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Military competition at West Point put Brazilian cadets through extreme tests of endurance, leadership, and tactical operations, including 48-kilometer marches with full gear, drone missions, rifle shooting, and exercises alongside teams from 17 countries.
Cadets from the Military Academy of Agulhas Negras (AMAN) represented Brazil in the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition 2026, held on May 1st and 2nd at the United States Military Academy, in West Point, United States.
The competition gathered 48 teams and challenged military trainees with tests of endurance, leadership, and operational skills.
The competition is considered one of the main international assessments of military aptitude for cadets.
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Over two days, participants faced activities that required physical preparedness, decision-making under pressure, and the application of techniques used in high-complexity scenarios.
AMAN cadets face endurance tests at West Point
The Brazilian team covered about 48 kilometers with full gear, on a course marked by long marches, obstacles, and successive activities.
Among the challenges were crossings at the Lusk Reservoir with boats, assault courses, and orientation exercises.
In addition to physical effort, the program included pre-hospital combat care, rifle shooting, chemical defense, drone operations, and night orientation.
The tests assessed the integration among cadets and their ability to complete missions even under accumulated fatigue.
In total, the Brazilians participated in 14 operational workshops, according to the Brazilian Army’s announcement.
The West Point organization reported that the 2026 edition included, in the general program, 15 events focused on military skills, leadership, and teamwork.
International competition gathered military teams from 17 countries
Sandhurst 2026 featured representatives from military academies, U.S. Army training programs, and foreign teams.
The organization registered 17 international teams, in addition to groups from West Point, U.S. service academies, and Army ROTC units.
The Brazilian presence occurred in a military exchange environment with delegations from countries such as Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and South Korea.
For the AMAN cadets, participation allowed direct contact with doctrines, training methods, and operational standards adopted by other forces.
Created in 1967, the competition is held at West Point and annually brings together teams subjected to tasks that combine physical endurance, group coordination, and technical execution.
The 2026 edition lasted approximately 36 hours, with activities distributed between May 1st and 2nd.
AMAN’s military training includes physical preparation and operational leadership
Located in Resende, in the south of the state of Rio de Janeiro, AMAN is the main training center for combat officers of the Brazilian Army.
The institution prepares cadets for command functions, with an emphasis on physical conditioning, military instruction, leadership, and decision-making.
The trip to West Point is part of the Academy’s exchange policy with foreign institutions.
This type of participation brings future Brazilian officers closer to multinational environments and allows for comparison of training practices in controlled but highly demanding situations.
At Sandhurst, performance does not depend solely on completing the tests.
The teams are evaluated on how they coordinate movements, distribute tasks, react to obstacles, and maintain operational efficiency during successive activities.
Drones, combat simulations, and rifle shooting raised the level of the tests
The 2026 edition also incorporated activities related to the use of drones and combat simulations, reflecting changes observed in recent conflicts.
At West Point, this type of exercise became part of the set of assessments applied to cadets.
The tasks with drones required quick reading of the environment, coordination among team members, and adaptation to technological resources.
The shooting, chemical defense, and combat care tests reinforced the need to combine technique, safety, and precision in pressure situations.
For the Brazilian Army, AMAN’s participation reinforces the cadets’ insertion in a context of international cooperation.
The experience broadens contact with foreign training standards and contributes to the preparation of officers who may operate in joint missions or multinational environments.
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