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For about 10.7 million Georgians, this week has largely been about the start of spring – Easter, Passover, maybe a spring break. For about 100,000 though that are the military members stationed in Georgia, particularly the 60,000 or so in the United States Army, this week is also Infantry Week.
The week’s highlights are the four separate military competitions that kicked off on Monday: the Lacerda All-Army Combatives Championship, Best Mortar Competition, International Sniper Competition, and, perhaps the most well known, the Best Ranger Competition.
“The feedback from these competitions can help military leaders identify areas for improvement in training and equipment and (inform) necessary adjustments to training plans,” said Colonel Jimmy Hathaway, 198th Infantry Brigade Commander.
The events include participants from the U.S. Army, sister services and allied nations to determine who is the best across a range of military fields. The Combatives Championship tests “close quarters threats in the operational environment through hand-to-hand combat.” There are 21 eight-person teams across eight weight classes in the combative skills contest and the Army notes soldiers must be ready to fight anywhere, at any time, with any weapon – or without a weapon.
“Past competitions have played an important role in shaping training doctrine by providing a platform for testing and refining tactics, techniques, and procedures,” said Hathaway. “By hosting the competition this year, we will play an instrumental role in promoting the development of new mortar (operations), and improving the readiness of mortar crews.”
The Ranger Competition has a particular poignancy for Georgia, as Fort Benning is home to the U.S. Army Ranger Course, famous as the toughest small unit leadership course in the military….
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