Sandhurst teams taking part in prestigious military skills competition at West Point

Two UK teams from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) are set to compete in a prestigious military skills competition at the US Military Academy West Point.

The annual Sandhurst Military Skills Competition sees cadets from West Point along with the US Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force academies, join teams from around the world to go head-to-head over a series of tough physical challenges, shooting contests and military knowledge tests.

The competition dates back to 1967 when RMAS presented West Point with a British officer's sword to use as the prize for a competition to promote military excellence.

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Initially it was only an internal West Point competition, but in 1993 RMAS began taking part since when the British Army teams have dominated, frequently claiming the top spot.

The first test the teams had to undertake was the Order of March - a relay that determined the position the teams start in on the first proper day of the competition – with RMAS teams UK Red starting in fourth place and UK Blue in 18th.

The two-day event requires 11-member teams - two of whom must be female - to perform military tasks along a route, which takes around four hours to complete.

Scores are determined by combining points for each challenge completed, with additional points for succeeding within the timeframe.

The events include abseiling, building and crossing a one-rope bridge, obstacle course navigation, a combat swim with full gear, rifle marksmanship, a raft paddle, a 12ft wall climb and weapon-handling skills.