Extreme fitness found at West Point

Every year the United States Military Academy, located at a high point on the west side of the Hudson river(aka West Point), hosts a competition known as SANCOM.

Of course the military uses acronyms for everything, so allow me to explain. SANCOM is short for the Sandhurst Competition. Sandhurst is England’s version of West point, sans the academic curriculum. It is strictly a military academy.

Each year in April, Sandhurst sends teams of elite soldiers to West Point for the competition. Along with teams from Canada’s Royal Military Academy, The Naval and Airforce Academies and select ROTC groups from around the country arrive at West Point to partake in the fun.

I have had the great privilige to know some of the participants from the West Point teams and was afforded some insight into the committed level of training it takes to compete in this event.

The event begins at 0600 Saturday. That’s 6 am folks. Since they deploy in teams these conditioned athletes do not know in advance when they are to begin. It could be 6 am or as late as 9 or 10 AM. But they must be ready to go at a moments notice. So if you are called to go at 6, you had better be squared away by 5am.

The competition takes place on a predetermined course that is kept secret until the day of the event. These soldier athletes must negotiate the course using land navigation skills all the while performing amazing tasks. Each task is timed and scored for proficiency.

The competition begins with an inspection of uniformity. All contestants are in full military gear with helmets, canteens and rucksacks. Then it’s time to don the gas-masks and run to the next location(run, not jog). About a mile and a half to two miles later is a boat maneuver. After splashing out of the water, they run to the next location(don’t forget, they have to find the next location). This might be a simulated triage of wounded, then carrying the wounded to aid stations while suppressing enemy fire. Or the hand grenade toss, or building and crossing a rope bridge. Then crawl through a drain culvert with about 5 0r 6 inches of cold mountain water and run up the side of a mountain. Next scale a shear wall of about 15 feet in height(try that with all the above mentioned gear, and oh yeah, did I mention the M-16″s over their shoulders?). Can you say awkward?

Next a long run down the side of a mountain, a few more tasks, one usually includes near full immersion in near freezing water while navigating a course(a combat swim-ugh), and on to the last station, The Commandant’s Challenge.

Set directly in front of the Commandant of West Points’ residence is the final obstacle course, known as The Comm’s Challenge. And it is always different and challenging. The cadets are briefed on what they must do to finish, they huddle up, orders are given by the team leaders, and off they go. Maybe they have to push a truck(loaded with personnel), carry armor plated equipment through a very tricky obstacle course, do 20 pull ups each while wearing soaking wet clothes and having a M-16 on your back !I repeat, 20 pull ups! Holy Smokes!

When all is said and done, each team will have faced13 different challenges, navigated as a nine person squad over unknown miles of mountanous terrain, repeatedly being subjected to cold water melting from the mountains tops, subjected to excessive physical AND mental stress. I have personally watched as many of these teams have crossed the finish line, exhausted but smiling.

And I thought I was in shape. Humbled YES, in shape? No. Not even close when compared to these guys.

This years competition will take place on 04/18/09 on the grounds of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, and is open to the public. Visit www.usma.edu/dml/sandhurst_visitors.htm for more information.