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2017 Gainey Cup

Best Scout Competition

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BEST SCOUT SQUAD DEFINITION

The Best Scout Squad conducts reconnaissance and security in

close proximity to enemy forces and civilian populations to

provide commanders with fresh, accurate information about the

terrain and the enemy. Scouts are experts in employing fires,

and other enablers, and can rapidly develop the situation

allowing battalions and brigades to concentrate their combat

power at the decisive time and place.

- BG John S. Kolasheski,

50th Chief of Armor

2017 Gainey Cup Scout Best Squad Competition

The Role of the Cavalry ScoutThe Cavalry Scout is a reconnaissance and security specialist in the United States Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and Allied forces.

Scouts work to obtain, distribute, and, if required, fight for vital combat and battlefield information on the enemy and environmental

conditions. Scouts are the commander's eyes and ears on the battlefield. When information is needed to shape the operations of

Battalions, Brigades, and Divisions, they call their Scouts.

The Purpose of the Competition

• Determine the best Scout Squad in the force

• Improve Scouting skills at the home of Maneuver

Warfare

• Provide an opportunity for Army Scouts to

enhance their skill set

• The Army Cavalry Leader’s forum to collaborate

and discuss the current and future state of

reconnaissance and security.

The Best Scout Squad

• Conducts reconnaissance and security in close

proximity to enemy forces and civilian populations

• Provides commanders with fresh, accurate

information about the terrain and the enemy

• Experts in employing fires, and other enablers, and

can rapidly develop the situation

• Allows battalions and brigades to concentrate their

combat power at the decisive time and place

01 – 04 May 2017Mission

The biennial Gainey Cup Competition is designed to identify the most competent and versatile Scout Squad in

the US Armed Forces and partnering Allies through an extremely challenging contest centered on essential

reconnaissance and security tasks and skills.

Route Reconnaissance 2015 Champions Live Fire Challenge14 APRIL 2016

MISSION: The 316th Cavalry Brigade will sponsor the 2017 CSM William Gainey Best Scout

Squad Competition from 1 to 4 May 2017 on Fort Benning, Georgia. The competition is a

multi-day event that will test scout squad proficiency in scout and cavalry tactical and

technical skills, while operating in a mentally and physically demanding environment.

CONCEPT OF THE OPERATION: Units will assess and select teams to serve as their

representatives in the competition. No more than 26 total squads will be entered into the

competition. Officer and enlisted personnel may compete as long as they are currently in an

authorized Scout or LRS company/troop MTOE/TDA position. The squad must be made up

of members of an MTOE platoon and not made up of “All-Stars” from across the Squadron,

Brigade, or Division. Team Captain/Coach must bring a copy of the unit’s AAA-162,

demonstrating that Squad is not a “All Star Team.” Units may request additional teams,

however, requires approval from the Chief of Armor.

CONCEPT OF THE OPERATION

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TEAM COMPOSITION

The team must be made up of members of an MTOE platoon and not made

up of “All Stars” from across the Squadron, Brigade, or Division. Units may

request additional teams, however, approval rests with the Chief of Armor.

To closely match the Scout squad of the Army’s future Standard Scout

Platoon (SSP) and to ensure consistency across formations, scout squads

will consist of six (6) Soldiers with the following rank and equipment

structure.1) Squad Leader (x1): SSG with M4 (can be replaced by SFC or LT)

2) Team Leader (x1): SGT with M4 (up or down one rank)

3) Scouts (x4): One Scout is SGT or below, and remaining three are SPC or

below. One Scout, at minimum, will carry 1 x M4 with M203 attached; two Scouts

will carry 1x M4 each with optic, and no further attachments required. *Note* All

sensitive items will be issued by 316th Cavalry Brigade, with the exception of

foreign competitors.

FORSCOM: Up to 16 Teams

National Guard/Reserve: 3 Teams

U.S. Marine Corps: Up to 1 Team

International Partners: Up to 6 Teams

Australia Canada France Germany United

Kingdom

Maximum Number: 26 Teams (156 Scouts)

INVITED UNITS2017 GAINEY CUP

South

Korea

ItalyChile Spain

Pacific West East Europe

Denmark New

Zealand

Czech

RepublicIsrael Japan Netherlands Singapore

The NET date of arrival is 25 APR 17. 316 CAV BDE will not support any billeting or transportation prior to

this date.

Billeting at Camp Cornett will be provided for all competing team members and coaches (6 personnel per

team) only from 25 APR - 5 MAY 17. Teams will provide their estimated arrival time to 316 CAV BDE NLT 1

APR 17 to coordinate for billeting.

Teams will be allowed to utilize land on and around Camp Cornett to rehearse, but will not be allowed on

any event sites prior to the competition. Teams will be free to utilize all services around Fort Benning

without reporting to 316 CAV BDE for approval.

Teams will be provided transportation from the Camp Cornett to the DFAC for meals twice daily for

breakfast and dinner and will be supplied MREs for lunch. Transportation will not be provided for teams to

and from the airport.

All units with a BN/SQDN/REGT/BDE CDR/CSM or higher attending will coordinate with 316 CAV BDE for

VIP tracking.

All units with a General Officer or CSM equivalent attending will communicate directly with MCoE

Protocol*** for all travel coordination.

*316 CAV BDE POC is CPT Patrick M. Zang at (706) 626-8434 or patrick.m.zang.mil@mail.mil.

