FORT BLISS, Texas — The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command has named the winners of its 2026 Best Squad Competition held at Fort Bliss, July 28-31.
The 1st Space Brigade, headquartered at Fort Carson, Colorado, won the title of USASMDC Best Squad after four days of grueling events that tested the basics of discipline, teamwork and grit that forge elite, combat-ready warfighters prepared to protect the homeland and meet future threats.
Events included the Army Fitness Test, day and night land navigation, water survival, medical lanes, urban operations, an obstacle course, weapons qualifications, a written examination and an appearance before a board of command sergeants major from across the command.
“These events develop leaders,” Lt. Gen. John L. Rafferty, USASMDC commanding general, said. “They teach us how to mitigate risk so we can still operate and perform under the most extreme conditions, because we don’t get to choose those conditions. The mission gets assigned, and we carry it out.”
Other competing teams were the 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade, based at Fort Sill, Oklahoma; the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, based at Fort Bliss; and the 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, based at Fort Hood. These three brigades fall under the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, headquartered at Fort Hood. The 31st ADA and 69th ADA brigades placed second and third, respectively.
The 1st Space Brigade’s competitors were squad leader Staff Sgt. Steven Walker, Sgt. Siegfried Velarde, Spc. Tony Bryant, Spc. Donovan Edgecomb and Pfc. Zachary Transue. The squad will represent USASMDC at the U.S. Army Best Squad Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia, Sept. 11-19.
Walker won the title of NCO of the Year and Pfc. Jaden Wade, 31st ADA Brigade, earned the Soldier of the Year title.
The 1st Space Brigade delivers close space support to ground formations and enables the warfighter to see, sense, strike and assess across the spectrum. While the brigades’ Soldiers are experts in supporting, maintaining and operating technical space systems, the competition showcased their proficiency not only as technical experts but in the foundational basics of shooting, navigating the elements, performing casualty care under fire and communicating.
“To get this award means that I was able to pull the team together, motivate them to continue and earn their trust, which means a lot,” Walker said. “We've fallen back on the fundamentals to be [warrior] skill level one-confident. Even though they are not technically in a combat [military occupational specialty], my Soldiers had the tenacity and drive to work towards and home in on the skills to achieve that expert Soldier status.”
The rigorous competition reflects USASMDC’s broader operational readiness. By testing basic Soldier tasks under stress, it reinforces the foundational teamwork and discipline required to operate complex space and air and missile defense systems in contested environments.
Command Sgt. Maj. Rickey G. Jackson, USASMDC command sergeant major, said that the competition was not an isolated event, but rather an opportunity to sharpen crucial skills and excellence that should be carried back into each competitor’s formations and to future operations.
“Your journey here serves as a powerful testament to the triumph of hard work and commitment in the face of adversity,” Jackson said to the competitors during a final ceremony. “The lessons learned throughout the competition are transformative. Each challenge faced prepares you for future missions, cultivates your leadership skills and fosters unity within your teams. The experience you bring back will strengthen your organizations and ignite a spirit of excellence across the Army.
“The real task here is what you do with it,” Jackson added. “How do you take it back and integrate it into your formations and make everyone else better as well?”
For footage and photography of the event, please see the USASMDCBSC DVIDS page.
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