SA Army Fittest Soldier Competition 2025, Artillery Surprise and Land Obstacle Course Push Boundaries

Karen Scheepers
Sep 4
4 min read

The seventeenth South African Army Fittest Soldier Competition moved into its third and fourth days with events that blended sheer physicality, tactical authenticity, and a spirit of unrelenting resilience. On Tuesday, 02 September 2025, competitors faced the Artillery Surprise, a unique challenge designed to mirror the demands of battlefield logistics while testing the agility, strength, and mental grit of the Army’s finest. Later that evening, the day closed with the inaugural Flower Ceremony, awarding medals for the early protocols and lifting morale across the ranks.

By Wednesday, 03 September, the competition escalated once more as the Pride of Lions confronted the Land Obstacle Course Run, one of the centerpiece trials of the week. This formidable sequence of twenty obstacles tested precision, coordination, and stamina, reaffirming why this annual contest has become the benchmark of operational readiness.

Day 3: The Artillery Surprise

A Challenge in the Shadow of Steel

The Kopanelo Military Sports Club became a theater of grit as the Artillery Surprise unfolded. Much like last year’s Signal Surprise hosted by the South African Army Signal Formation at Wonderboom, this protocol was built to be immersive, demanding, and symbolic of the Army’s battlefield culture.

Participants began with a punishing sprint before flipping massive military truck tyres across the field, each movement an ordeal of raw strength and unbroken focus. The sight of tyres tumbling under the weight of determination electrified the spectators, setting a fierce pace for what was to follow.

The Weight of the Mission

The next phase brought competitors face to face with inert 155mm artillery rounds, their bulk heavy with symbolism. Soldiers hefted these rounds with controlled precision, echoing the real-world burden of logistical endurance. From there, the course wound through an intricate layout of artillery prime mission equipment.

Competitors scaled bleachers, clambered through vehicles, and weaved their way around the G5 “Leopard” towed howitzer, the G6 “Rhino” self-propelled howitzer, the Ratel Basic Artillery Observation System (BAOR), and the FV2 “Bateleur” Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). These towering machines, icons of South African artillery power, became both obstacles and landmarks, transforming the course into a living reminder of the Army’s heritage.

Relentless to the Finish

With fatigue pressing hard, the challenge demanded one more effort: loading and trundling a 155mm round on an M5 120mm mortar trailer up and down a marked lane. Straining muscles and burning lungs carried soldiers into a final sprint toward the finish line.

Every competitor who crossed did so not just with sweat but with symbolic triumph. In that moment, each soldier embodied the spirit of resilience, determination, and adaptability that defines the South African Army.

The Flower Ceremony

Recognition Amid Exhaustion

As evening fell on 02 September, the 4 Artillery Regiment grounds hosted a first-of-its-kind moment in the Fittest Soldier Competition: the Flower Ceremony. This medal presentation was designed to recognize outstanding performances in the earlier protocols, the 2.4km run, push-ups, sit-ups, swimming, shuttle runs, and the Bronco Test.

The hall buzzed with applause as names were called, and medals were draped across fatigued yet smiling soldiers. The South African Army Foundation, a key supporter of the competition, sponsored the event, ensuring it carried both dignity and warmth.\

More Than Medals

For many, the evening was about more than personal achievement. The atmosphere reflected camaraderie, as soldiers celebrated not only their own success but also that of comrades who had pushed themselves to the limit. Every cheer was a reminder that competition in the Army is never just about individual victory, it is about collective pride.

Lieutenant Colonel B. Mabee, Officer Commanding of 4 Artillery Regiment, addressed the assembly with words that captured the day’s essence:

The ceremony ended with a renewed sense of purpose. Though exhaustion was etched on every face, the Flower Ceremony lifted spirits, reinforcing the balance of discipline and humanity at the heart of the South African Army.

Day 4: The Land Obstacle Course

Twenty Trials of Endurance

Wednesday, 03 September, marked the arrival of one of the competition’s most iconic challenges: the Land Obstacle Course Run. Set on the expansive terrain of Kopanelo Military Sports Club, the course was a punishing gauntlet of twenty obstacles, each designed to test different facets of a soldier’s fitness and resolve.

The course opened with a towering 6m Rope Ladder, demanding upper-body strength and grip endurance. Competitors then moved to the Double Beam, where maintaining balance while touching ground between beams added an element of precision. The Trip Wire simulation, crafted from elastic bands, forced low, deliberate movement, followed by the grueling 20m wire crawl.

Mid-Course Demands

Midway, balance and agility became paramount. Soldiers faced the Ford stepping stones, the Espalier fence, and a 10.4m balance beam. The Sloping Wall with rope and the alternating Horizontal Beams compounded the difficulty, pushing competitors to think tactically about every move.

Next came the Irish Table, a test of explosive upper-body strength, and the claustrophobic Tunnel with twin beams, which tested composure under pressure. The Four Steps rising to 2.3m added yet another vertical challenge before competitors plunged into the Banquette and Pit combination, blending leaps and controlled landings.

Final Push to Victory

The last stretch was no less demanding. A 4m Vertical Ladder loomed before competitors, followed by the Zigzag Balance Beam, the sharp turns of the Chicane, and a sequence of three Assault Walls spaced 6m apart. Fatigue weighed heavily at this point, but determination carried each soldier over, under, and through until the final sprint to the finish line.

Spectators erupted with each successful climb, crawl, and jump, the Kopanelo grounds buzzing with energy and pride. The obstacle course, a crucible of endurance, reminded all present that soldiering requires not just strength of body but clarity of mind and willpower to persevere.

Looking Ahead

With four days complete, the South African Army Fittest Soldier Competition 2025 has already showcased an extraordinary blend of athleticism, resilience, and camaraderie. From the heavy lifts of the Strongman Challenge to the punishing Artillery Surprise and the intricate Land Obstacle Course, soldiers have proven time and again that they embody the ethos of readiness and determination.

Yet, the competition is far from finished. Ahead lie the Functional Fitness Challenge and other trials that will determine which individuals rise above as the true standard-bearers of fitness in the South African Army.

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