***MCoE Protocol Admin at (706) 545-4662

ADMINISTRATIVE INSTRUCTIONS

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Harmony Church

Camp Cornett Compound

Competitor Parking

Competitor Sign In and

Billeting Assignment,

BLDG 04714ECP

EXIT 8

3-16 CAV SQDN HQ

316 CAV BDE HQ

Harmony Church TMC

AREA OF OPERATIONSFORT BENNING, GA

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Disqualification Criteria

1. Failure to meet all competition prerequisites or submit all required paperwork.

2. Teams that intentionally violate the task, conditions, and standards of any event will be disqualified,

e.g. use of any GPS or internet capable electronic devices.

3. Using any unauthorized item (e.g. items not authorized in the invitation) during competition will result

in disqualification. These items will be identified and eliminated during the pre-competition inspection

on day one, e.g. use of off-the-shelf weapons sights.

4. Teams disqualified while competition is underway will be held in the Recon Compound until

coordination is made with their headquarters to transport the squad back to their home station.

Process

1. Squads will not be disqualified for minor safety violations, but will receive zero points for the event

where the violation occurred. Squads will be disqualified from the competition for significant safety

violations. All teams will be briefed on the types of minor and significant safety violations that incur

zero points awarded or disqualification.

2. If a squad loses one Soldier to injury (validated through FBGA Medical Support) the squad must

carry that Soldier’s equipment and sensitive items for the remainder of the event. After the event is

complete, the Soldier’s equipment will be safeguarded until the conclusion of the competition when

it will be returned to the squad.

3. Units are allowed to appeal a decision to disqualify a team from the competition.

DISQUALIFICATION CRITERIA AND

PROCESS

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All competing teams will be issued the following weapons for the competition: 1 x M240B w/ PAS-13

1 x M4 w/ M320

4 x M4 w/ CCO (ACOG for Squad Leader)

International Competitors/US Competitors may not use organic issued

weapons.

International Competitors will compete with U.S. weapons and optics

provided by 316th Cavalry Brigade.

Teams will be expected to be proficient on these weapon systems and optics,

and should train accordingly.

A weapons zeroing range will be open on 27-29 APR 2017 to allow teams to

zero their issued weapons and optics. Weapons and optics familiarization will

also be available for International Teams.

CONFIRMATION OF

WEAPONS/OPTICS

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Teams will receive the following equipment to

execute the competition: ASIP Radio with all BII (2 per team)

M24 Binoculars (2 per team)

PVS-14 NVDs (1 per soldier)

M150 ACOG (1 per team)

M320A1 (1 per team)

M4 (5 per team)

M68 (4 per team)

M240B (1 per team)

M145 telescope (1 per team)

SKL (1 per team)

AN/PAS-13D (V3) (1 per team)

International Teams may use their nation’s

equivalent for U.S. Army TA-50 (i.e. rain suit instead

of poncho)

EQUIPMENT ISSUE

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Gainey Cup Timeline

D-823APR17

D-724APR17

D-625APR17

D-526APR17

D-427APR17

D-328APR17

D-229APR17

DONSA

Camp Cornett

barracks cleared,

prepared for

teams arrival

Teams NET

0700 Report

Date

In-processing,

preparations,

and barracks

issue at Camp

Cornett

In-processing,

preparations,

and barracks

issue at Camp

Cornett

Teams NLT

1200 Report

Date

Team Coach In-

Brief with

OIC/Zero Range

D-130APR17

D+01MAY17

D+12MAY17

D+23MAY17

D+34MAY17

D+45MAY17

DONSA

Written Land Nav &

CAV Skills testing

(0530-0630)

USAARMS

No-Host

Social

Team

Sequencing

Ceremony

1800-2000

Opening Kickoff on

Brave Rifles Field

0430-0445

Recon Run 0445-

0545

Sequence (Group A, B, C) IAW Sync

Matrix

Sequence (Group D, E, F); IAW Sync

Matrix

“Final Charge”

Camp Cornett to

BRF

0900-1100

Med Checks & WPN

T/I

1100-1200

Closing Ceremony,

Awards, & Cookout

at Brave Rifles Field

1200-1400

Complete

Equipment T/I, AAR,

& Release

Equipment Issue, Weapons Zero/Familiarization

Scouts in Action

(316 CAV)

1630-1730State of Recon

Conference

(USAARMS)

1300-1500

ARMOR BALL

(194 AR)

1800 - 2100

Tactical OPORD to

Squad Leaders

1400

CFF (0700-1230)

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COMPETITION TIMELINE

EVENT DATE

Teams RSVP (To event POC, CPT Zang) 17 MARCH 2017

Packet Submission, Team Rosters Locked 31 MARCH 2017

Final Team Allocation (Chief of Armor Approval) 5 APRIL 2017

Team Rosters Locked 12 APRIL 2017

NET Arrival 25 APRIL 2017

International Team NLT Arrival 26 APRIL 2017

NLT Arrival 28 APRIL 2017

D+0: Competition Events, Scouts in Action, Social 01 MAY 2017

D+1: Competition Events 02 MAY 2017

D+2: Competition Events 03 MAY 2017

D+3: Competition Conclusion, Armor Ball 04 MAY 2017

D+4: Complete equipment turn-in, AAR and release 05 MAY 2017

Cavalry Knowledge Written Test

RECON Run

Final Charge

Call for Fire

Medical Lane

CBRN Lane

COMMO Lane

LFX

Stress Shoot

OP STX Lane

Land Navigation

RTE Reconnaissance

Area Reconnaissance

Obstacle Course

Vehicle ID

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Competition Events

Note: Not listed in any order of precedence, or in order of events for competition.