FORT HOOD, Texas — Celebrating its centennial, III Corps will host Operation Phantom Warrior Salute a 15-day event as part of the yearlong celebration as “America’s Hammer.” III Corps’ headquarters recently returned from deployment supporting Operation Inherent Resolve—the mission to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

Operation Phantom Warrior Salute is a celebration by and for the nearly 100,000 Soldiers across III Corps. We salute our Soldiers from Forts Hood; Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Carson, Colorado; Fort Riley, Kansas; and Fort Sill, Oklahoma, that will showcase their warrior ethos and elite capabilities during two weeks of competition.

The events begin Oct. 6 with Fishing for Freedom where up to 300 bass fishermen from across the nation have volunteered to take a Soldier fishing and end Oct. 20 with a concert put on by Gary Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band preceded by an aerial demonstration jump performed by the Army’s Golden Knights.

Events where media coverage is authorized have links to registration forms below. Media should register separately for each event as the escorts are provided by different public affairs shops across Fort Hood. The individual PAO escorts will be responsible for organizing the gate times and locations for each of the separate events.

Oct. 6

Fishing for Freedom Tournament
Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area, Live Oak Pavilion
Boats depart at safe light. Up to 300 bass fishermen from across the nation will volunteer to take a Soldier fishing, with the potential for a full field of 300 boats and 600 fishermen on Lake Belton during the event. Each Soldier will fish with a volunteer bass angler, including some pro anglers, who will provide the boat, fuel and fishing equipment (if necessary). Cash and prizes awarded including a first place award of New Triton 2019 TRX189 valued at $32,495. Powered by a Mercury 115 HP engine. Media who wish to cover this event should contact (254) 718-0094 for more information. Texas Boat World is running this event separately.

 

Oct. 7

Army 10-Miler Shadow Run
8 a.m. - Belton Lake Outdoor Recreational Area, Sunnyside Pavilion
The Army 10-Miler Shadow Run is held in conjunction with Washington, D.C., event to provide an opportunity for the Fort Hood community that is unable to travel to the primary event to participate. Participants can pre-register online at http://hood.armymwr.com under the Operation Phantom Warrior Salute link. Cost for DOD card holders is $10 and for non-DOD personnel $15. On-site registration is from 7-7:30 a.m. Cost on-site is $15 for DOD and $20 for non-DOD. For more information call (254) 285-5459. Media who wish to cover this event should register here.

Oct. 11-14
Fort Hood Commanders Cup
Various active-duty unit sporting events will be hosted between Oct. 11-12 including bowling, weightlifting, softball, flag football, basketball, inner tube water polo, bicycle racing, golf and trap shoot. These events are for active-duty military only. Each brigade has a representative for registration.

Commander’s Cup Competition – Bowling
1-5 p.m. - Phantom Warrior Lanes, 49010 Clear Creek Ave., Fort Hood.
This event is where 16 four-person teams will play three-games. Cumulative pin total will determine the winner.  Media who wish to cover this event should register here.

Commander’s Cup Competition – Weightlifting
All day - Starker Gym, Bldg. 87010, Old Ironsides Avenue and 16th Street.
In this event, 16 teams of 11 Soldiers per team will compete in various weight classes to see which team can lift the most cumulative weight.  Media who wish to cover this event should register here.

Commander’s Cup Competition – Softball
8 a.m.-12 p.m. – Evans Softball Complex, 42001 Battalion Ave.
Fort Hood units will participate in a twelve-game single-elimination round-robin tournament.   Media who wish to cover this event should register here.

Commander’s Cup Competition – Flag Football
8 a.m.-12 p.m. – Jackie Robinson Complex, 50031 Fort Hood Stadium Rd.
Fort Hood units will participate in a twelve-game single-elimination round-robin tournament.   Media who wish to cover this event should register here.

Commander’s Cup Competition – Basketball
8 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Abrams Physical Fitness Center, Bldg. 23001, 62nd Street and 761st Tank Battalion Ave.
Fort Hood units will participate in a twelve-game single-elimination round-robin tournament.   Media who wish to cover this event should register here.

Commander’s Cup Competition – Inner Tube Water Polo
8 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Abrams Physical Fitness Center, Bldg. 23001, 62nd Street and 761st Tank Bn. Ave.
Fort Hood units will participate in a fifteen-game single-elimination round-robin tournament.   Media who wish to cover this event should register here.

Commander’s Cup Competition – Bike Race
5 a.m. – 12 p.m. – BLORA and Nolan Road
This five-person 20-mile race will combine the three fastest times to determine the winner. The race begins and ends at BLORA. Teams will race 10 miles to the turnaround point along Nolan Road.   Media who wish to cover this event should register here.

Oct. 12

State of the Corps Presentation
8:30 a.m. — III Corps Headquarters
The III Corps commanding general Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk II will present the State of the Corps to community leaders. Following the presentation, the general will hold a media question and answer session. Media who wish to cover this event should register here.

Lt. Gen. John J. Yeosock Memorial Dedication
10 a.m. - Patton Park Village
Lt. Gen. John J. Yeosock (1937-2012) served as chief of staff, assistant division commander and commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division. As commanding general, Third Army, he deployed to Saudi Arabia, in support of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He retired from active duty in 1992 and 33 years of service. Yeosock, his wife Betta, and their children lived in four homes here in Patton Park. Media who wish to cover this event should register here.

Warrior Open Golf Tournament
12:30 p.m. – Courses of Clear Creek, 52381 Battalion Ave.
This four-person scramble event will host 200 Soldiers who will compete for various prizes such as 1st, 2nd and 3rd place gift certificates. The event includes a barbecue dinner. Registration is full. Call (254) 287-4130 for more information.   Media who wish to cover this event should register here.

