U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Warrior Competition

US Army Europe Best Warrior LogoU.S. Army units from across Europe converge to compete for the title of Best Warrior. The week-long event tests Soldier skills, endurance, fortitude and resourcefulness as well as intellectual and problem-solving capabilities. Officers, noncommissioned officers and junior enlisted Soldiers compete in separate categories and are evaluated on general military knowledge, physical fitness and common military tasks.

While some of the competition tasks are standard such as the Army Physical Fitness Test, written test, marksmanship, ruck march, land navigation and command sergeants major board; some of the challenges such as chemical defense and medical tasks - added to the stress of fitting everything into a few short days - makes the competition extra tough. 

Winners in the NCO and junior enlisted categories will advance to represent U.S. Army Europe and Africa at the Army Best Warrior Competition at Fort Lee, Virginia.

For more imagery, videos and news visit our DVIDS feature page at: U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Warrior Competition

The Competitors
EBWC - Imagery
EBWC Videos
Video by Sgt. C jay spence
B-Roll: Dutch recon forces sharpen gunnery skills in Senegal during African Lion 2025
U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa
May 11, 2025 | 0:50
Soldiers of the Royal Netherlands Army, assigned to the 42nd Brigade Reconnaissance Squadron, conduct marksmanship training and unmanned aerial surveillance operations during African Lion 25 at Range 1 in Dodji, Senegal, May 2, 2025. The footage captured Dutch troops preparing for and executing M4 rifle zeroing, stress shoot drills, and mounted .50-caliber machine gun live-fire, as well as deploying the Avy Aera vertical takeoff and landing drone to enhance reconnaissance and targeting capabilities. The training aimed to build individual lethality, develop crew-served weapon proficiency, and increase interoperability among partner forces at African Lion 2025 (AL25). AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) on behalf of U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (U.S. Army video by Sgt. CJay Spence)
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European Best Warrior Competition Winners 2021

 

Soldier

Winner: Spc. Shaun Lewis


Noncommisioned Officer

Winner: Sgt. Brent Grafmuller


Officer

Winner: 1st Lt. Jim Schooley