The return of the Best Mortar Competition

US Army | Apr. 13, 2023

By Capt. Alexander Werden

FORT BENNING, Ga. — After a three year hiatus, the Best Mortar Competition is back as part of the Maneuver Center of Excellence’s Infantry Week. This year's competition featured more teams, more firepower and more challenges than ever before as 22 teams from around the world spent over three days demonstrating their technical and tactical prowess across Fort Benning, Georgia, from April 10-13, 2023.

This grueling test designed to push indirect fire infantrymen — Army military occupational specialty 11C and Marine MOS 0341 — to their limits determined who could return to their unit as the world’s top mortar team, all while inspiring excellence within the mortar community and enabling teams from across the Army, joint force teams from the Marine Corps and an allied team from the Netherlands to share best practices.

4th Inf. Div. Teams Compete at the 2023 Best Mortar Competition

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division start their first lap of the one-mile kit run during the Expert Physical Fitness Assessment at Fort Benning, Georgia on April 10, 2023. Two teams from the 4th Inf. Div. are competing in the event and vying for the Army's top mortar team position. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Alex Werden) (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)
4th Inf. Div. Teams Compete at the 2023 Best Mortar Competition

Sgt. Austin High from 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, uses a map and protractor to determine the distance between two plotted points during the 2023 Best Mortar Competition, Fort Benning, Georgia, April 10, 2023. Mortarmen use analog tools to first detrmine the distance between two points and then determine the elevation necessary to shoot mortar rounds that distance. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Alex Werden) (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)
Teams Compete on Day One of the 2023 Best Mortar Competition

1st Lt. Oliver McKellips, Platoon Commander of the 81mm platoon from the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, shoots the M4A1 Carbine as part of the rifle marksmanship event during the 2023 Best Mortar Competition, April 10, 2023, Fort Benning, Georgia. 1st Lt. McKellips's team spent several months preparing for this year's competition at Camp Lejune and other locations. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Alex Werden) (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)
4th Inf. Div. Teams Compete at the 2023 Best Mortar Competition

Spc. Samuel Herbert, a mortarman from 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, receives his Fire Direction exam during the 2023 Best Mortar Competition, April 10, 2023, Fort Benning, Georgia. The exam tested competitors ability to manually plan lethal and effective indirect fire missions. (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)
4th Inf. Div. Teams Compete at the 2023 Best Mortar Competition

Staff Sgt. Autumn Clark from 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, calculates the elevation and deflection of various fire missions during the fire direction exam. Staff Sgt. Clark leads the team from 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team during the 2023 Best Mortar Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia. (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)
4th Inf. Div. Teams Compete at the 2023 Best Mortar Competition

Sgt. Austin High, a mortarman from 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, fires the M17 Pistol during the 2023 Best Mortar Competition, April 10, 2023, Fort Benning, Georgia. The pistol qualification tests competitors' abilities to engage targets at short range. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Alex Werden) (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)
4th Inf. Div. Teams Compete at the 2023 Best Mortar Competition

Sgt. Cameron Rogers from 1st Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, plots points on a map during the fire direction exam as part of the 2023 Best Mortar Competition, Fort Benning, Georgia, April 10, 2023. Mortarmen are expected to provide lethal indirect fires calculated by using both digital systems such as the Mortar Fire Control System and analog tools such as a map and plotting board. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Alex Werden) (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)
4th Inf. Div. Teams Compete at the 2023 Best Mortar Competition

Sgt. Austin High from 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, uses a map and protractor to determine the distance between two plotted points during the 2023 Best Mortar Competition, Fort Benning, Georgia, April 10, 2023. Sgt. High will use this information to then compute the data for a fire mission on 60mm, 81mm, or 120mm mortar systems. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Alex Werden) (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)
Teams Compete on Day One of the 2023 Best Mortar Competition

1st Lt. Oliver McKellips, Platoon Commander of the 81mm platoon from the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, shoots the M4A1 Carbine as part of the rifle marksmanship event during the 2023 Best Mortar Competition, April 10, 2023, Fort Benning, Georgia. Several teams from the Marine Corps are competing in the event. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Alex Werden) (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)
Teams Compete on Day One of the 2023 Best Mortar Competition

