Brian Hill
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Jan. 27, 2022) – The U.S. Army Engineer School will begin accepting applications Tuesday for the 15th Lt. Gen. Robert B. Flowers Best Sapper Competition, officials said.
The competition is scheduled to take place here from April 20 through 26, and is open to all Sapper-qualified active-duty, Reserve and National Guard service members, along with ROTC and U.S. Military Academy cadets and approved international military service members, said Capt. Zac Goldman, Sapper Training Company commander and event officer in charge.
“Sappers represent the technical and tactical experts within the ranks of the combat engineers,” Goldman said. “We look forward to seeing which team comes out on top this year.”
Throughout the annual competition, two-person teams compete in a variety of events, which, in years past, included a non-standard physical fitness test, land navigation, a ruck march, sapper skills showcase, and mystery events designed to test the teams to their mental and physical limits, Goldman said.
“The Best Sapper Competition is great way to showcase top engineer Soldiers, NCOs and officers,” said 1st Sgt. Tim Shay, STC. “Units will send their very best to earn the right to be crowned this year’s Best Sapper.”
Registration closes March 15, and teams will be notified of their selection by April 1. Goldman said all competitors must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to April 5, and verification should be documented in each competitor’s competition physical. Additionally, each competitor must have a “Sapper physical,” or an equivalent — or more stringent — physical that states they are in adequate physical condition within six months of the competition.
Goldman said all applications, requirements and instructions are available on the BSC website at https://home.army.mil/wood/index.php/units-tenants/USAES/Sapper/BSC.
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About Fort Leonard Wood
Fort Leonard Wood is a thriving and prosperous installation that has evolved from a small basic training post 80 years ago to a premier Army Center of Excellence that trains nearly 80,000 military and civilians each year.
Fort Leonard Wood is home to the U.S Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and three U.S. Army schools: the U.S. Army Engineer School; U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School; and the U.S. Army Military Police School. In addition to training engineer, CBRN and military police specialties for the Army, Fort Leonard Wood also provides gender-integrated in-processing and Basic Combat Training for new Soldiers.
Fort Leonard Wood also hosts and trains with the largest Marine Corps Detachment and Air Force Squadron on any Army installation as well as a large Navy construction detachment.
More information about Fort Leonard Wood is at: https://home.army.mil/wood/index.php/about/mission