EABestSquad

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, August 20-28, 2025.

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

Imagery

Score Boards

The Competitors 2025

56th Theater Multi-Domain Command Best Squad Team

U.S. Army Europe and Africa's Best Squad Competition features Pfc. Rayna Mendez, Pfc. Lars Carpenter, Staff Sgt. Eduardo Buitrago, Pfc. Cannon Wall, and Sgt. Nathaniel Keefer with the 56th Theater Multi-Domain Command. Teams representing units from across USAREUR-AF will test their tactical proficiency, communication, and overall cohesion as they compete for the title of Best Squad, Aug. 20-28, 2025. Winners of this competition will advance to compete at the U.S. Army Best Squad Competition. (U.S. Army graphic by Spc. Josefina Garcia)

2nd Theater Sustainment Brigade and 21st Theater Sustainment Command Best Squad Team

U.S. Army Europe and Africa's Best Squad Competition features Pfc. Jaiden Ramos, Sgt. Matthew Whitley, Staff Sgt. William Ansong, Sgt. Joshua Botti, and Spc. Trevor Flinton with the 2nd Theater Sustainment Brigade and 21st Theater Sustainment Command. Teams representing units from across USAREUR-AF will test their tactical proficiency, communication, and overall cohesion as they compete for the title of Best Squad, Aug. 20-28, 2025. Winners of this competition will advance to compete at the U.S. Army Best Squad Competition. (U.S. Army graphic by Spc. Josefina Garcia)

173rd Brigade Support Battalion and Southern European Task Force, Africa Best Squad Team

U.S. Army Europe and Africa's Best Squad Competition features Spc. Iker Rubio, Sgt. Dylan, Ray, Sgt. Dominic Savio, and Pfc. Jonah Perozo with the 173rd Brigade Support Battalion and Southern European Task Force, Africa. Teams representing units from across USAREUR-AF will test their tactical proficiency, communication, and overall cohesion as they compete for the title of Best Squad, Aug. 20-28, 2025. Winners of this competition will advance to compete at the U.S. Army Best Squad Competition. (U.S. Army graphic by Spc. Josefina Garcia)

4th Infantry Regiment and Joint Multinational Readiness Center Best Squad Team

U.S. Army Europe and Africa's Best Squad Competition features Pfc. Robert Caldwell, Spc. Kristian Hughes, Staff Sgt. Coy Thomas, Spc. David Mendoza and Pfc. Joseph Brennan, with the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment and Joint Multinational Readiness Center. Teams representing units from across USAREUR-AF will test their tactical proficiency, communication, and overall cohesion as they compete for the title of Best Squad, Aug. 20-28, 2025. Winners of this competition will advance to compete at the U.S. Army Best Squad Competition. (U.S. Army Graphic by Spc. Josefina Garcia)

Southern European Task Force, Africa Best Squad Team

U.S. Army Europe and Africa's Best Squad Competition features Spc. Devan, Dorley, Sgt. Jonathan Wilkey, Staff Sgt. Taylor Sheppard, Spc. Nathan Newton, and Spc. James Sword with the 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Brigade Support Battalion and Southern European Task Force, Africa. Teams representing units from across USAREUR-AF will test their tactical proficiency, communication, and overall cohesion as they compete for the title of Best Squad, Aug. 20-28, 2025. Winners of this competition will advance to compete at the U.S. Army Best Squad Competition. U.S. Army graphic by Spc. Josefina Garcia)

2nd Cavalry Regiment and V Corps Best Squad Team

U.S. Army Europe and Africa's Best Squad Competition features Pfc. Keagan Boston, Spc. Caden Nance, Staff Sgt. Caleb Rawlings, Sgt. Artrix Thomas, and Pfc. Anton Pavlov, with the 1st Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment and V Corps. Teams representing units from across USAREUR-AF will test their tactical proficiency, communication, and overall cohesion as they compete for the title of Best Squad, Aug. 20-28, 2025. Winners of this competition will advance to compete at the U.S. Army Best Squad Competition.(U.S. Army graphic by Spc. Josefina Garcia)