1st Lt. Oliver McKellips, Platoon Commander of the 81mm platoon from the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, shoots the M4A1 Carbine as part of the rifle marksmanship event during the 2023 Best Mortar Competition, April 10, 2023, Fort Benning, Georgia. Marine Corps teams' participation in the event demonstrates their interoperability with their Army counterparts. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Alex Werden) (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)

The competition’s first day started well before the sun rose with an Expert Physical Fitness Assessment featuring over a mile of running while wearing body armor, various exercises and lifting weights designed to simulate combat experiences. Competitors moved onto score points as marksmen with the M4A1 Carbine and M17 Pistol before a written examination utilizing a map, plotting board, protractor and compass to compute the data necessary to employ indirect fires between two points using analog systems.

“It’s important to be proficient on analog systems for two significant reasons, the first being for safety. Every time that we run a mission through fire direction control, or FDC, it typically gets through a digital system such as the mortar fire control system or lightweight handheld mobile ballistic computer. It has to be checked on analog systems with the plotting board with Infantry Mortar Leader Course-certified individuals. The plotting board is still essential and highly trained on in the mortar community and at IMLC, and that’s why we hit on it in the BMC and put such emphasis on it," explained Capt. Joshua Kay, the commander of the Mortar Training Company, responsible for providing basic mortar training and advanced mortar courses.

The second big reason is that with the large scale combat operations environment, you can’t solely rely upon your digital systems and capabilities because if they go down you will have to resort to analog capabilities for FDC such as the plotting board,” Kay continued.

Teams Compete on Day Two of the 2023 Best Mortar Competition

Pfc. Justin Wade, a mortarman with 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, declinates an M2A2 aiming circle to ensure that it is accurately reading north before being used to aim mortar missions during the 2023 Best Mortar Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia, on April 11, 2023. Teams had to demonstrate their technical proficiency as mortarmen during day two of the competition. (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)
Teams Compete on Day Two of the 2023 Best Mortar Competition

1st Lt. Kelly Owen, a Mortar Platoon Commander from 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, climbs up a rope as the sun rises on the second day of the Best Mortar Competition over Fort Benning, Georgia on April 11, 2023. Owen's team, one of the three representing the United States Marine Corps during the competition, ended the first day as one of the top ten teams vying to take home the title of "Best Mortar Team." (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Alex Werden) (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)
Teams Compete on Day Two of the 2023 Best Mortar Competition

Pfc. Justin Wade, a mortarman with 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, rucks across a bridge over the Chattahoochee River during day two of the 2023 Best Mortar Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia, on April 11, 2023. Teams had to complete a ruck march of unknown distance on day two of the competition. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Alex Werden) (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)
Teams Compete on Day Two of the 2023 Best Mortar Competition

Soldiers from 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division aim and shoot a handheld and bipod-stabilized 60mm mortar during the 2023 Best Mortar Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia, on April 11, 2023. Teams were assessed on their ability to quickly employ effective indirect fires on day two of the competition. (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)
Teams Compete on Day Two of the 2023 Best Mortar Competition

Soldiers race through the bear crawl at the Sand Hill Conditioning Course during day two of the 2023 Best Mortar Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia, on April 11, 2023. Teams were challenged to demonstrate a high level of physical fitness and ability to work together as they sped through the course. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Alex Werden) (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)
Teams Compete on Day Two of the 2023 Best Mortar Competition

Sgt. Austin High, a mortarman with 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, carries a 120mm mortar ammunition can filled with weight as part of the 2023 Best Mortar Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia, on April 11, 2023. Day two of the competition challenged teams' competency with the 60mm, 81mm, and 120mm mortar systems. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Alex Werden) (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)
Teams Compete on Day Two of the 2023 Best Mortar Competition

A Soldier pulls himself across the horizontal rope climb at the Sand Hill Conditioning Course during the 2023 Best Mortar Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia, on April 11, 2023. Each mortarman on the team had to complete an obstacle before the team could move onto the next during the early morning hours of the competition's second day. (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)
Teams Compete on Day Two of the 2023 Best Mortar Competition

