Army engineers will face off from May 6 to 8 in the rugged Ozark Mountains to become the Army’s next “Best Sapper.”
Registration for the fourth annual Best Sapper Competition, sponsored by the U.S. Army Engineer School’s Sapper Leader Course and held at Fort Leonard Wood, is underway and is open to all soldiers serving in the 21-series career field.
The competition, organized in two-man buddy teams, is designed to test soldiers’ knowledge, physical prowess and mental fortitude.
For 52 hours, soldiers will compete in several grueling events, which include helocasting, where soldiers are dropped from a helicopter into a lake with all their gear and must swim to shore; land navigation; mountaineering; U.S. and threat weapons; and what engineers do best, blowing things up.
Fort Leonard Wood officials say that sappers — a term that can be traced back to the French Wars — have proven their abilities throughout time to build and repair fortifications, execute field works, and reform the countryside with demolitions and heavy equipment to weaken enemy and lead the infantry to victory on the battlefield.
Those wishing more information may contact the Fort Leonard Wood Public Affairs Office at 563-6212 or to register, visit http://www.wood.army.mil/sapper.