Sullivan Cup Precision Gunnery Competition
On behalf of Maj. Gen. Curtis A. Buzzard, Commander, United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, the United States Army Armor School (USAARMS) thanks you for your decision to participate in the 2024 Sullivan Cup Tank Crew Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia (FBGA). This year’s field will pit teams selected across the Army’s armored formations, the USMC, and international partner countries’ armed forces against each other to test tank crew maneuver, sustainment, and gunnery skills. Success will require expertise on the technical and tactical skills most critical to success in combat under conditions that will stress Soldiers physically and mentally.
The competition embodies its namesake, General (Retired) Gordon R. Sullivan. Gen. Sullivan was commissioned as an Armor officer and commanded numerous Armor Formations throughout his storied career. Gen. Sullivan retired from the Army after more than 36 years of service, which culminated as the 32nd Chief of Staff. His commitment to the Armor Force exemplifies the spirit of our Armor Soldiers. Train hard and come prepared make history and show the world your best.
Forge the Thunderbolt
"TREAT 'EM ROUGH!"
Brig. Gen. Michael J. Simmering
Armor School Commandant
Who to contact:
All unit commanders and Sergeants Majors who would like to attend the 2024 Sullivan Cup please contact the personnel below:
1st Lt. John Holeman (708) 648-0011, john.f.holeman.mil@army.mil
Master Sgt. Patrick Mcfarland (706) 332 4879, patrick.k.mcfarland2.mil@army.mil
Gordon R. Sullivan
Sullivan retired from the United States Army on 31 July 1995 after more than 36 years of active service. He culminated his service in uniform as the 32nd Chief of Staff—the senior general officer in the Army—and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As the Chief of Staff of the Army, he created the vision and led the team that transitioned the Army from its Cold War posture. In August 1993, President Bill Clinton assigned the duties and responsibility of Acting Secretary of the Army to General Sullivan who continued to serve as Chief of Staff.
He is the co-author, with Michael V. Harper, of Hope Is Not a Method (Random House, 1996), which chronicles the enormous challenges encountered in transforming the post-Cold War Army through the lens of proven leadership principles and a commitment to shared values. He serves on the boards of several major corporations, including Newell Rubbermaid. He is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Norwich University; a director of the Institute of Defense Analyses, and the Chairman Emeritus of the Marshall Legacy Institute. Sullivan is also the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Association of the United States Army, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. He assumed his current position at the Association in February 1998. For his work with AUSA, he was awarded the prestigious Sylvanus Thayer Award by the United States Military Academy in 2003.
During his Army career, Sullivan also served as Vice Chief of Staff; Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans; Commanding General, 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Riley, Kansas (June 1988-July 1989); Deputy Commandant, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas (March 1987-June 1988); and Assistant Commandant, U.S. Army Armor School, Fort Knox, Kentucky (November 1983-July 1985). His overseas assignments included four tours in Europe, two in Vietnam and one in Korea.