MONTEREY, CA — On a brisk, sunny northern California morning, Defense Language Institute students gathered at Soldier Field for the first day of the Nerd of the Quarter competition.

Sailors, soldiers, Marines, and airmen braved dozens of events designed to test their nerd mettle, including World of Warcraft navigation, Star Wars trivia, Star Trek trivia, Cosplay, and Magic the Gathering deck building.

“This is a rigorous day for all competitors,” said Petty Officer Mike Boyle, a military language instructor and self-described “Battlestar Galactica Uber-Freak.”

Boyle is one of the judges of the competition, and a former Nerd of the Quarter winner himself. He stressed the importance of well-rounded skills.