-2 and Co. G-3.

(Photo Credit: (Photo by Eric S. Bartelt/PV))
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The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills...
13 / 23 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills Competition.
The purpose of the military skills competition is the enhance professional development and military excellence of Soldier skills in a competitive environment.
Among the events during the competition were a ruck march, maneuvering the Marne Obstacle Course, a stress shoot event at Range 11 and then “The Crucible” along The Plain that culminated with a three company combatives event.
The top 12 teams that will move on to the spring were in order: Gold, Co. A-3, Co. D-4, Co. A-1, Black, Co. E-4, Co. B-3, Co. E-2, Co. H-4, Co. A-2, Co. F-2 and Co. G-3.

(Photo Credit: (Photo by Eric S. Bartelt/PV))
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The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills...
14 / 23 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills Competition.
The purpose of the military skills competition is the enhance professional development and military excellence of Soldier skills in a competitive environment.
Among the events during the competition were a ruck march, maneuvering the Marne Obstacle Course, a stress shoot event at Range 11 and then “The Crucible” along The Plain that culminated with a three company combatives event.
The top 12 teams that will move on to the spring were in order: Gold, Co. A-3, Co. D-4, Co. A-1, Black, Co. E-4, Co. B-3, Co. E-2, Co. H-4, Co. A-2, Co. F-2 and Co. G-3.

(Photo Credit: (Photo by Eric S. Bartelt/PV))
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The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills...
15 / 23 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills Competition.
The purpose of the military skills competition is the enhance professional development and military excellence of Soldier skills in a competitive environment.
Among the events during the competition were a ruck march, maneuvering the Marne Obstacle Course, a stress shoot event at Range 11 and then “The Crucible” along The Plain that culminated with a three company combatives event.
The top 12 teams that will move on to the spring were in order: Gold, Co. A-3, Co. D-4, Co. A-1, Black, Co. E-4, Co. B-3, Co. E-2, Co. H-4, Co. A-2, Co. F-2 and Co. G-3.

(Photo Credit: (Photo by Eric S. Bartelt/PV))
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The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills...
16 / 23 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills Competition.
The purpose of the military skills competition is the enhance professional development and military excellence of Soldier skills in a competitive environment.
Among the events during the competition were a ruck march, maneuvering the Marne Obstacle Course, a stress shoot event at Range 11 and then “The Crucible” along The Plain that culminated with a three company combatives event.
The top 12 teams that will move on to the spring were in order: Gold, Co. A-3, Co. D-4, Co. A-1, Black, Co. E-4, Co. B-3, Co. E-2, Co. H-4, Co. A-2, Co. F-2 and Co. G-3.

(Photo Credit: (Photo by Eric S. Bartelt/PV))
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The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills...
17 / 23 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills Competition.
The purpose of the military skills competition is the enhance professional development and military excellence of Soldier skills in a competitive environment.
Among the events during the competition were a ruck march, maneuvering the Marne Obstacle Course, a stress shoot event at Range 11 and then “The Crucible” along The Plain that culminated with a three company combatives event.
The top 12 teams that will move on to the spring were in order: Gold, Co. A-3, Co. D-4, Co. A-1, Black, Co. E-4, Co. B-3, Co. E-2, Co. H-4, Co. A-2, Co. F-2 and Co. G-3.

(Photo Credit: (Photo by Eric S. Bartelt/PV))
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The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills...
18 / 23 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills Competition.
The purpose of the military skills competition is the enhance professional development and military excellence of Soldier skills in a competitive environment.
Among the events during the competition were a ruck march, maneuvering the Marne Obstacle Course, a stress shoot event at Range 11 and then “The Crucible” along The Plain that culminated with a three company combatives event.
The top 12 teams that will move on to the spring were in order: Gold, Co. A-3, Co. D-4, Co. A-1, Black, Co. E-4, Co. B-3, Co. E-2, Co. H-4, Co. A-2, Co. F-2 and Co. G-3.

