Pfc. Jaiden Ramos of the 2nd Theater Signal Brigade patrols the woods during a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials event at the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, on Aug. 25, 2025. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
GRAFENWOEHR TRAINING AREA, Germany — A storied cavalry regiment based in Vilseck will once again represent U.S. Army Europe and Africa at the Army’s Best Squad Competition, as it kept its streak alive as the only winner of a theater-wide contest.
The 2nd Cavalry regiment scored its fourth win in a row in the eight-day competition, which ended Thursday. It brought together 10 of the toughest five-soldier squads from across Europe and Africa-based units for a grueling test of endurance, skill and teamwork at the Army’s largest overseas training area in Germany.
The winning squad was made up of Staff Sgt. Seth Peaton, Sgt. James Tranchina, Spc. Devin Schallert, Spc. Reynoso Ruiz and Pfc. Samuel Vittitow.
The regiment’s sniper section leader, Peaton stepped into the role held last year by Staff Sgt. Jordon Behr, inheriting both his billet within the unit and the mantle of best squad leader.
And Vittitow earned individual recognition as the competition’s best soldier, a remarkable achievement given that he’s been in the service for only six months.
“I’m hoping to see how other units fare against ours,” he said. “I’m not going to underestimate them. I know these guys are going to be the best of the best, but so are we.”
Army Sgt. Joshua Botti of the 2nd Theater Signal Brigade prepares his gear for a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials event in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, on Aug. 25, 2025. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Sgt. Joshua Botti of the 2nd Theater Signal Brigade patrols the woods during a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials event at the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, on Aug. 25, 2025. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Army Staff Sgt. William Ansong, with 2nd Theater Signal Brigade, clears his gas mask during a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials event at the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, on Aug. 25, 2025. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
A soldier with 2nd Theater Signal Brigade helps create a security perimeter during a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials event at the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, on Aug. 25, 2025. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Army Staff Sgt. William Ansong, right, assists Sgt. Matthew Whitley, both with 2nd Theater Signal Brigade, with putting on a gas mask during a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials event at the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, on Aug. 25, 2025. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Soldiers with 2nd Theater Signal Brigade compete at the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition at Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany put on their mop gear during a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials event on Aug. 25, 2025. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
A soldier with 2nd Theater Signal Brigade participates in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition puts on his mop gear during a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials event at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, on Aug. 25, 2025. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
A soldier competing at the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition at Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany puts on his mop gear during a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials event on Aug. 25, 2025. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
A CH-47 Chinook prepares to land for a medical evacuation event during the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition at Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany on Aug. 25, 2025. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Soldiers participating in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition at Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany carry a casualty dummy into a CH-47 Chinook during a medical event on Aug. 25, 2025. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
A CH-47 Chinook prepares to land as part of a medical evacuation event during the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition at Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany on Aug. 25, 2025. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Army Staff Sgt. Eduardo Buitrago, with 56th Artillery Command, carries a casualty dummy from a CH-47 Chinook to a military ambulance during a medical event at the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, on Aug. 25, 2025. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
V Corps' 2nd Cavalry Regiment takes the crown Aug. 28, 2025, as U.S. Army Europe and Africa's best squad after an eight-day competition at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany. The regiment has won the theater-wide competition all four years it has taken place. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Spc. Devin Schallert of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment is awarded an Army Commendation Medal alongside his squad for placing first in the eight-day U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition on Aug. 28, 2025. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
A five-soldier team from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment placed first in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa's Best Squad Competition on Aug. 28, 2025. The regiment will represent the theater for the fourth year in a row at the Army-wide Best Squad Competition at Fort Bragg, N.C., in October. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Since its inception four years ago, the USAREUR competition has been adapted with each iteration to best reflect situations soldiers face on the battlefield.
“As we see different effects and different tactics used by the Russian forces against Ukraine, and different things that are impacting the United States’ efforts in Europe, of course we take those into consideration and try to work those different variables into our training scenarios,” V Corps’ operations Sgt. Maj. David Huntington said Monday.
While squads receive general guidance on which skills to train for, the exact challenges remain unknown until the competition begins, Huntington said.
This year’s version featured three phases, with teams tested in events to include the Army Fitness Test, live-fire ranges, day and night land navigation, endurance rucks, troop-leading procedures, situational training exercises, and written exams.
For the five 2nd Cavalry Regiment members vying for the title of best squad in Europe this time around, the bar had already been set high.
Last year’s USAREUR team took third place in the Army’s overall competition. Their successors will get their chance on the big stage in October, when Fort Bragg, N.C., will host the test to determine the service’s best squad.
The legacy of winning is giving them confidence for the challenge ahead.
“I think competition breeds good soldiers,” Peaton said. “We aren’t actively in a war zone at this moment … so I think that competitions like these will improve our warfighting capabilities and our lethality.”
