KINGS POINT, N.Y., September 22, 2011 – A team of United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) midshipmen is preparing to be the first from Kings Point to compete in the U.S. Military Academy's annual Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at West Point, N.Y.

Sandhurst is an inter-military academy skills competition including the U.S. federal academies and military academies from allied countries. The competitors demonstrate individual and team leadership abilities, and test their athletic proficiency in a series of challenges, including rifle and pistol competitions, land navigation, and heavy weapons challenges.

Training early in the morning three days per week, Army Capt. Nelson Suero, the Academy’s U.S. Army Liaison, is getting the USMMA’s team ready for this annual event, held the first two weeks of April.

“It drives the slower runners to push harder to keep up with their teammates, and it makes the faster runners look back and slow down because finishing together is what matters,” said Suero. “The Sandhurst journey they’ve undertaken will transform the notion of leadership from a concept to a tangible skill. They will know what it feels like to have a teammate look out for you, they’ll know what it is like to constantly look out for a teammate.”

Midshipman 1st Class Benedetto Hungerford, who is training for the competition, said “Sandhurst has allowed me to exercise leadership lessons that I have learned throughout my three years here in a context outside the regiment.” He noted the unique challenge that “leadership under physical stress is much harder than exercising leadership in a relaxed environment.”

Midshipman 1st Class Matthew E. Hassan said, “in order to succeed, every one of us must work outside of our comfort zone, enduring times of physical strain and exhaustion by mental focus and perseverance. Because we work as a team, not one of us is alone in our efforts.” He continued, “knowing that the men and women next to me are hurting just as much, are just as tired, and have just as many other things in their lives that they need to take care of outside of training, I have already surpassed the man I was only a few weeks ago.”

Although this is the USMMA’s first Sandhurst Competition, they are in it to win. “Without the team or without a goal set in the distance, none of us would be working as hard. But today we can, and tomorrow we can win!” said Hassan.

“This journey highlights the caliber of midshipmen at Kings Point as well as the caliber of its cadre,” said Suero. He noted this effort is made possible by the selfless service of our Marine Corps veterans Lt. Antoinette Waller, Lt. Marcus G. Toop and Gunnery Sgt. Coleen Harper, and two newly commissioned Kings Pointers, Ens. Antonio Mistron and Ens. James J. Raphael, USMS. “They took on the challenge to wake up 4:30 a.m., to train and teach our midshipmen the art of leadership.”