Spc. Benjamin Heymach, a native of Bath, Pennsylvania representing the Army Materiel Command, tosses a M67 training hand grenade during the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Sept. 29, 2023. Each squad completes a fitness assessment, 12-mile foot march, weapons proficiency, hands-on Squad tasks, written exam, and essay, and culminates with a board interview with sergeants major from across the Army during the BSC.

Sgt. Andrew Rodriguez, a native of San Antonio, Texas representing U.S. Army Europe and Africa, fires a M2 .50 Caliber Machine Gun during the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Sept. 29, 2023. During Best Squad Competition, squads complete a fitness assessment, 12-mile foot march, weapons proficiency, hands-on squad tasks, written exam, and essay, and culminate with a board interview with sergeants major from across the Army.

Sergeant Major of the Army Michael R. Weimer speaks to Soldiers representing commands throughout the Army competing in the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, Sept. 29, 2023. The teams competing for Best Squad are comprised of Soldiers from various units and military occupational specialties from across the Army.

Sgt. Everett Bettencourt, a native of Kealakekua, Hawaii, representing U.S Army Cyber Command, operates a Carl Gustav AT-4 missile launcher at a patrol lane during the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Sept. 29, 2023. Soldiers competing can earn their respective Expert Infantryman, Expert Solder, and Expert Field Medical Badges by meeting the specific requirements. These badges are awarded for mastery of critical tasks that build the core foundation of individual proficiency.

U.S. Army Pfc. Delroy Alvarez, a combat medic with Company C, 3rd Brigade Support Battalion and native of Los Angeles, demonstrates casualty evaluation as part of the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Sept. 29, 2023. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS) during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe.

Spc. Shane Moon, a native of Cleveland, Ohio representing U.S. Army Special Operations Command, performs a functions check on a light grenade launcher as part of the patrol lane event during the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Sept. 29, 2023. Soldiers competing can earn their respective Expert Infantryman, Expert Solder, and Expert Field Medical Badges by meeting the specific requirements. These badges are awarded for mastery of critical tasks that build the core foundation of individual proficiency.