Infantry Week 2026

The Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning will host the U.S. Army’s Infantry Week 2026 from April 7-13, 2026, featuring five events open to the public: International Sniper Competition, the Best Mortar Competition, the Lacerda Cup: Army Combatives Championship, the 42nd annual Lt. Gen. David E. Grange Jr. Best Ranger Competition, and the new Best Jumpmaster Competition. Infantry Week showcases the best combat Soldiers our Army has to offer during eight days of intense physical and mental challenges. The competitions celebrate the U.S. Army Infantry heritage, help connect America with their Army, and enable Soldiers to share knowledge on training best practices with fellow Army units, sister services, and partner nations. Many Infantry Week events are open to the public. For those wishing to attend, please review the events and spectator information as well as the installation access requirements before visiting Fort Benning.

Competitions

International Sniper Competition, April 7-10, 2026

The International Sniper Competition tests competitor teams’ ability to navigate a rigorous gauntlet of events including long-range marksmanship, observation skills, stealth movement, and reconnaissance and reporting ability. The competition features realistic scenarios snipers might encounter on the battlefield to give spectators a behind-the-scenes glimpse of everything that contributes to a sniper team’s success. Snipers increase lethality by supporting larger military force elements. By scouting out enemy positions and relaying critical information to other components of a larger force, information gathered by snipers directs mortar fire, artillery strikes, and Infantry engagements to destroy the enemy force.

Competitors and Coaches: For more information on ISC, please visit the unit's homepage:
https://www.benning.army.mil/sniper-competition/index.html

Best Mortar Competition, April 7-10, 2026

The Best Mortar Competition features teams from across the U.S. Army vying for the title of Best Mortar Squad. The competition highlights the technical proficiency and physical endurance of mortar crews, giving spectators an inside look at the critical role of indirect fire in combat operations. As the primary indirect fire asset within an Infantry unit, mortars provide high-angle lethality that can reach targets behind cover or obstacles. Indirect Fire Soldiers operate as members of a mortar squad, section, or platoon, using two-way radios and digital fire direction systems to coordinate and execute fire missions.

Competitors and Coaches: For more information on BMC, please visit the unit's homepage:
https://www.benning.army.mil/Infantry/198th/Mortar-Company/Competition/

Lacerda Cup: Army Combatives Championship, April 7-10, 2026

The Lacerda Cup: Army Combatives Championship will evaluate competitors’ knowledge and use of the U.S. Army Combatives Program as individuals and as part of eight-person teams. Spectators will watch as Soldiers from different weight classes perform multiple close quarters combatives techniques. Soldiers who compete in the Lacerda Cup have demonstrated proficiency in combatives techniques and the will to close with and destroy the enemy in the crucible of ground combat. The Modern Army Combatives Program taught during Initial Entry Training enhances unit combat readiness by building Soldiers’ personal courage, confidence, and resilience in hand-to-hand combat.

Competitors & Coaches: For official rules and registration, please visit the unit/s homepage:
https://www.benning.army.mil/armor/316thcav/Combatives/Lacerda-Cup.html

Best Jumpmaster Competition, April 7-10, 2026

The Best Jumpmaster Competition is a demanding multi-day competition designed to identify the most proficient, skilled, and knowledgeable Jumpmasters. It rigorously tests the mental and physical stamina, as well as the technical expertise, of the competing teams through a series of events. These events include physical fitness assessments, written examinations on equipment nomenclature and airborne history, and hands-on tests of rigging specialized items and inspecting jumpers’ equipment. Competitors also face practical evaluations of their ability to perform their duties inside an aircraft during a flight. Ultimately, the Best Jumpmaster competition highlights the critical role of the Jumpmaster in ensuring the safety and success of airborne operations.

Competitors and Coaches: For more information on BJMC, please visit the unit’s homepage:
https://www.benning.army.mil/Infantry/ARTB/BJMC.html

Best Ranger Competition, April 10-13, 2026

The Best Ranger Competition is a tribute to the rangers past and present who have helped shape our Army into the premiere fighting force is today. Over the course of three days of continuous competition, ranger-qualified individuals working as two-person “buddy teams” will traverse over 60 miles on foot with equipment weighing nearly 80 pounds in a series of spectator-friendly events. The Maneuver Center of Excellence is home to the U.S. Army Ranger Course, considered the toughest small unit leadership course in the U.S. military. Only those who have earned their Ranger tab at the U.S. Army Ranger Course may compete.

Competitors and Coaches: For more information on BRC, please visit the unit’s homepage: https://www.benning.army.mil/Infantry/ARTB/BRC.html

How to Attend Infantry Week

Many Infantry Week events are held on an active military installation. Visitors must present proper identification for entry. Please use the below table below for specific access instructions. Visit the spectator information for a schedule of spectator-friendly competition events.

Visitor Category	Access Instructions
DoW/DoD/Federal ID Holder	Individuals with a valid Department of War (DoW)/Military ID or Federal PIV card have authorized access and do not need a visitor pass.
U.S. Citizen Visitor (18+)	Must obtain an Installation Access Pass by pre-registering online. Scan the QR code or click here to apply. By requesting a pass, you agree to a mandatory background check.
Non-U.S. Citizen Visitor	Must apply for an Installation Access Pass in person at the Lindsey Creek Visitor Control Center. Online pre-registration is not available for non-U.S. citizens.