Staff Sgt. Autumn Clark, Spc. Samuel Herbert, Sgt. Austin High, and Pfc. Justin Wade from 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division carry a 120mm mortar system as part of the 2023 Best Mortar Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia, on April 11, 2023. Each team had to carry and put into action a 60mm, 81mm, and 120mm mortar system as fast as they could as part of their demonstration of their proficiency as mortarmen. (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)
Teams Compete on Day Two of the 2023 Best Mortar Competition

Cpl. Jared Patterson, Cpl. Noah Simmons, and Sgt. Luke Smith, mortarmen from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, race through the mud while doing a crab walk at the Sand Hill Conditioning Course before sunrise over Fort Benning, Georgia, on April 11, 2023. In between each obstacle on the course, teams had to complete various physical conditioning exercises during the 2023 Best Mortar Competition. (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)
Teams Compete on Day Two of the 2023 Best Mortar Competition

Spc. Jordan Sherey, a mortarman from 1st Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division disassembles, reassembles, and performs a function check on the M240 machine gun as part of the 2023 Best Ranger Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia, on April 11, 2023. Day two of the competition tested various physical, technical, and tactical tasks to determine which team would take home the title of the "Best Mortar Team." (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)

Day two, the competition’s most physically challenging day, began with teams racing through an obstacle course before demonstrating more technical proficiency skills such as declination the M2A2 aiming circle to ensure that the device was accurately reading north before it could be used to precisely aim mortar systems. Teams raced to emplace and direct lay a 60mm mortar system onto a target that they could observe themselves before loading up their rucks and taking off on a ruck march towards the next event — without knowing how far they would be going beforehand.

“We didn’t know how far it was going to be and decided that we were going to walk as fast as we can and get there when we get there. Our legs were a bit tired and our feet were a little raw,” said 1st Lt. Kelly Owen, 81mm mortar platoon commander from 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, based at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at 29 Palms, California. Upon arrival, they had to demonstrate more tactical proficiency by disassembling, reassembling and performing a functions check on the M240 machine gun. “It was tough, and beneficial, but nothing that’s not expected of us in the infantry community.”

The Army’s Indirect Fire Infantrymen are trained similarly to their MOS 11B Infantry brethren — but with all the additional specific training that enables them to effectively employ lethal indirect fires. The Marine Corps trains their mortarmen in similar fashion.

“We focus heavily on mortars and our proficiency within the MOS 0341, which is the 11C community on the Army side, so it’s been a really good time getting to see the fully well-rounded aspects of it with marksmanship, land navigation, physical training and everything expected of an infantryman with the focus on mortars at BMC,” explained Owen.

Similar training allows Soldiers and Marines from any background to learn the skills necessary to become indirect fire infantrymen — even if their previous profession was very different in nature. “I went to college, went to law school and practiced law for a few years. Then I decided that I wanted to join the Marine Corps and came in as a law contract, took quite a few months to get my contract switched to a ground contract, then went to Infantry Officer Course and became an infantry officer.”

Day Three of the 2023 Best Mortar Competition

Cpl. Iangell Deleon-Marquez, Cpl. Chase Kidd and Sgt. Austin Arvizo, mortarmen with the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, make adjustments to their deflection and elevation during a 120mm fire mission while competing on day three of the Best Mortar Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia, on April 12, 2023. The 120mm mortar system's maximum effective range allows teams to engage with targets over five miles away. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Alex Werden) (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)
Competition Heats Up to name the Best Mortar Team

Sgt. Eric Grasham, a Soldier with the 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 198th Infantry Brigade, reads competitors from the 4th Infantry Division their pre-mission brief and mission data before they are assessed on their ability to quickly engage targets with the 120mm mortar system on day three of the Best Mortar Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia, on April 12, 2023. Competing teams must use the Mortar Fire Control System to compute deflection and elevation data for their mortar system given an target's grid location and altitude and their current location, altitude, and other data. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Alex Werden) (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)
Day Three of the 2023 Best Mortar Competition

Sgt. Luke Smith, Cpl. Jared Patterson, Cpl. Noah Simmons, and 1st Lt. Kelly Owen, mortarmen from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, complete a written examination as part of the Best Mortar Competition's third day at Fort Benning, Georgia, on April 12, 2023. The written examination tested competitors' knowledge on various topics necessary for the safe and effective employment of indirect fires. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Alex Werden) (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)

