JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — After a grueling three-day test of combat medical skills, a team from the 7th Infantry Division based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, emerged victorious at the 2026 Command Sgt. Maj. Jack L. Clark Jr. U.S. Army Best Medic Competition on Jan. 29.
Staff Sgt. Kolby S. Kapsner and Sgt. Matthew R. Winters, representing 7th Infantry Division in Joint Base Lewis-McChord, beat out 32 other two-person teams to claim the title.
The competition, held Jan. 26-29, challenged elite medical personnel in scenarios designed to mirror the chaos of real-world combat.
"The Best Medic Competition is the ultimate test of our medics’ abilities to deliver combat-ready care at the point of injury," said Lt. Gen. Mary K. Izaguirre, Army surgeon general and commander of U.S. Army Medical Command. She also said “CSM Dobbins, and his fellow NCOs have raised the bar once again.”
Contestants were tested on endurance, technical medical skills and lethality through long-distance foot marches, casualty evacuation drills and weapons qualifications.
A "mystery event" forced teams to adapt to unanticipated tactical and technical tasks, testing the physical stamina and medical expertise required on the modern battlefield. The “mystery event” was a simulated casualty evacuation scenario in a combat simulation.
The annual event honors the legacy of Command Sgt. Maj. Jack L. Clark Jr., the 13th command sergeant major of U.S. Army Medical Command. To compete, soldiers must be Active Duty, National Guard, or Army Reserve and have already earned either the Combat Medical Badge or the Expert Field Medical Badge.
Command Sgt. Maj. John Dobbins emphasized that the event is more than a trophy hunt; it is a benchmark for the entire medical corps.
"The Army Best Medic Competition continuously evolves to match our medical capabilities," Dobbins said. "such as whole blood at the point of injury. We also integrate current threats, such as small, unmanned aircraft systems."
Combat Ready Care… This We’ll Defend!
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