Army National Guard Names 2026 Best Warrior Competition Winners
The Army National Guard held its 2026 Best Warrior Competition from July 11-14 at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center in Florida, with 14 top soldiers from 14 states competing in over 25 events. Spc. Brandon Brown (Florida) was named Soldier of the Year, and Sgt. Michael Fouts (Arizona) was named Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. All 14 competitors unexpectedly earned the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge and Schützenschnur marksmanship badge. Brown and Fouts will advance to the Department of the Army Best Squad Competition in September at Fort Benning, Georgia.
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Soldiers Recognized in Army National Guard 2026 Best Warrior Competition
The Army National Guard has named Spc. Brandon Brown of the Florida Army National Guard as the 2026 Soldier of the Year and Sgt. Michael Fouts of the Arizona Army National Guard as the Noncommissioned Officer of the Year following the Best Warrior Competition held July 11-14 at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center in Florida. The four-day event featured 14 top soldiers and NCOs from 14 states competing in over 25 events testing marksmanship, land navigation, tactical decision making, and physical endurance. Brown and Fouts will represent the Army National Guard at the Department of the Army Best Squad Competition scheduled for Sept. 11-19 at Fort Benning, Georgia, joined by three other top competitors. All 14 participants earned the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge and the Schützenschnur marksmanship badge after German officials evaluated certain events without prior notice.
Soldiers Recognized in Army National Guard 2026 Best Warrior Competition
The Army National Guard has named Spc. Brandon Brown of the Florida Army National Guard as the 2026 Soldier of the Year and Sgt. Michael Fouts of the Arizona Army National Guard as the Noncommissioned Officer of the Year following the Best Warrior Competition held July 11-14 at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center in Florida. The four-day event featured 14 top soldiers and NCOs from 14 states competing in over 25 events testing marksmanship, land navigation, tactical decision-making, and physical endurance in extreme heat. Brown and Fouts will represent the Army National Guard at the Department of the Army Best Squad Competition in September at Fort Benning, Georgia, joined by three other top finishers. All 14 competitors unexpectedly earned the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge and Schützenschnur marksmanship badge after German officials evaluated events without prior notice.
Soldiers Recognized in Army National Guard 2026 Best Warrior Competition
The Army National Guard has named Spc. Brandon Brown of the Florida Army National Guard as the 2026 Soldier of the Year and Sgt. Michael Fouts of the Arizona Army National Guard as the Noncommissioned Officer of the Year following the Best Warrior Competition held July 11-14 at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center in Florida. The four-day event featured 14 top soldiers and NCOs from 14 states competing in over 25 events testing marksmanship, land navigation, tactical decision-making, and physical endurance in extreme heat. Brown and Fouts will represent the Army National Guard at the Department of the Army Best Squad Competition in September at Fort Benning, Georgia, joined by three other top finishers. All 14 competitors unexpectedly earned the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge and Schützenschnur marksmanship badge after German officials evaluated events during the competition. The winners emphasized their commitment to setting an example and demonstrating the warfighting profession's purpose.
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Soldiers Recognized in Army National Guard 2026 Best Warrior Competition
The Army National Guard has named Spc. Brandon Brown of the Florida Army National Guard as the 2026 Soldier of the Year and Sgt. Michael Fouts of the Arizona Army National Guard as the Noncommissioned Officer of the Year following the Best Warrior Competition held July 11-14 at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center in Florida. The four-day event featured 14 top soldiers and NCOs from 14 states competing in over 25 events testing marksmanship, land navigation, tactical decision-making, and physical endurance. Brown and Fouts will represent the Army National Guard at the Department of the Army Best Squad Competition scheduled for Sept. 11-19 at Fort Benning, Georgia, joined by three other top finishers. All 14 competitors unexpectedly earned the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge and Schützenschnur marksmanship badge after German officials evaluated certain events. The winners emphasized their commitment to setting an example and demonstrating the warfighting profession's purpose.
Soldiers recognized in Army National Guard 2026 Best Warrior Competition
The Army National Guard has named Spc. Brandon Brown of the Florida Army National Guard as the 2026 Soldier of the Year and Sgt. Michael Fouts of the Arizona Army National Guard as the Noncommissioned Officer of the Year following the Best Warrior Competition held July 11-14 at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center in Florida. The four-day event featured 14 top soldiers and NCOs from 14 states competing in over 25 events testing marksmanship, land navigation, tactical decision-making, and physical endurance in extreme heat. Brown and Fouts will represent the Army National Guard at the Department of the Army Best Squad Competition scheduled for September 11-19 at Fort Benning, Georgia, joined by three other top finishers: Sgt. 1st Class Erich Friedlein, Spc. Caleb Chambers, and Spc. Caden Leonard. All 14 competitors earned the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge and Schützenschnur marksmanship badge after German officials evaluated events without prior notice.
Soldiers Recognized in Army National Guard 2026 Best Warrior Competition
The Army National Guard has named Spc. Brandon Brown of the Florida Army National Guard as the 2026 Soldier of the Year and Sgt. Michael Fouts of the Arizona Army National Guard as the Noncommissioned Officer of the Year following the Best Warrior Competition held July 11-14 at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center in Florida. The four-day event featured 14 top soldiers and NCOs from 14 states competing in over 25 events testing marksmanship, land navigation, tactical decision-making, and physical endurance in extreme heat. Brown and Fouts will represent the Army National Guard at the Department of the Army Best Squad Competition in September at Fort Benning, Georgia, joined by three other top finishers. All 14 competitors unexpectedly earned the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge and Schützenschnur marksmanship badge after German officials evaluated events during the competition. The winners expressed commitment to setting an example and demonstrating the warfighting profession's purpose.