GRAFENWOEHR, Germany -- Twenty-two Soldiers representing U.S. Army units stationed across Europe will converge Aug. 20--25 to determine U.S. Army Europe's ultimate warriors.
Winners of the annual European Best Warrior Competition move up to the final challenge, the opportunity to compete at the Department of the Army level event at Fort A.P. Hill, VA in early October.
Candidates from USAREUR and U.S. Army Africa headquarters, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, the 7th Army Training command, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, and NATO Brigade will participate in the weeklong competition.
The winners in officer, warrant officer, noncommissioned officer and Soldier categories will be announced during an awards ceremony Aug. 25 at the Tower Barracks Physical Fitness Center, broadcast live on the U.S. Army Europe Facebook page.
The weeklong event will test candidates' Soldier skills, endurance, fortitude and resourcefulness as well as intellectual and problem-solving capabilities. While some of the competition tasks are standard, such as an Army Physical Fitness Test, written test, marksmanship, ruck march, land navigation and command sergeants major board, some of the week's challenges, such as chemical defense and medical tasks, added to the stress of fitting everything into a few short days, should be especially tough, according to Command Sgt. Maj. Sheryl Lyon, the U.S. Army Europe senior enlisted leader.
"Not only will this test their Soldier skills, but it will challenge their decision-making and mental agility," Lyon said. "I'm excited to see the Soldiers in action. They demonstrate so much talent every day in every corner of Europe so it's great to recognize the best of the best through to head-to-head competition. They are in it to win and have so much pride in their abilities."
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