Photo By Spc. Brandon McNeal | U.S. Army Spc. Jace Vague (left), 1st Infantry Division, strikes his opponent during the 2026 Lacerda Cup All-Army Combatives Championship at Fort Benning, Ga. Apr. 8, 2026. The Lacerda Cup is an annual tournament that tests infantry Soldiers' proficiency across a range of close-quarters tactical and physical skills, emphasizing teamwork, lethality and combat readiness. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Brandon McNeal) see less
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1st Infantry Division Soldiers compete in 2026 Infantry Week at Fort Benning
1st Infantry Division Soldiers compete in 2026 Infantry Week at Fort Benning
FORT RILEY, Kan. – Soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division traveled to Fort Benning, Ga. from April 7-13, 2026, to compete in Infantry Week, an Army-wide competition designed to validate warfighting skills and connect the public with military excellence.
The Big Red One fielded teams in the International Sniper Competition, Best Mortar Competition, Best Ranger Competition and the Lacerda Cup All-Army Combatives Championship, representing the division across some of the Army’s most demanding professional competitions.
For the mortar team, participation offered training value that extended well beyond the competition itself. According to Sgt. 1st Class Adam Cayton, assigned to 1st Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, who coached the mortar team, the event provided access to knowledge they would bring back to Fort Riley.
"Participating in Best Mortar Competition provided an outstanding opportunity to develop our Soldiers through exposure to systems and equipment not typically available at our home station," Cayton said. "Training on platforms such as the M250 machine gun and executing 60mm live fire significantly enhanced their technical proficiency and confidence."
Cayton also noted that competing alongside airborne, light infantry, stryker infantry and ranger units gave his Soldiers a broader perspective on how different organizations operate, an experience he said strengthened their adaptability as indirect fire professionals.
The combatives team saw notable individual performances during the Lacerda Cup, with two Soldiers earning second-place medals and one securing a third-place medal. Master Sgt. Parvin Rosario, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, Division Artillery Brigade, 1st Infantry Division Combatives Master Trainer, who coached the team, said the results reflected the work done before the competition began.
"The process goes far beyond just physical readiness," Rosario said. "It is about building disciplined, resilient fighters who can perform under pressure while representing their unit and the Army at a high level."
Rosario said the training cycle focused on structured progression – building endurance, refining technical skills and reinforcing competition rules – and that the experience revealed growth in both individual confidence and team cohesion.
The 2026 edition of Infantry Week featured events designed to test long-range marksmanship, indirect fire proficiency, airborne operations knowledge, close-quarters combat and sustained physical and mental endurance. The Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning brings together competitors from across the U.S. Army, joint services and partner nations annually for the competitions.
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