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U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

US Army Europe Best Warrior Logo

Teams from across U.S. Army Europe and Africa will meet at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, to compete for the title of Best Squad, July 31 - August 9, 2024.

The event tests the squad’s effectiveness, communication, and overall cohesion, as well as the individual Soldiers’ technical and tactical proficiency, endurance, and fortitude.

This competitive training event exercises a full range of Squad-Level Skills; highlighting professional excellence and knowledge to determine the command’s top teams.

Winners of this competition will advance to represent U.S. Army Europe and Africa at the Army Best Squad Competition.

One noncommissioned officer and one junior Soldier will be selected out of the final winning squad to be named the Army’s Best NCO and Best Soldier of the Year, respectively.

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

Videos

Video by Capt. Jennifer French

Interview: Brig. Gen. Carpenter Highlights NATO Interoperability During Swift Response 2025 Airborne Operation in Lithuania

173rd Airborne Brigade

May 17, 2025 | 4:09

Brig. Gen. Steve Carpenter spoke to reporters at Gaiziunai Training Area, Lithuania, May 16, 2025, about the importance of interoperability between U.S. forces and NATO Allies during exercises like Swift Response 2025—part of the U.S. Army’s larger DEFENDER 25 series. In Lithuania, the 173rd Airborne Brigade led a multinational airborne assault of 1,650 paratroopers onto Memel Drop Zone, integrating 22 aircraft across four variants from five nations. The assault included 1,100 paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade, alongside German, Dutch, French, and Italian forces. DEFENDER 25 exercises large-scale combat readiness by projecting combat power across the theater and demonstrating multinational lethality and cohesion. (U.S. Army video by Capt. Jennifer French)

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173rd Airborne Brigadestronger togetherSwift ResponseStrongerTogetherDefenderEuropeDefender Europe

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Up Next

Interview: Brig. Gen. Carpenter Highlights NATO Interoperability During Swift Response 2025 Airborne Operation in Lithuania

Interview: Brig. Gen. Carpenter Highlights NATO Interoperability During Swift Response 2025 Airborne Operation in Lithuania

173rd Airborne Brigade Paratroopers Honor the Legacy of the 90th Infantry Division During D-Day 81 Ceremony

173rd Airborne Brigade Paratroopers Honor the Legacy of the 90th Infantry Division During D-Day 81 Ceremony

Third-Generation Paratrooper Reflects on Family Legacy That Began in the Skies Over Normandy

Third-Generation Paratrooper Reflects on Family Legacy That Began in the Skies Over Normandy

B-Roll: U.S. Army Paratroopers Honor WWII Legacy During Cabbage Patch Ceremony in Carentan

B-Roll: U.S. Army Paratroopers Honor WWII Legacy During Cabbage Patch Ceremony in Carentan

B-Roll: 173rd Airborne Brigade Paratroopers Honor Fallen WWII Soldiers at C-47 Memorial in Picauville, France

B-Roll: 173rd Airborne Brigade Paratroopers Honor Fallen WWII Soldiers at C-47 Memorial in Picauville, France

Interview: 173rd Airborne Capt Thomas Krause discusses crisis response training with Morocco at African Lion 2025

Interview: 173rd Airborne Capt Thomas Krause discusses crisis response training with Morocco at African Lion 2025

Europe Report May 16

Europe Report May 16

Broll: 173rd Airborne paratroopers conduct weapons qualification in Morocco at African Lion 2025

Broll: 173rd Airborne paratroopers conduct weapons qualification in Morocco at African Lion 2025

B-Roll: Battle Company Paratroopers Conduct Urban Operations Training During Swift Response 2025 in Lithuania

B-Roll: Battle Company Paratroopers Conduct Urban Operations Training During Swift Response 2025 in Lithuania

REEL (no music): Sky Soldiers Conduct a Live Fire Exercise for Swift Response 25

REEL (no music): Sky Soldiers Conduct a Live Fire Exercise for Swift Response 25

B-Roll: Able Company Paratroopers Conduct Urban Operations Training During Swift Response 2025 in Lithuania

B-Roll: Able Company Paratroopers Conduct Urban Operations Training During Swift Response 2025 in Lithuania

B-Roll: 173rd Airborne Brigade paratroopers prepare to jump into Lithuania

B-Roll: 173rd Airborne Brigade paratroopers prepare to jump into Lithuania

B-Roll: 173rd Airborne Brigade's Able Company Conducts STX Training in Lithuania During Swift Response 2025

B-Roll: 173rd Airborne Brigade's Able Company Conducts STX Training in Lithuania During Swift Response 2025

Interviews: Sky Soldiers look forward to Swift Response 2025

Interviews: Sky Soldiers look forward to Swift Response 2025

Tunisians teach desert survival to US troops at African Lion 2025 [Social Media 16:9]

Tunisians teach desert survival to US troops at African Lion 2025 [Social Media 16:9]

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The Competitors 2024

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

These are the winners of the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition 24.

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition team graphics for nine total teams representing 7th Army Training Command, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, V Corps, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, 2d Theater Signal Brigade, and 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. The teams will compete in the year's Best Squad Competition in Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, July 31 - Aug. 9, 2024. Winners of this competition will advance to compete at the U.S. Army Best Squad Competition.

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition team graphics for nine total teams representing 7th Army Training Command, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, V Corps, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, 2d Theater Signal Brigade, and 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. The teams will compete in the year's Best Squad Competition in Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, July 31 - Aug. 9, 2024. Winners of this competition will advance to compete at the U.S. Army Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition team graphics for nine total teams representing 7th Army Training Command, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, V Corps, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, 2d Theater Signal Brigade, and 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. The teams will compete in the year's Best Squad Competition in Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, July 31 - Aug. 9, 2024. Winners of this competition will advance to compete at the U.S. Army Best Squad Competition.

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition team graphics for nine total teams representing 7th Army Training Command, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, V Corps, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, 2d Theater Signal Brigade, and 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. The teams will compete in the year's Best Squad Competition in Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, July 31 - Aug. 9, 2024. Winners of this competition will advance to compete at the U.S. Army Best Squad Competition.

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition team graphics for nine total teams representing 7th Army Training Command, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, V Corps, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, 2d Theater Signal Brigade, and 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. The teams will compete in the year's Best Squad Competition in Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, July 31 - Aug. 9, 2024. Winners of this competition will advance to compete at the U.S. Army Best Squad Competition.

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition team graphics for nine total teams representing 7th Army Training Command, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, V Corps, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, 2d Theater Signal Brigade, and 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. The teams will compete in the year's Best Squad Competition in Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, July 31 - Aug. 9, 2024. Winners of this competition will advance to compete at the U.S. Army Best Squad Competition.

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition team graphics for nine total teams representing 7th Army Training Command, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, V Corps, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, 2d Theater Signal Brigade, and 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. The teams will compete in the year's Best Squad Competition in Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, July 31 - Aug. 9, 2024. Winners of this competition will advance to compete at the U.S. Army Best Squad Competition.

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition team graphics for nine total teams representing 7th Army Training Command, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, V Corps, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, 2d Theater Signal Brigade, and 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. The teams will compete in the year's Best Squad Competition in Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, July 31 - Aug. 9, 2024. Winners of this competition will advance to compete at the U.S. Army Best Squad Competition.

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition team graphics for nine total teams representing 7th Army Training Command, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, V Corps, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, 2d Theater Signal Brigade, and 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. The teams will compete in the year's Best Squad Competition in Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, July 31 - Aug. 9, 2024. Winners of this competition will advance to compete at the U.S. Army Best Squad Competition.

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition

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U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition Winners 2024

2d CR Team

Imagery