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Rain subsided, the temperature plummeted and jubilation
turned to determination as teams of Military Cadets made
their way to historic Washington Hall for the start of the
2016 Sandhurst competition held on the United States
Military Academy campus at West Point, New York, April 8-9.
What started in 1967 as a friendly challenge between the
Army's Corps of Cadets and those from the Royal Military
Academy Sandhurst located in Camberley, United Kingdom for a
British Officer's sword has blossomed into a 60 team,
multinational match of whit, skill and endurance that
stretched nearly 35 miles over 36 hours.
Cadets in the ROTC program at Michigan State University practice the grenade throw in preparation for the 2016 Sandhurst competition on the Plain at the United States Military Academy at West Point, April 7, 2016. Sandhurst began in 1967 as a friendly match of warrior skills between the United States Army's Corps of Cadets and the United Kingdom's Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. This year it has blossomed into a 60 team, 13 country competition. (U.S. Army photo Sgt. 1st Class Brian Hamilton) |
“It's been a bit taxing so far,” joked Officer Cadet Perry
Jolly of the United Kingdom, on a training day prior to the
competition. “I think we'll win.”
Jolly, a British
Cadet from one 13 international teams, joined his
counterparts from as near as Canada and as far as China in
this year's quest for International bragging rights. Almost
all of those making their first visits to the United States.
“I am
excited to compete, but I'm also looking forward to getting
it done. This is my first time ever off the European
continent and I'm staying for a couple of weeks afterwards
just to enjoy myself,” he said.
This year's
competition boasts 13 different stations through the rugged
terrain of the Hudson River valley surrounding West Point.
Those stations included functional fitness, small arms
qualification, react to contact and more. For most this was
their first taste of infantry tactics but for some it was an
opportunity to build upon the trials and tribulations of
years past.
“There are a couple of us on the team
that had the...so called...luxury of competing in last year's
contest and it was a lot more squad patrol based than what I
expected,” said Cadet Zachary Delph of Michigan State
University.
MSU is one of eight teams from Cadet
Command's Reserve Officer Training Corps who are competing
in Sandhurst and on a year where the ROTC program turns 100,
there was a lot of anticipation over what this year's
contest might bring.
Delph, who experienced a
grueling casualty carry up the muddy ski slopes of West
Point last year, battle buddy and gear in tow, had only good
things too say about the challenge.
“That was
sadistic,” he said. “It about killed me!”
“Emotionally, last year was pretty tough but this is
definitely a team building exercise and it helped us come
together for this go around. You're physically and mentally
tired and you get frustrated with your buddies but you learn
to think like a leader. You shake it off and you move on,”
he said.
For the trainers of the Army Reserve's
104th Training Div. (LT), this year marked a milestone as
for the first time in their storied history, they were not
only tapped to facilitate the train-up prior to the
competition but the actual competition itself.
“Usually we come out here, do the train up before the
competition, and leave,” said Sgt. 1st Class Scott Wilburn,
3rd Bn., 304th Inf. Reg. (USMA), 104th Training Div. (LT).
“This year we are actually staying to help out with the
actual competition. We finally get to see the end result of
all our work.”
“I think that will help us going
forward as trainers,” he added. “We can see our deficiencies
and then work on what we need to do to better ourselves.”
For others with the 104th this year marks a first in
other ways.
“I've been out here for the Cadet Summer
Training mission but this is my first time at Sandhurst,”
Sgt. 1st Class David Palczewski, 3rd Bn., 304th Inf. Reg.
(USMA), 104th Training Div. (LT), who is running the hand
grenade train up.
“It's been fun working with some
of the international teams who are not familiar with our
weapon systems like the hand grenades and M4 (carbine). It
makes it more enjoyable you see people take an interest in
what you are trying to teach them.”
Finishing where
they started, at Washington Hall, one-by-one, teams of
cadets completed the last of the 13 tasks, ran to the finish
line and collapsed, grimacing in painful smiles with what
they had accomplished.
The overall winner of this
year's competition was the Royal Military College of Canada.
Team H-3 placed the best of the USMA teams and the
University of Texas A&M finished first in the ROTC division.
More photos available below
By U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Brian Hamilton
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2016
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