(Photo Credit: (Photo by Eric S. Bartelt/PV))
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The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills...
19 / 23 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills Competition.
The purpose of the military skills competition is the enhance professional development and military excellence of Soldier skills in a competitive environment.
Among the events during the competition were a ruck march, maneuvering the Marne Obstacle Course, a stress shoot event at Range 11 and then “The Crucible” along The Plain that culminated with a three company combatives event.
The top 12 teams that will move on to the spring were in order: Gold, Co. A-3, Co. D-4, Co. A-1, Black, Co. E-4, Co. B-3, Co. E-2, Co. H-4, Co. A-2, Co. F-2 and Co. G-3.

(Photo Credit: (Photo by Eric S. Bartelt/PV))
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The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills...
20 / 23 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills Competition.
The purpose of the military skills competition is the enhance professional development and military excellence of Soldier skills in a competitive environment.
Among the events during the competition were a ruck march, maneuvering the Marne Obstacle Course, a stress shoot event at Range 11 and then “The Crucible” along The Plain that culminated with a three company combatives event.
The top 12 teams that will move on to the spring were in order: Gold, Co. A-3, Co. D-4, Co. A-1, Black, Co. E-4, Co. B-3, Co. E-2, Co. H-4, Co. A-2, Co. F-2 and Co. G-3.

(Photo Credit: (Photo by Eric S. Bartelt/PV))
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The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills...
21 / 23 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills Competition.
The purpose of the military skills competition is the enhance professional development and military excellence of Soldier skills in a competitive environment.
Among the events during the competition were a ruck march, maneuvering the Marne Obstacle Course, a stress shoot event at Range 11 and then “The Crucible” along The Plain that culminated with a three company combatives event.
The top 12 teams that will move on to the spring were in order: Gold, Co. A-3, Co. D-4, Co. A-1, Black, Co. E-4, Co. B-3, Co. E-2, Co. H-4, Co. A-2, Co. F-2 and Co. G-3.
(Photo by Eric S. Bartelt/PV)
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
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The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills...
22 / 23 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills Competition.
The purpose of the military skills competition is the enhance professional development and military excellence of Soldier skills in a competitive environment.
Among the events during the competition were a ruck march, maneuvering the Marne Obstacle Course, a stress shoot event at Range 11 and then “The Crucible” along The Plain that culminated with a three company combatives event.
The top 12 teams that will move on to the spring were in order: Gold, Co. A-3, Co. D-4, Co. A-1, Black, Co. E-4, Co. B-3, Co. E-2, Co. H-4, Co. A-2, Co. F-2 and Co. G-3.

(Photo Credit: (Photo by Eric S. Bartelt/PV))
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The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills...
23 / 23 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition took place Oct. 20-21 on the West Point military reservation to determine the top 12 company teams that will represent USMA and compete in the annual spring Sandhurst Military Skills Competition.
The purpose of the military skills competition is the enhance professional development and military excellence of Soldier skills in a competitive environment.
Among the events during the competition were a ruck march, maneuvering the Marne Obstacle Course, a stress shoot event at Range 11 and then “The Crucible” along The Plain that culminated with a three company combatives event.
The top 12 teams that will move on to the spring were in order: Gold, Co. A-3, Co. D-4, Co. A-1, Black, Co. E-4, Co. B-3, Co. E-2, Co. H-4, Co. A-2, Co. F-2 and Co. G-3.

(Photo Credit: (Photo by Eric S. Bartelt/PV))
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In spite of the steady rain and muddy conditions throughout the two days, the cadets competing in the U.S. Military Academy Fall Sandhurst Competition on Oct. 20-21 drove onward through the slog to establish which top 12 teams will represent USMA and compete at the annual Spring Sandhurst Military Skills Competition in April 2024.

All 36 USMA company teams, the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School, and Black and Gold squads, a total of 39 squads, competed for their stake in the spring competition.

The teams that earned spots were in order:

  1. Gold Team;
  2. Co. A-3;
  3. Co. D-4;
  4. Co. A-1;
  5. Black Team;
  6. Co. E-4;
  7. Co. B-3;
  8. Co. E-2;
  9. Co. H-4;
  10. Co. A-2;
  11. Co. F-2;
  12. Co. G-3.

The only company squad to return to Spring Sandhurst is the F-2 Zoo from the 2023 competition. On Oct. 22, a ceremony was held at the Cadet Mess Hall to announce the top 12 teams, with five teams receiving plaques, including the top three company teams, the first-place overall team and the best combatives team, which was achieved by Co. C-2.

