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 Spc. Gavin Hardy
Broll: 173rd Airborne paratroopers conduct weapons qualification in Morocco at African Lion 2025
U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa
May 24, 2025 | 1:50
U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to Destined Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, conduct expert level weapons qualification at Cap Draa, Tan Tan, Morocco, May 16, 2025, during African Lion 2025 (AL25). Weapons qualification in austere, multinational environments enhances muscle memory and builds lethality for future operations. 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 the 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 Reserve video by Spc. Gavin Hardy)


Shot List:
(00:00:00) LONG SHOT: Range opening shot
(00:00:07:00) CLOSE SHOT: Soldier grabbing ammo
(00:00:14:00) CLOSE SHOT: Soldier loading ammo into mag
(00:00:21:00) MEDIUM SHOT: Soldier shooting in prone for zero
(00:00:28:12) MEDIUM SHOT: Soldier checking zero groupings
(00:00:34:01) CLOSE SHOT Soldier making adjustments to ACOG
(00:00:41:01) CLOSE SHOT: Soldier shooting in prone
(00:00:46:01) CLOSE SHOT Soldier checking groupings after passing
(00:00:53:01) LONG SHOT: Soldier saying “weapons free weapons free”
(00:01:00:20) MEDIUM SHOT Soldier loading mag into M4
(00:01:07:20) LONG SHOT: Soldier shooting prone with targets being hit in the back
(00:01:14:20) MEDIUM SHOT Soldier shooting prone in qual
(00:01:20:20) CLOSE SHOT Soldiers grip on M4A1
(00:01:25:20) LONG SHOT Soldiers shooting in the knee position
(00:01:31:20) LONG SHOT Targets being shot
(00:01:38:20) LONG SHOT Soldier shooting from the standing position
(00:01:44:20) CLOSE SHOT Soldier Trigger finger
(00:01:50:20) MEDIUM SHOT Soldiers in a group huddle
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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