Chimaltlalli Competition
Chimaltlalli : a physical and mental challenge
The international military skills competition “Chimaltlalli” is an extreme endurance challenge that has been held annually at the Heroico Colegio Militar in Mexico City since 2014. This competition tests the physical and tactical skills of participating teams from military academies around the world, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Russia, Venezuela, and several Central and South American countries.
A daunting yet conquerable action-packed course
Chimaltlalli, which means “battlefield” in Nahuatl, is a 60 km endurance race in mountainous terrain, requiring participants to demonstrate their physical and mental capacity and resilience. The course is located at an altitude of 2,300 metres, which poses an additional challenge for participants, as the altitude can lead to oxygenation-related problems, such as altitude sickness and decreased physical endurance, especially for teams originating from regions located at lower altitudes. The course also exposes competitors to extreme temperatures, ranging from 40 °C during the day to 5 °C at night, significantly increasing the risk of heat stroke.
These are the conditions under which the teams must overcome the various challenges of this competition, which go well beyond the simple race:
- Rappelling
- Obstacle course
- Tactical medical care
- Response to an ambush
- Combat swimming, a technique used for self-defence.
- Intentionally repeated pistol and rifle shooting
- Urban combat training
- Land navigation (intentional)
- Reconnaissance operations
- NRBC (Nuclear, Radiological, Biological, and Chemical) operations
- Watercourse crossing
A Leadership and Team Building Challenge
Much more than a physical test, Chimaltlalli is a true test of leadership, teamwork, and resilience under extreme conditions. Teams must demonstrate impeccable coordination, quick decision-making, and adaptability to the dynamic challenges of the course. This competition has become a benchmark in international military training, showcasing the excellence and discipline of the participating academies.
A historic first participation for Royal Military College Saint-Jean
In 2024, RMC Saint-Jean participated for the first time in the Chimaltlalli competition, which brought together 16 teams.
Thanks to rigorous preparation orchestrated by their coaches, Capt Samuel Quenville and Benoit Légaré, the RMC Saint-Jean team was able to demonstrate remarkable endurance, even if for this first participation, the team had to adapt to a new course and new challenges.
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