Since its inception, the competition has only varied slightly in its rigours and has grown to include Canada's Royal Military Academy (RMC), several select ROTC teams, and as of last year, a team from the Afghan Military Academy.
Squads from USMA compete against themselves as well as visiting teams. Squads are comprised of nine team members of which one must be female. Start times are staggered for teams, and the course requirements are unknown when the teams begin. There are as many as 10 stations where teams implement taught military skills in order to navigate and complete the course. Stations this year included a river crossing, an obstacle course, a leader's reaction course, a rifle range, and battle drills among other skill sets. The course is physically demanding and must be completed within a four hour time frame.
Two of our sponsored cadets competed on their respective company squads, and our family followed the course and cheered and shouted words of encouragement; we are tremendously proud of 'our' cadets.
RMC has won the competition for the last three years with Sandhurst winning since 1993, the last time a USMA squad won. Here's hoping for a win this year!
Log loves watching the competition and gets quite riled up; this is the only time he deviates from his aspiration to be a pilot and claims he wants to be a soldier. J and I toted and drove the kiddos from site to site in spite of the cold drizzle, and on one occasion, drove a couple from Utah to a site so that they could watch their son compete.
At the wall site, Log, acting on J's prompting, stepped on a fluorescent green paint ball and sent droplets of the thankfully water based paint flying in a 10 foot radius and speckled many of the spectators. Littlest wanted to keep her hands in Mama's pockets as she walked behind me which caused me to walk as though my feet had been bound. Bop talked to many of the cadets who were out in force to support their company squads and was disappointed that she couldn't carry a guide on. Matty was most interested in lunch and frequently asked about hot dogs. I had to leave a bit early to ferry the girls to two birthday parties while J force marched the boys to the remaining sites. This afternoon, EVERYONE took a nap.
Log getting 'pumped up' at the competition.
Two of our sponsored cadets
Boat Crossing
Another of our sponsored cadets (with weapon in air) running the course.
Our cadet, on right, helping a teammate navigate the wall.
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