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Youngest soldier in Army’s Best Squad wanted to win ‘with the guys to my left and right’

U.S. Soldiers, assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, compete in a fitness event for Community Day following the 2026 U.S. Army Best Squad Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia, Sept. 19, 2026. The Community Day fitness event allows Best Squad competitors to demonstrate their physical abilities and squad cohesiveness. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Pomare Te’o Jr.)
The winners of this year's Best Squad competition included experienced Army Rangers and one who had to earn his Ranger tab. Army photo by Sgt. Pomare Te’o Jr. Army photo by Sgt. Pomare Te’o Jr.
Profile PhotoTommy Alien ·

Automatically curated summary from Task & Purpose.

According to Task & Purpose, a five-man team from the 3rd Ranger Battalion’s A Company won the U.S. Army’s 2026 Best Squad Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia. Led by Staff Sgt. Colin Doyle, who was named Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, the squad completed events covering marksmanship, swim tests, medical tasks, and an 18-mile ruck march. Teammate Sgt. Michael Shield was named Soldier of the Year. Squad members highlighted mutual support during grueling challenges, including assisting Doyle through severe muscle cramps and choosing to finish the final march as a unified team.

Context and limitations

Information is based on feed excerpts and participant quotes provided by Task & Purpose; official Army records and complete competition scores are not fully detailed in the text.

From left, U.S. Army Spc. William Schaeffer, Sgt. William Masters, Staff Sgt. Colin Doyle, Cpl. Michael Shield and Spc. Marshall Garren, representing United States Army Special Operations Command, pose for their official team photo in preparation for Best Squad Competition 2026 at Fort Benning, Georgia, September 10, 2026. The annual competition tests the squads’ proficiency in their warrior tasks and battle drills to identify the most cohesive, highly trained, disciplined and fit team that is r
From left, Spc. William Schaeffer, Sgt. William Masters, Staff Sgt. Colin Doyle, Cpl. Michael Shield and Spc. Marshall Garren, representing United States Army Special Operations Command at the 2026 Best Squad Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia, September 10, 2026. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Daniel Hernandez.
From left, U.S. Army Spc. William Schaeffer, assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Pfc. Cleopheus Lane, assigned to U.S. Army Europe and Africa Command, and Spc. Macguire Klemick, assigned to U.S. Army Pacific Command, walk to the starting point of the combat water survival relay race at Victory Pond during the 2026 U.S. Army Best Squad Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia, Sept. 16, 2026. The Best Squad Competition showcases the discipline, training, and global reach that make o
Army Spc. William Schaeffer at the starting point of the combat water survival relay race at Victory Pond during the 2026 U.S. Army Best Squad Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia, Sept. 16, 2026. Army photo by Spc. Jordan Bristol.

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