Six soldiers from the 7th Engineer Batallion took first place in the 21st Theater Sustainment Command's Best Squad Competition that ran from April 18-24 in Grafenwoehr, Germany. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — For six soldiers from the 7th Engineer Battalion, the Army motto “engineers lead the way” became reality Friday when they were named the winners of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s Best Squad Competition.
The group unseated last year’s winners, the 18th Military Police Brigade, and bested the five other participating teams from across the command in the six-day competition, which ended Friday.
“They said that 18th was going to be the best of the best, and we wiped the floor with them,” said Spc. Matthew Falone, a bridge crew member on the winning squad.
The Best Squad Competition tests soldiers on physical endurance, tactical proficiency and teamwork, identifying top-performing teams to advance to higher-level Army competitions.
Over the week, competitors pushed through slippery slopes on a rugged terrain course, multiple live-fire ranges, ruck marches, fitness tests, mental tasks, land navigation and more across the Army’s largest training area in Europe.
Army Spc. Jesus Badillo-Rendon, a military policeman with the 18th MP Brigade, provides security for his team during a best squad competition in Grafenwoehr, Germany, on April 22, 2026. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
(From left to right) Army Spc. Pedro Cardona, Staff Sgt. Jonah Mang and Spc. Matthew Falone, all with the 7th Engineer Batallion, hold a trophy after winning the 21st Theater Sustainment Command's Best Squad competition in Grafenwoehr, Germany, on April 24, 2026. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
A soldier fires an M17 pistol on a range near Grafenwoehr, Germany, on April 21, 2026. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Supporting Falone on the squad were 1st Lt. Benjamin Flaherty, Staff Sgt. Jonah Mang, Sgt. Marcus Robinson, Spc. Pedro Cardona and Pfc. Cleopheus Lane.
“Our game plan was to just stick to the fundamentals, and turns out that it works,” Flaherty said.
The engineer group is expected to face the 2nd Cavalry Regiment out of Vilseck, the four-time reigning champions of the U.S. Army Europe and Africa-level competition.
“I’m not really worried about what they say (or) who keeps taking the trophies,” Falone said of facing the regiment. “They’ve never seen us. They don’t know what’s coming their way.”
Army Spc. Brenton Heeter, a military policeman with the 18th MP Brigade, fires an M17 pistol during a Best Squad competition in Grafenwoehr, Germany on April 21, 2026. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Soldiers with the 7th Mission Support Command climb a rocky obstacle on a rugged terrain course for the 21st Theater Sustainment Command's Best Squad competition in Grafenwoehr, Germany, on April 19, 2026. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Army Sgt. Rodrigo Grimalso, a medical logistics specialist with the 30th Medical Brigade, scales a wall on the rugged terrain course in Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, on April 19, 2026. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Army Spc. Brenton Heeter, a military policeman with the 18th Military Police Brigade, fires an M4 rifle on a range during the 21st Theater Sustainment Command Best Squad Competition in Grafenwoehr, Germany, on April 19, 2026. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Maj. Gen. Michael Lalor and Command Sgt. Maj. Denice Malave, the command’s senior leaders, presented the squad with Meritorious Service Medals for their winning efforts.
“They represent the best in our formations: grit, tactical proficiency, teamwork,” Lalor said.
Six soldiers from the second-place 16th Theater Sustainment Brigade team will also advance to the Europe and Africa-level competition in August.
Army Spc. Matthew Falone, a bridge crewmember with 7th Engineer Brigade, fires an M249 squad automatic weapon on a range in Grafenwoehr, Germany, on April 19, 2026. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Army Pvt. Gustavo Dominguez, a tactical power generation specialist with the 18th Military Police Brigade, provides security for his team during the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s Best Squad competition in Grafenwoehr, Germany, on April 22, 2026. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
