Photo By Sgt. Bernabe Lopez | Spc. Jayce Wallin, an indirect fire infantryman assigned to 3rd Battalion, 15th...... read more read more
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FORT BENNING, Ga. – Indirect fire infantrymen from 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team (2nd ABCT), 3rd Infantry Division (3rd ID), competed at the 2025 International Best Mortar Competition (IBMC) at Fort Benning, Georgia, April 7-11, 2025. The IBMC is designed to test the physical, tactical, and technical capabilities of the best indirect fire service members in the world, and those that compete demonstrate the highly demanding physical and technical proficiency required to be elite warfighters in their field.
“The Best Mortar Competition is important not just for the division or the battalion, but for the Soldier to be able to showcase their skill and knowledge, and be the warfighter that they are not just for 3rd ID but also at the international level”, said Command Sgt. Maj. Ezekiel Adame, the senior enlisted leader for 3rd Bn., 15th IR, 2nd ABCT, 3rd ID.
Spread out across various locations at Fort Benning, the IBMC pitted teams from around the world in live fire evaluations, tactical challenges, technical knowledge testing and physical endurance events, all which pushed competitors to their limits to determine the team capable enough in earning the title Best Mortar. By the end of the competition, every team recognized the emphasis on interoperability, maintaining training and readiness, building camaraderie and esprit de corps and showcasing capability through shared struggle and teamwork.
In this year’s competition, the team representing 3rd ID – Sgt. Walker Clay, Sgt. Joseph Clark, Spc. Jayce Wallin and Spc. Jacob Graham – volunteered to demonstrate their proficiency along with the privilege to represent their division. Despite not having the desired time to train and prepare for IBMC due to mission requirements at Fort Stewart, the Can Do Soldiers made do with what remaining time they had through internal and partnership training – culminating in them finishing 6th place overall.
“Leading up to the mortar competition, we didn’t have a lot of time to prepare… but as soon as we got out of our field density they had about three weeks of intense physical training”, said Lt. Col. Kenton Komives, commander of 3rd Bn., 15th IR, 2nd ABCT, 3rd ID. “We did a partnership with 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, where we practiced on the 60mm and the 81mm mortar systems… and it proved really fruitful because we’re not authorized those mortar systems so that partnership with 1-75 RR was pivotal and the training very helpful.”
During the competition, events involved consisted of a physical fitness test, weapons marksmanship and tasks, unknown foot distance marches, an obstacle course, medical lanes, live fires and mortar tasks and knowledge testing. Each event challenged the team physically and mentally – testing their resilience; however, the Can Do Soldiers preserved through each day ready to take on the next.
“Being a Dogface Soldier is about never quitting and taking any challenge head on”, said Graham. “I learned how gurdy the guys I work with are, how willing they are to work under pressure and thrive, and how they’re willing to take any task handed to them and [hit] right on the head and push through.”
“We feel pretty good. Kind of hurting a little bit but definitely a lot more physical than anything, but I believe we’ve pushed through it”, said Clark. “We’re like two peas in a pot. We all know each other, we came up in the same unit together, so it was really easy to get through the hardpoints and keep moving forward.”
Taking everything experienced, the team plans to share what they learned with the rest of their battalion and division, as well as ensuring the next batch of Soldiers in next year’s competition will be better prepared by conducting training dedicated to the competition.
“Out of my whole career, it’s probably the best experience I ever had, being able to talk and socialize with these other mortar [teams] with the same skill set that we have from around the world”, said Clark. “At the end of the day, there’s always going to be someone better than you so everything we did here we’re going to take back and train up our next Soldiers that may want to compete next year and get them ready for it.”
Thankful for the opportunity to represent their division in the competition, the Can Do Soldiers remark this experience as impactful and memorable to showcase their capabilities as an elite warfighter and the importance of a mortarman on the battlefield.
“Having Soldiers represent the 3rd Infantry Division in a world event like this is fulfilling and amazing”, said Komives. Seeing how much hard work they’ve put into it – the dedication and skill – and coming out here to represent 3rd Infantry Division and Fort Stewart is amazing and I’m proud of them.”
| Date Taken: | 04.14.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.28.2025 14:20 |
| Story ID: | 495246 |
| Location: | FORT BENNING, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 16 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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