FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — Top military competitors from across the Army tested their physical endurance and tactical know-how during the third annual Gen. John J. Pershing Cup, which concluded Aug. 24, 2026, on Fort Bliss, Texas.
Maj. Jason Landis and Sgt. 1st Class John Metcalf of the Operations Group Juliet from the Mission Command Training Program were awarded the top honors as the best team in the Army’s premier Best Observer, Coach/Trainer competition.
Hosted annually by 1st Army at Fort Bliss, Texas, and the adjacent McGregor Range Complex in New Mexico, the four-day event is designed to identify ideal leaders and master trainers capable of preparing the Joint Force for complex global security environments. 1st Army serves as the primary formation responsible for training and validating Army Reserve and National Guard units. Operating out of a headquarters environment presented the team with a distinct challenge compared to daily field-unit operations.
“We were at a disadvantage to our competitors because we are not 'Field' OC/Ts and have significant limitations in being able to train and observe tactical training,” Landis said. “However, our previous knowledge and experiences, along with our internal drive to win, has been developed over both of our careers.”
The competition consisted of various training exercises, which included several challenging activities. Soldiers began with a 12-station physical training endurance circuit featuring assault bikes, partner fireman carries, and half-mile runs. Competitors also had to react to direct contact scenarios on a tactical medical lane, executing life-saving combat protocols and heavy body carries under pressure.
“The PT event was an absolute smoker, especially at 9 in the morning at around 90 degrees under the direct Texas sunlight at 4,500 feet of elevation,” Landis said. “We trained together and leaned on each other’s strengths to make sure we could meet the time cap and complete the event, while also making sure we could still complete the next three days of physically demanding events.”
Mental preparation and tactical skills were challenged at all hours. Teams trained in land navigation and night maneuvers with only the standard issue night vision goggles, navigating through pitch black desert terrain in the McGregor Range Complex. The soldiers had to take a written test of the basic Army doctrines as well. The competition culminated in a 10-mile ruck march to challenge endurance.
Looking ahead to next year's event, Landis offered advice to future competitors, emphasizing that success comes down to physical fitness and mastering the fundamentals.
“None of the events tested highly specialized or complex skills, but they did test how well we could do the basics,” Landis said. “Further, invest in your OC/T knowledge, both in how to conduct yourself as an OC/T to improve our Army units and in staying ahead of changes in the battlefield.”
Named in honor of General of the Armies John J. Pershing, famous for leading the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I and modernizing American military training structures, the cup emphasizes mastery of warfighting fundamentals and outpacing modern adversaries.