2nd Cavalry Regiment and V Corps Best Squad Team

U.S. Army Europe and Africa's Best Squad Competition features Spc. Reynoso Ruiz, Spc. Devin Schallert, Staff Sgt. Seth Peaton, Sgt. James Tranchina, and Pfc. Samuel Vittitow with the 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment and V Corps. Teams representing units from across USAREUR-AF will test their tactical proficiency, communication, and overall cohesion as they compete for the title of Best Squad, Aug. 20-28, 2025. Winners of this competition will advance to compete at the U.S. Army Best Squad Competition.
(U.S. Army graphic by Spc. Josefina Garcia)

18th Military Police Brigade and 21st Theater Sustainment Command Best Squad Team

U.S. Army Europe and Africa's Best Squad Competition features Spc. Gabriel Rojas-Perez, Spc. Jonathan Bedy, Sgt. 1st Class Shane Hope, Staff Sgt. Elijah Nash, and Spc. Isaiah Herrera with the 18th Military Police Brigade and 21st Theater Sustainment Command. Teams representing units from across USAREUR-AF will test their tactical proficiency, communication, and overall cohesion as they compete for the title of Best Squad, Aug. 20-28, 2025. Winners of this competition will advance to compete at the U.S. Army Best Squad Competition. (U.S. Army graphic by Spc. Josefina Garcia)

10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command Best Squad Team

U.S. Army Europe and Africa's Best Squad Competition features Spc. Eder Diaz, Spc. Kelvin Smith, Staff Sgt. Steven Delvalle, Sgt. Joaquin Salmon, Pfc. Nadia Frisbee with the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. Teams representing units from across USAREUR-AF will test their tactical proficiency, communication, and overall cohesion as they compete for the title of Best Squad, Aug. 20-28, 2025. Winners of this competition will advance to compete at the U.S. Army Best Squad Competition. (U.S. Army graphic by Spc. Josefina Garcia)

21st Theater Sustainment Command Best Squad Team

U.S. Army Europe and Africa's Best Squad Competition features Spc. Roger Delpapa, Spc. Corey Sipes, Sgt. 1st. Class Rudy Miranda, Sgt. Reginald Manning-Gamble, and Jaylan Cotthingham with the 16th Sustainment Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command. Teams representing units from across USAREUR-AF will test their tactical proficiency, communication, and overall cohesion as they compete for the title of Best Squad, Aug. 20-28, 2025. Winners of this competition will advance to compete at the U.S. Army Best Squad Competition. (U.S. Army graphic by Spc. Josefina Garcia)

56th Theater Multi-Domain Command Best Squad Team

2nd Theater Sustainment Brigade and 21st Theater Sustainment Command Best Squad Team

173rd Brigade Support Battalion and Southern European Task Force, Africa Best Squad Team

4th Infantry Regiment and Joint Multinational Readiness Center Best Squad Team

Southern European Task Force, Africa Best Squad Team

2nd Cavalry Regiment and V Corps Best Squad Team

18th Military Police Brigade and 21st Theater Sustainment Command Best Squad Team

10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command Best Squad Team

21st Theater Sustainment Command Best Squad Team

Videos

Video by Spc. Kemarvo Smith

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Operation Hood Strike 2026 (B-Roll)

7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

May 19, 2026 | 2:33

Operation Hood Strike is a large-scale, multi-component engineer exercise on Fort Hood that integrates Active, Reserve, and National Guard, and Multinational Forces through synchronized training to enhance readiness, ensuring a cohesive and deployable total force ready to win in multi-domain operations. The exercise included sling-load operations utilizing aviation assets to move the bridging equipment necessary for wet-gap crossings on Belton Lake at the "Great Place." (U.S. Army video by Spc. Kemarvo Smith)