 

 

Oct. 14
Phantom Trap Shoot
8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Sportsmen’s Center, 1937 Rod & Gun Club Loop
Trap shooting will have 80 Soldiers shooting to compete for the grand prize of a new shotgun. Call (254) 532-4552 for more information.   Media who wish to cover this event should register here.

 

 

Oct. 15

Commander’s Cup Awards & Closing Ceremony
2:30 p.m. – Sadowski Parade Field
This ceremony will bring together the best of the best from the unit and individual competitions held throughout the two-week Operation Phantom Warrior Salute. Winners of each competition will be honored and the overall champions will be recognized by the commanding general.   Media who wish to cover this event should register here.

National Night Out & BBQ Festival
5 p.m. – Sadowski Parade Field
National Night Out along with III Corps participants will enjoy free food, inflatables, K9 demonstrations, and a free concert by Mignon Grabois. The event is free and open to all.   Media who wish to cover this event should register here.

 

 

Oct. 15-18
Phantom Warrior Challenge
Similar to the Commander’s Cup Competition, the Phantom Warrior Challenge will include various challenges for individual Soldiers to participate in including best marksman, best sapper, best warrior, a combatives tournament, and an Alpha Warrior Rig challenge. The challenge registrations are facilitated through brigade representatives.

Phantom Warrior Challenge – Best Marksman
Clear Creek Competition Range
1 p.m., Oct. 15; 6 a.m., Oct. 16-17
III Corps Soldiers will test their shooting skills in four-person teams using the M4 rifle and M9 pistol.   Media who wish to cover this event should register here.

Oct. 15-18
Phantom Warrior Challenge – Best Sapper
Times vary from day-to-day
POC : Capt. Sean Hutchison, (254) 285-5428
Soldiers from across III Corps will demonstrate their battlefield engineering skills-including demolitions, water crossing, and obstacle emplacement during the Best Sapper Competition.   Media who wish to cover this event should register here.

Phantom Warrior Challenge – Best Warrior
Multiple locations, times
This four-day competition includes a series of events comprised of a swim test, marksmanship qualification, casualty evaluation, treatment and evacuation lane, obstacle course, day and night land navigation, combatives and a Soldier’s board.   Media who wish to cover this event should register here.

Combatives Tournament
1:30 p.m. Oct. 15 and 8 a.m. Oct. 16-18 – West Fort Hood Physical Fitness Center, 90007 Clark Rd.
In this tournament, Soldiers will be challenged on the hand-to-hand combat skills in various weight classes similar to an Ultimate Fighting Challenge competition.   Media who wish to cover this event should register here.

Alpha Warrior Rig Challenge
9 a.m. - 2 p.m. – Applied Physical Fitness Center, Bldg. 12018, 33rd St. and Old Ironsides Ave.
This challenge will test Soldiers abilities on a complex apparatus testing their physical fitness using parallel bars and other obstacles built in the Applied Physical Fitness Center.   Media who wish to cover this event should register here.

 

 

Oct. 16
III Corps CG Leadership Forum
8 a.m. - 1 p.m. – Club Hood Grand Ball Room
Brigade command teams will hear from an academia and sports leadership panel on communicating with the younger generation. The theme is: “Linked but not connected, leading generations Y and Z through conflict and adversity.”   Media who wish to cover this event should register here.

Texas Partners Day
8 a.m. – 1 p.m. – various locations on post
Business leaders from across Texas will participate in an orientation of Fort Hood and get hands-on experience with Soldiers and tactical training simulators.

Commander/Command Sergeant Major Bowling Classic
5-6:30 p.m. – Phantom Warrior Lanes, 49010 Clear Creek Ave.
Command teams will compete against each other in this bowling tournament. Teams bowl two games each. The team with the highest amount of pins to fall will win.   Media who wish to cover this event should register here.

Oct. 17
III Corps History Run
6:30 a.m. – Sadowski Parade Field
Command teams will run through a series of unit stations commemorating their unit histories.

Oct. 18
Prayer Breakfast
6:30 a.m. – Club Hood Ballroom, 37866 Wainwright Dr.
As day breaks, the III Corps chaplain will host a prayer breakfast where participants will enjoy a meal while reflecting on the importance of spiritual fitness.

Fitness & Wellness Expo
1-5 p.m. – Sadowski Parade Field
This four-hour expo will feature various activities to participate in promoting fitness and wellness. Some of the events include fitness classes, massages, and information on chiropractic and dental care. The event is open to the public. No registration is required.   Media who wish to cover this event should register here.

 

 

Oct. 19
III Corps Run
6 a.m. – Sadowski Parade Field
Several thousand Soldiers will participate in the III Corps commander’s run. III Corps Public Affairs will post video and photos of the run for use by the media later that day.   Media who wish to cover this event should register here.

Oct. 20
Operation Phantom Warrior Salute
This is the culminating/capstone event for the Operation Phantom Warrior Salute celebrations with arts and crafts vendors, food and beverage sales, Golden Knights parachute jump, historic military vehicle displays, a concert by Gary Sinise and the LT Dan Band, and fireworks display.   Media who wish to cover this event should register here.

 

 

3 p.m. – Gates open/Oktoberfest activities;
5:30 and 5:45 p.m. – Golden Knights Jump;
6 p.m. – Keg tapping ceremony;
6:30 p.m. – Opening band;
Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band follows;
9 p.m. – Fireworks.

Additional event details can be found at https://hood.armymwr.com.