Among the events during the two days was an 8.5-mile ruck march to Camp Buckner, navigating the Marne Obstacle Course, an M-4 stress shoot event at Range 11 and “The Crucible” on the Plain that culminated with a three-company combatives event.

The officer-in-charge of Fall Sandhurst is Maj. Zachary Miller, who is regularly the Co. E-1 tactical (TAC) officer, and he said it took a considerable amount of work from everyone involved to pull it off. He added it wouldn’t be possible without the Sandhurst TACs and TAC noncommissioned officers (NCOs) from the Brigade Tactical Department (BTD) and TACs and TAC NCOs from every regiment in the brigade.

“It requires a lot of late nights running rifle ranges and planning training with all the Sandhurst staff cadets,” Miller said. “It is very hard work but extremely rewarding when we get to see the final product.”

He gave praise to the BTD S-3, the U.S. Corps of Cadets (USCC) S-4 team and other agencies on post, including the Directorate of Emergency Services (DES), the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security (DPTMS), range operations, Logistics Readiness Center (LRC) and the Central Arms Room, and a special thanks to Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Krogman in the Department of Military Instruction for his help with ammo, and without all those entities and individuals working in concert together, it would have been tough to seamlessly pull off Sandhurst.

Miller’s primary responsibility as the OIC is to work with the Brigade Sandhurst cadet-in-charge, Class of 2024 Cadet Connor Cherpeski, to come up with a plan to train all 36 company teams in the fall to determine the top 10 company teams to represent USCC and USMA during the spring competition.

“The way we determine those top teams is by designing a competition which we believe will best measure all the skills they will be tested on again in the spring,” Miller said. “It is very logistics intensive to plan and execute all the training and my NCO counterpart, Master Sgt. Jeremy Hinkle, along with the Brigade Sandhurst sergeant major, Class of 2025 Cadet Anna Kittle, were constantly resourcing food and equipment, and trying to keep all the team’s training organized. The four of us at the brigade level were constantly working to synchronize efforts with different agencies on post to make everything come together.”

Each regiment was responsible for creating an event based on one of four essential tasks any Soldier needs to know: shoot, move, communicate and medicate. Each regiment took charge of designing a lane, which would test multiple skills from one of the four essential categories, including a physical element.

“Competitors at each lane were tested on specific performance measures, similar to the standards you would see at EIB (Expert Infantryman Badge) or ESB (Expert Soldier Badge),” Miller said. “At the brigade level, we just help put it all together … so we could execute it efficiently. At night, we conducted an 8.5-mile team ruck march to finish off day one.

“For day two, we conducted the Marne Obstacle Course, a ‘stress shoot’ marksmanship competition on Range 11 and finished off with ‘The Crucible’ on The Plain,” Miller added. “The Crucible is the finale for each team as they have members of their companies cheer them on.”

While there has always been a crucible event to finish off the Sandhurst Competition, Miller felt this year they wanted to put on a show that was fun for the participants and fun to watch for the spectators.

“We wanted them to give everything they had left during the ‘last 100 yards,’” Miller said. “The credit for the crucible goes to the Sandhurst cadets and Sandhurst TACs of 1st Regiment who designed it. Class of 2024 Cadet Israel Dixon is the regimental Sandhurst cadet-in-charge and he worked really hard with all of his staff to make this event happen.

“Dixon came to me and his regiment Sandhurst TACs with the idea for a team combatives competition, and I was initially skeptical because I was afraid that someone could get hurt,” he added. “But they were able to go back to the drawing board and put some controls in place, which made it an awesome event to watch and resulted in zero injuries.”

When it was all said and done, Miller was “impressed” with both the competitors and the cadets who ran the lanes even as the weather became miserable.

“I was worried that the inclement weather was going to slow our teams down and possibly disrupt the staff who was running each lane,” Miller said. “I think everyone just accepted the conditions and pushed themselves even harder. Everyone had a great attitude and displayed a lot of grit.”

As for those who moved on to the spring competition, Miller said that the “training for the spring has just begun.”

“Where they are right now is the baseline and they still need to do everything possible to continue to improve all the way up to the competition,” Miller said. “We have a lot of talented company teams, and it isn’t out of the realm of possibility that one of them could actually win in the spring.

