Summary: The Sullivan Cup, held biennially at Fort Moore's U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, is a prestigious competition that tests the skills of the world's best tank and Bradley crews. Established in 2012, the event honors the legacy of retired Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, emphasizing mastery in technical, tactical, and maneuver abilities crucial for armored warfare.

-This year's competition has drawn participants from various U.S. divisions and international teams, including Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland.

-With a focus on camaraderie and the validation of combat tactics, the Sullivan Cup celebrates armor proficiency, offering a unique challenge to demonstrate the lethality and effectiveness of armored maneuvers.

Tank Mastery on Display: The Sullivan Cup Tests the World's Best Armored Crews

Later this summer, billions of eyeballs will be glued to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as athletes from around the world go for the gold, but this week a far smaller but arguably more significant competition is underway at Fort Moore, home to the United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence.

Consider it the “Olympics of Armor”—the biannual Sullivan Cup competition, which honors the best tank and Bradley crew. It was established in 2012 by Lt. General Ted Marin, then the 45th chief of armor, to rigorously test and evaluate the best tank crews from across the Armor Branch, the U.S. Marine Corps, and international partners.

It now takes place in the spring of even-numbered years and brings together tank crews from across the U.S. Army and the world in a competition that rigorously and comprehensively tests their individual and crew-level proficiencies. As noted by the Army, the competition requires mastery of individual tasks, technical and tactical competence, and the ability to demonstrate an array of maneuver, sustainment, and gunnery skills. The competition focuses primarily on the soldiers’ performance while functioning as a crew.

Every two years, the Sullivan Cup provides an opportunity for crews to validate tactics, techniques, and procedures, evaluate the latest doctrine, highlight Army Armor initiatives, and build esprit de corps through competition and camaraderie. Points are awarded based on factors such as time, precision, and successful completion of each task.

“Armor Week is a celebration of what we do in the Armor community,” explained Brig. Gen. Michael J. Simmering, U.S. Army Armor School commandant and chief of armor. ”Sullivan Cup is a chance for Abrams and Bradley crews to show their mastery of combat skills and demonstrate the lethality of our maneuver force.”

The competition was created to pay homage to retired Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, who served as an armor officer and commanded various armor formations during his esteemed military career. Sullivan retired from the Army in July 1995, after more than thirty-six years of active service, rising to the position of the thirty-second chief of staff. The 2024 event will be the first competition since he passed away earlier this year.

Going for the Sullivan Cup!

During the competition, armored vehicle crews will compete against one another in technical, physical, and mental challenges, all vying for the prestigious title of best armor crew in the world. Competition events are held in a controlled, high-pressure environment where crews endure and overcome physical and mental strain while emphasizing mastery of individual tasks and a range of maneuver, sustainment, and gunnery skills crucial to combat effectiveness.

Success hinges on the training provided at competitors’ home stations by unit non-commissioned officers where competitors serve in the roles of master gunners, tank commanders, and as advisers to the crews. In addition, competition tank commanders oversee crew training, ensuring proficiency in assigned roles and conducting cross-training in alternate positions.

The initial winners of the competition were tank crews from the 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas, and the competition was expanded in 2022 to include Bradley Fighting Vehicle crews.

This year will see sixty-two total competitors including fifty-nine enlisted soldiers with eleven Abrams M1 main battle tank (MBT) crews, and six Bradley IFV crews. Teams will include the 1st Cavalry Division, 3rd Infantry Division, 4th Infantry Division, 1st Armored Division, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, and 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment—as well as teams from Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland.

May the best-armored crews win.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].