After an evening return to catch some much-needed sleep, teams woke early on the third day to start their land navigation event hours before first light. Then teams moved onto another exam, this one focused on characteristics, capabilities, and components of mortars, before being assessed on how quickly they could employ the 120mm mortar while using the mortar fire control system’s touch-screen interface to quickly compute mission data. Finally, Soldiers were assessed on their ability to perform various Soldier skills such as tactical combat casualty care and using a military radio before returning to rest for the competition’s final event, emplacing and engaging a target using the 81mm mortar and the lightweight handheld mortar ballistic somputer.

“Competitions can simulate real-world scenarios by creating high-pressure, dynamic environments that require Soldiers to apply their training and skills in realistic situations,” said Col. Jimmy Hathaway, Commander of the 198th Infantry Brigade. “Participating in a competition can help Soldiers develop their ability to think on their feet and adjust their strategies as needed.”

Final Day of the 2023 Best Mortar Competition

Sgt. Cameron Rogers, a mortarman with 1st Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, uses a compass to quickly align the 81mm mortar system towards the direction of fire on day four of the Best Mortar Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia, on April 13, 2023. Competing teams had to carry in and emplace their systems during the “hip shoot” to demonstrate their ability to quickly provide effective indirect fires on a target. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Alex Werden) (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)
Final Day of the 2023 Best Mortar Competition

Pfc. Justin Wade, a mortarman from 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, makes adjustments to the position of an aiming stake used to help align the 81mm mortar system towards the direction of a target on day four of the Best Mortar Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia, on April 13, 2023. Aiming stakes are used as a point of reference for adjustments to be made during subsequent fire missions from the same location. (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)

At the end of the fourth day, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment was crowned as the competition’s champion with 654 points.

“This was a great opportunity to work with other units from the Army as well as partner forces with the Netherlands, and overall, it was a great experience,” said Staff Sgt. Brett Walker, 3rd Battalion’s team sergeant, after receiving the award on behalf of his Best Mortar Team.

1st Battalion and 2nd Battalion followed closely behind, completing a podium sweep by the Ranger Regiment with 597 and 564 points, respectively. 82nd Airborne took fourth with 560 points, the top spot for Forces Command units, and close behind them were the teams from 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division with 518 points and Owen’s 2/7 team with 510 points.

“Past competitions have played an important role in shaping training doctrine by providing a platform for testing and refining military tactics, techniques, and procedures. The lessons learned from these competitions have been incorporated into Army training doctrine, helping improve the overall readiness and effectiveness of Army units,” noted Hathaway. While the MTC and MCOE staff were happy with all the feedback that they received throughout the competition, participants were excited to take their lessons learned home with them to improve their own units’ readiness and effectiveness.

Final Day of the 2023 Best Mortar Competition

Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, pose for a picture with their award after winning first place in the Best Mortar Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia, on April 13, 2023. The top three teams were all from the 75th Ranger Regiment, followed closely by the team representing the 82d Airborne Division. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Alex Werden) (Photo Credit: Capt. Alexander Werden)

“I joined the Army to have a bigger challenge in my life and pursue my dreams, and one of them is being the best that I can be throughout my day-to-day life. I started as a firefighter and ended up joining the Army because of the physical aspect and wanted to have that type of brotherhood continue on through service, the Infantry branch, and making the best of my life every day that I can. This competition gave us a go-getter attitude for the next one, we learned a lot, and we’re ready to take that back to our units and train up all of the other guys,” said Sgt. Austin High, a mortarman from Copperopolis, California, assigned to 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, with a smile as his team finished the competition’s last event.

Owen conveyed a very similar sentiment as the competition closed.

“It’s been great, we’ve been talking to a lot of the Army units and the Ranger teams and the Dutch team out here and we’ve learned some of their tricks and standard operation procedures and there are certainly things that we’ll take back with us and it’s been very good. I’ve got nothing bad to say about it,” she stated.

While this was the first time the Best Mortar Competition was held since 2019, it certainly won’t be the last. The only question is: how many teams will accept the challenge and compete for the top spot next year?