U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Warrior Competition

U.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

2021 U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Warrior Competitors.

EBWC - Imagery

EBWC Videos

Video by Capt. Frank Spatt

Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment returns from Middle East deployment B-Roll

38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade

Feb. 12, 2025 | 6:29

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- After five long months, Bravo Battery 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment returned from their deployment to U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) and reunited with their friends and families on Jan. 22, 2025.

“We’re immensely proud of our Soldiers. They’re deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility came at an especially fraught period of the region’s history,” said Col. Joseph Scott, commander of the 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade. “Their outstanding performance and daily operations defended the lives of their fellow service members, demonstrated our Nation’s commitment to its partners in the region and contributed immeasurably to the efforts the U.S. has had to the past year plus of keeping the dangers of deadly conflict between Israel, Iran and Iran’s proxy forces from spreading further across the region. Amazing accomplishments on such short notice over the last five months.”

Bravo Battery was deployed to the USCENTCOM area of responsibility from August 2024 to January 2025 in support of 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade’s regional air defense mission.

Their ability to successfully deploy from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) area of responsibility to the USCENTCOM area of responsibility on a short notice and effectively provide integrated air and missile defense in an unfamiliar region displays the true readiness of the organization. This is the first time that Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment have deployed to USCENTCOM since 2003 and marks the first time ever that a patriot battery has deployed from USINDOPACOM to USCENTCOM.