West Point to Host International Military Skills Competition

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The U.S. Military Academy will host the 59th Sandhurst Military Skills Competition on May 1 and 2. 

Hosted by West Point since 1967, teams will compete in a rigorous 36-hour course to test warrior spirit, cohesion, and dedication to mission accomplishment. At the end of the competition, one team will be named the Sandhurst champion. The winning team will be chosen based on their collective performance in 15 different events testing physical fitness, military skills, teamwork, and leadership. 

This year’s two-day competition consists of 48 teams, including 17 international teams, 16 ROTC teams, ten U.S. Military Academy company teams, and five U.S. service academy teams.

“Sandhurst is the premiere cadet military skills competition in the world. This year’s competition will test each cadet’s grit, lethality, and ability to lead under stress. Though there can be only one winner, every competitor will have pushed their physical and mental limits and become a better leader,” said Department of Military Instruction Director Col. Mark Federovich. “This competition builds bonds through shared hardship, strengthening relationships, between countries, services, and commissioning sources. I highly encourage people to come and see these impressive future officers push themselves to their limits.”

The champion team will be awarded the Reginald E. Johnson memorial plaque, a mounted cadet saber, named for Thomas Surdyke, a West Point Sandhurst competitor who perished during the land navigation phase in 1980. There will also be awards presented to the top International and ROTC teams, and squad leader.

International Teams: Australia, Brazil, Canada (2), Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Korea, Sweden, and United Kingdom (2).

ROTC Teams: Auburn University, Austin Peay State University, The Citadel, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, University of Hawaii, Lehigh University, Liberty University, Marquette University, University of Minnesota, University of North Georgia, University of Notre Dame, Pennsylvania State University, Texas A&M University, Texas Christian University, University of California, Santa Barbara, Virginia Military Institute.

U.S. Military Academy Company Teams:  A1, A2, A3, B2, C4, E1, E4, G2, G3, and H1.

Service Academies: U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and U.S. Military Academy: Black and Gold Teams (2).

Tune into livestream: May 2 at 6:30 p.m. – Awards Ceremony  

Follow our social media pages for updated scoring. Photos of the competition can be downloaded at West Point - The U.S. Military Academy | Flickr

For more information, visit Sandhurst Competition| U.S. Military Academy West Point

About West Point

The U. S. Military Academy at West Point is a four-year, co-educational, federal service academy located 50 miles north of New York City. It was founded in 1802 as America's first college of engineering and continues today as the world’s premier leader-development institution, consistently ranked among top colleges in the country. Its mission is to build, educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets to be commissioned leaders of character committed to the Army Values and ready for a lifetime of service to the Army and Nation. For more information, go to www.westpoint.edu.