H-J grad, team tops at military skills competition

For the past year, a former high school graduate from Hardin County woke up in the early morning hours to prepare for a grueling military skills competition.

Sam Dickerson, a former Hardin-Jefferson High School grad and current cadet at the U.S. Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York, helped his team to a top-place finish at the 2023 Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the academy.

“To prepare, we worked out during the whole year. We’d wake up at 5:20 a.m. and work out until 6:30 a.m.,” Dickerson said. “After practices, we would emphasize weightlifting and running, but on the tactical tasks, as well.”

Dickerson, who is entering his junior year, was a member of the USMA “Black” team that competed against U.S. Army ROTC units from across the nation, all service academies and 14 international teams on April 28 and 29. There was a total of 48 teams, each comprised of 11 members.

The competition includes trials that test land navigation, rifle and pistol marksmanship, rifle assembling and disassembling, and fitness. Dickerson noted that this year was his first time in the competition.

The first day kicked off with each team campaigning through nine trials of military skills events ranging from Tactical Combat Casualty Care, which is providing first aid under fire, to weapons assembly, with the final course ending with a ruck march with a weighted pack and rifle on their back.

“The hard part for me was the 8.5-mile ruck march at the end of the first day,” Dickerson vividly recalled. “Marksmanship was probably the easiest.”

The day culminated with USMA Black taking the lead, followed by USMA Gold in second, Germany in third, Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in fourth and U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) in fifth place.

The second day began with competitors braving the muddy stomping grounds of the Marne Obstacle Course before taking on the M-4 marksmanship range, pistol range and the call for a fire event.

The Crucible challenge was the day’s final event, as all teams moved quickly, providing cover fire while transferring heavy gear and simulated combat casualties across Daly Field.

After enduring all 14 trials, USMA Black claimed the Reginald E. Johnson Memorial Plaque with USMA Gold earning their Sandhurst Medallions by coming in second, followed by USAFA in third, Texas A&M University in fourth and VMI in fifth place. Also, USMA Black took the Physical Endurance Award for the fastest ruck march time.

June 7, District 18 State Rep. Ernest Bailes (R-Splendora) visited Hardin County Commissioners Court to present Dickerson with a certificate of recognition for his achievement at the competition, joined in conveying congratulations alongside Dickerson’s parents, Jason and Cheri Dickerson of Sour Lake, grandparents and County Judge Wayne McDaniel.

“He is truly a remarkable kid,” Bailes said. “He has a lot of things ahead of him. It was more of an honor for me to present that to him.”

“I appreciate him for going out of his way to do that,” Dickerson said. “I am trying to advocate for kids in this area to come to West Point. I can help by writing letters of recommendation and supporting kids who want to apply. It was good for both of us.”

Dickerson said he wanted to join the military to serve his country, “and West Point is such a great institution and they are teaching me a lot about character and about myself.”

After finishing at West Point, Dickerson said he wants to enroll in graduate school.

Dickerson, a 2021 graduate of H-JHS, is an economics/finance major at West Point. He is also part of the West Point Finance team, which once had the privilege of ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange in 2022.