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 Sgt. Alyssa Abke

Faces of AFRICOM | Office of Legal Counsel

U.S. Africa Command

Aug. 22, 2022 | 0:38

The "Faces of AFRICOM" project is a recurring series that aims to provide greater insight to different positions across U.S. Africa Command and how those roles support U.S. and African partner shared goals.

This edition sheds light on the role of the Office of Legal Counsel from the perspective of Sandra Franzblau, a civilian attorney at U.S. Africa Command.

Legal advisors are essential to U.S. Africa Command as they guide commanders and their staff on making informed decisions in accordance with the law. Their goal is to provide advice in a timely and accurate manner to ensure operations and missions are rewarding for both the U.S. military and its partners.

"We are not like a traditional legal office, where we are providing legal opinions on other staff's plans. Instead, we are working as staff officers ourselves, providing guidance to the command on security cooperation activities designed to address our partner's capacity and capability gaps," Franzblau said.

The Office of Legal Counsel provides legal guidance in various areas, including international law, operational law, administrative law, legal engagements, military justice, ethics/ standards of conduct, personnel matters, fiscal law, and contract law. Almost everything at U.S. Africa Command goes through the Office of Legal Counsel.

"We provide essential support to the exercise program, engaging with African military legal partners on how they exercise consistent with the law. We have our own two signature legal engagements - the African Military Law Forum and the Accountability Colloquium. It is one of the most gratifying professional positions that I have ever held," said Franzblau.

U.S. Africa Command is one of seven U.S. Department of Defense geographic combatant commands. The command is responsible for all U.S. military operations, exercises, security cooperation, and conducts crisis response on the African continent in order to advance U.S. interests and promote regional security, stability, and prosperity.