A West Point cadet dons a gas mask while running through smoke during the crucible portion of the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) — Amid the Iran war, tensions with European allies in NATO and the Russia-Ukraine war, the United States Military Academy held its 59th Sandhurst Military Skills Competition. Across 36 hours, a mix of international and U.S. military cadet teams competed in a variety of skill-based competitions, based on the needs of the military. For the first time, cadets used video game controllers to simulate first-person view drone attacks, an exercise added due to the proliferation of drone warfare. The West Point black team won for the fourth year in a row.
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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Finnish cadets shoot blanks during the crucible portion of the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)A cadet applies camouflage face paint before competing in the grenade assault course during the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)Polish cadets run to their next station during the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)Finnish cadets prepare before competing in tactical combat casualty care during the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)Japanese army cadets row a zodiac boat during the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)HOLD FOR STORY. West Point cadets huddle after completing the crucible portion of the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)Texas A&M Army ROTC cadets run to the finish line of the crucible portion of the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)A University of Santa Barbara Army ROTC cadet laces up his boots after competing in the zodiac boat portion of the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)HOLD FOR STORY. A cadet applies camouflage face paint before competing in the grenade assault course during the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)A University of Santa Barbara Army ROTC cadet drone warfare during the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)Finnish cadets shoot blanks during the crucible portion of the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)A cadet wears night vision goggles while competing in land navigation during the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)Cadets plot points on a map before competing in night land navigation during the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)Cadets rest before competing in the grenade assault course during the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)A cadet shoots an M4 service rifle during the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)West Point cadets from the B2 Bulldogs company pet a bulldog while observing the crucible portion of the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)A cadet cools down before competing in functional fitness during the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)A cadet uses another cadet’s back to plot points on a map before competing in night land navigation during the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)Gear of Danish cadets rests on the ground before the zodiac boat portion of the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)A cadet runs to shoot an M4 service rifle during the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)A Polish cadet shoots an M4 service rifle during the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)Cadets high five kids while competing in a timed eight mile ruck during the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)A cadet competes in functional fitness during the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)Japanese cadets celebrate after completing the crucible portion of the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)West Point cadets from the B2 Bulldogs company push a wooden tank down the plain while observing the crucible portion of the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)Brixten Hennon, 2, watches cadets compete in the crucible portion of the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)Cadets compete in a timed eight mile ruck during the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
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