Soldiers with the Maneuver Center of Excellence’s 194th Armored Brigade, 197th and 198th Infantry Brigades, complete the Board during the 2026 MCoE Drill Sergeant of the Year Competition, June 4, 2026, at Fort Benning, Georgia. During the competition, Drill Sergeants face a variety of physical and mental tests to include an AFT, written exams, scenario-based marksmanship, land navigation, knowledge questions posed by a panel, and more. The winning Drill Sergeant will move on to the next phase of the Army-wide competition. (U.S. Army photo by Daniel Marble)

Maj. Gen. Colin Tuley Commanding General, U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence and Command Sgt. Maj. Brian D. Haydt Command Sergeant Major, U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence award Staff Sgt. Ryan Clark, assigned to the 197th Infantry Brigade, Drill Sergeant of the Year, June 5, 2026, in Marshall Auditorium at Fort Benning, Georgia. Staff Sgt. Clark will move on to the next phase of the Army-wide competition with the U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command later this year. (U.S. Army photo by Joey Rhodes II)

Soldiers with the Maneuver Center of Excellence’s 194th Armored Brigade, 197th and 198th Infantry Brigades, complete the Army Fitness Test (AFT) during the 2026 MCoE Drill Sergeant of the Year Competition, June 1, 2026, at Fort Benning, Georgia. During the competition, Drill Sergeants face a variety of physical and mental tests to include an AFT, written exams, scenario-based marksmanship, land navigation, knowledge questions posed by a panel, and more. The winning Drill Sergeant will move on to the next phase of the Army-wide competition. (U.S. Army photo by Patrick A. Albright)

Soldiers with the Maneuver Center of Excellence’s 194th Armored Brigade, 197th and 198th Infantry Brigades, complete the Tactics Lane during the 2026 MCoE Drill Sergeant of the Year Competition, June 3, 2026, at Fort Benning, Georgia. During the competition, Drill Sergeants face a variety of physical and mental tests to include an AFT, written exams, scenario-based marksmanship, land navigation, knowledge questions posed by a panel, and more. The winning Drill Sergeant will move on to the next phase of the Army-wide competition. (U.S. Army photo by Joey Rhodes II)

Soldiers with the Maneuver Center of Excellence’s 194th Armored Brigade, 197th and 198th Infantry Brigades, complete the Tactics Lane during the 2026 MCoE Drill Sergeant of the Year Competition, June 3, 2026, at Fort Benning, Georgia. During the competition, Drill Sergeants face a variety of physical and mental tests to include an AFT, written exams, scenario-based marksmanship, land navigation, knowledge questions posed by a panel, and more. The winning Drill Sergeant will move on to the next phase of the Army-wide competition. (U.S. Army photo by Joey Rhodes II)

Soldiers with the Maneuver Center of Excellence’s 194th Armored Brigade, 197th and 198th Infantry Brigades, complete the Tactics Lane during the 2026 MCoE Drill Sergeant of the Year Competition, June 3, 2026, at Fort Benning, Georgia. During the competition, Drill Sergeants face a variety of physical and mental tests to include an AFT, written exams, scenario-based marksmanship, land navigation, knowledge questions posed by a panel, and more. The winning Drill Sergeant will move on to the next phase of the Army-wide competition. (U.S. Army photo by Joey Rhodes II)

FORT BENNING, Ga. — Following days of grueling physical assessments, rigorous tactical evaluations, and intense instructional scrutiny, Staff Sgt. Ryan Clark, 197th Infantry Brigade, has been named the 2026 Fort Benning Drill Sergeant of the Year.

"Earning the title of Fort Benning Drill Sergeant of the Year is an incredible honor," said Clark. "Getting to this point was a complete roller coaster of emotions that demanded everything I had, both physically and mentally."

The five-day competition began June 1, 2026, brought together nine elite competitors, each selected by their respective units as the top drill sergeants among their peers, and concluded June 5 with a ceremony.

Clark stood out among the installation's elite drill sergeants - known as the Army’s standard-bearers - to claim the prestigious title.

"As the only competitor wearing a Ranger tab, I felt a massive amount of internal pressure to live up to that standard every single day,” said Clark. “When the fatigue set in, I just leaned on the Ranger Creed to push through the mental and physical challenges. Now that the relief has set in, I want to use this platform to lead the way for others.”

The annual competition is designed as an ultimate crucible, measuring physical readiness, instructional skill, and leadership under pressure. Over the multi-day event, competitors are individually evaluated on tasks that reflect the absolute standards of the Drill Sergeant Creed.

To secure the top spot, Clark and his fellow competitors faced a demanding sequence of events that pushed them past fatigue and punished complacency. Events completed by competitors included the Army Combat Fitness Test, academic evaluations, rifle qualifications, a ruck march, land navigation, warrior tasks, drill pitches, and culminated with a formal board comprised of Fort Benning senior enlisted leaders.

"Watching these competitors push through extreme mental and physical exhaustion over the last five days has been incredibly inspiring," said Sgt. First Class Steven Bouton, the event organizer and reigning Fort Benning Drill Sergeant of the Year. "Staff Sgt. Clark demonstrated the exact blend of tactical expertise, discipline, and resilience we look for in our standard-bearers. Passing this torch to him is an honor, and I have no doubt he will represent Fort Benning and the Army exceptionally well."

Fort Benning leaders emphasize the competition is less about outlasting peers and more about demonstrating the foundational excellence required to transform civilians into combat-ready Soldiers. Drill sergeants hold a massive influence over the future of the force, setting the standard of discipline and motivation that Soldiers carry into their first operational units.

"Drill sergeants are the backbone of our initial entry training, responsible for shaping recruits into disciplined, physically fit, and mentally tough Soldiers who are fully prepared to add immediate value to their first unit of assignment." said Command Sgt. Maj. Brian D. Haydt, the senior enlisted leader for the U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence. "The caliber of excellence we saw throughout this competition represents the very best of our NCO corps. Staff Sgt. Clark proved he possesses the elite leadership and unwavering standard required to lead the next generation of the American Soldier."

For Clark, winning the title is a testament to that dedication. True to the motto "Rangers lead the way," he hopes to use his new platform as Fort Benning's Drill Sergeant of the Year to establish a program that helps more local drill sergeants attend Ranger School.