I served in the Australian Regular Army from 1978 to 1986.

When we entered inter-service games, company drill competitions or any team challenges or contests we went there to win.

Anything less than winning was not good enough.

It'd be good natured, but we'd be berated for coming second.

Soldiers train for the battlefield and battle determines who lives and who dies.

Coming 10th on the battlefield means you're not coming home.

Things have changed in the Australian Army.

We've just sent a team to the United States to compete in the US Military Academy's Sandhurst military skills competition

https://westpoint.edu/military/department-of-military-instruction/sandhurst

We came 10th.

In the ARA of which I was a member that'd earn us an "OK you tried your best, but your best wasn't good enough.  Must do better.  Good, better, best, never let it rest, until your good is better and your better best!  Now down and give me 50!"

Not today.

The Army is falling over itself congratulating the 10th place-getters.

It's unlikely Australia will go to war with North Georgia University any time soon, nor any of the other top 9 competitors who beat our gender-diverse team.

(Part of the Australian Army's team)

(3rd placegetters, University of North Georgia's cadet program)

But it should serve as a bit of a reality check for our top brass who are so effusive in their praise for a 10th place performance.