“The goal this year is to have multiple company teams finishing in the top 10 or top 15,” he added. “When the ROTC teams and teams from other nations come in the spring, I want to show them the depth of talent that our cadets have at USMA.”

One of the USMA company teams that will continue on is Co. A-1, who was led by its squad leader, Class of 2025 Cadet Leonel Martinez. Company A-1 finished fourth overall and third among company squads. Before they move on to the next objective in the spring, they were recognized for obtaining that goal during the Cadet Mess ceremony, which was a time to celebrate obtaining their first goal of making the top 12.

“The feeling of obtaining a top 12 spot and third among companies was surreal,” Martinez said. “I was lined up with so many teams ahead of us, so my expectations were low about A-1’s placement. Then the realization started setting in that my team placed well, which made me feel like my heart was beating out of my chest.

“After receiving our placement as third best company team, I began to feel happy and much pride,” he added. “All the hard work and heart my team gave the past couple of months had paid off.”

Martinez has competed in the Sandhurst Competition three times previously, and he said this was the first time he felt comfortable going into the competition even though pain and agony were expected.

“Even though you conform and know what to expect, the crucible of pain never changes,” Martinez said. “The most challenging still is the eight-mile ruck march to Buckner, which always feels like an endless series of up-hills. Teams are drained from the lanes beforehand and must dig in deep to persevere through the night.”

The satisfaction of success boasts the pride of the accomplishment made, but there was also the grueling aspect of being the squad leader and the challenges involved in leading the group.

“Leading this team was challenging because I had many other duties and responsibilities to juggle,” Martinez said. “As a result, I relied heavily on my team leaders and members of the team to lead training and workouts. This paid off because my team leaders knew what they struggled with and developed training around those weaknesses.

“Leading them made me realize I could not do everything on my own and to trust my subordinates,” he added. “I believe this will pay off in dividends when I become an officer.”

This is not the first time Co. A-1 made it to the spring while Martinez has competed as the company reached two years ago. However, Martinez said Co. A-1 has generally not placed well in Sandhurst during his time here, which led to a tough training schedule.

“The training we conducted is what separated us from the other company teams,” Martinez said. “Several members and I of the A-1 team have competed before and knew what to expect. More importantly was the hands-on training that our TAC helped us receive. Capt. (Amy) Jones was able to allocate the assets – crew serves, ACIPS radios and gear – and the time needed for training. Her efforts created the circumstances for our success and for that, the team and I are grateful.”

As his team succeeded through the conditions and obtained their goals, Martinez said the A-1 Sandhurst team has a “culture of excellence.”

“That statement may sound generic or foreign, but the reality is that the A-1 Sandhurst team has driven people who care,” he said. “These individuals are not afraid to call me out or others during workouts during training. Our culture is one of knowing that we will do what is necessary and required of us to win. Winning is what we care about and will stop at nothing to achieve.”

Looking forward to the spring, Martinez said the squad was already training every day, if not twice a day, throughout the week leading up to the fall competition. Now, they are ramping up their training to get to a higher level.

“To prepare for spring, we will keep up this up-tempo and prioritize rucking and skills training,” Martinez said. “The Sandhurst Competition revolves around moving with weight and knowing how to perform basic Soldier tasks and drills perfectly. Furthermore, our team has the support necessary to facilitate training – all we have to do now is show up and execute.”

Martinez feels this is an exceptional group of company teammates he is working with and said, “I wouldn’t do this experience with any other group of people.”

“The culture and environment these individuals bring to the table is irreplaceable,” he said. “The team’s success is owed entirely to them. A-1 is proud to have such high-caliber people representing them. For me, leading these people has been a privilege.

“Everyone on the team, even those who didn’t make the roster, have contributed to our success,” Martinez added. “I am indebted to them for everything they gave to the team.”

The military skills competition aims to enhance professional development and military excellence of Soldier skills in a competitive environment. Sandhurst started in 1967 at West Point as the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom presented a British officer’s sword to use as a prize to promote military brilliance.

In 1975, the competition began to resemble its current form, with teams taking part in different challenges to test their military skills. Since 1986, each squad is required to have at least two females and two males on their 11-person team. It wasn’t until recently that company teams had to compete for a place in Spring Sandhurst because of the movement to expand to more ROTC and international teams as part of Sandhurst.