An 11-member team from the ROC Military Academy is set to compete head to head with the world’s top squads in this year’s Sandhurst Competition, ROCMA said April 8.
Squad leader Xiao Sheng-wang said his team is fully prepared for the challenge. “Our strength is in marksmanship, and we believe our rigorous training will help us stand out against the competition,” he said.
According to Xiao, ROCMA has been preparing for the military competition since last April. Team Cobra, selected from 102 applicants and comprised of nine male and two female recruits, including a female exchange student from El Salvador, will represent the academy.
First hosted in 1967 by the United States Military Academy, the Sandhurst Competition is essentially the training school’s intercompany competition.
But nearly 50 domestic and foreign teams, from Afghanistan, Australia, Britain, Canada, Chile and Taiwan, will take part in this year’s competition, set to take place at West Point April 15 and 16, according to the USMA.
During the two-day event, participating teams will perform a series of military tasks in a rapid operation along a 7-mile route. Missions include boat skills, combat swimming with full gear, obstacle course navigation and rifle marksmanship.
Awards will be given to the team that completes the tasks in the least amount of time. Top squads in marksmanship and orienteering will also be honored. (HZW)
Write to Meg Chant at meg.chang@mail.gio.gov.tw