2nd Cavalry dethroned as short-handed Best Squad engineer team wins in Germany

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — A small team of Army engineers proved they really do lead the way after winning the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition on Thursday, ending the 2nd Cavalry Regiment’s four-year reign as champions. 

Despite losing their fifth teammate early in the event, Staff Sgt. Jonah Mang, Sgt. Pedro Cardona, Spc. Thang Hwa Mang and Pfc. Cleopheus Lane of the Grafenwoehr-based 15th Engineer Battalion competing under the 7th Engineer Brigade battled to claim the illustrious title.

Lane chalked up the win to the engineers’ creativity. He said his team’s experience with fabrication, tools and bridge building gave them an advantage during events such as obstacle and rough-terrain courses.

“We were definitely headhunting the whole competition,” he said.

The team advanced to the theater competition after winning the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s event in April. 

That victory also ended a run of dominance, as military police squads had won the competition for four consecutive years.

“So after we (won), we saw it was very possible to take down the big dogs,” Lane said.

Spc. Renato Medina provides security during a medical lane event in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, on Aug. 4, 2026. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

Spc. Renato Medina and his squad attend to a casualty dummy during a medical skills assessment in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, on Aug. 4, 2026.  (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

Sgt. Carlos Pacheco of the 52nd Air Defense Artillery Squadron digs a foxhole at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, during the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition on Aug. 4, 2026. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

Months later, they returned to outlast 11 other five-soldier squads from across the region in a contest some competitors described as significantly more demanding.

The eight-day competition began July 30 and took place at the Grafenwoehr Training Area, the Army’s largest permanent training facility in Europe. 

This year, organizers took elements of the Army’s Best Ranger Competition to build a tougher event, Sgt. Maj. Mathieu Barber of the 1st Infantry Division said Tuesday.

Competitors endured sweltering heat and sleepless nights while gutting it out on live-fire ranges, obstacle courses, long-distance rucks, fitness tests, performance exams and more.

Threats on the ground and in the sky added to the challenge. 

Soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division carry a casualty dummy through Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, during the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition on Aug. 4, 2026. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

Soldiers pose as opposition forces during a U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition event at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, on Aug. 4, 2026. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

Spc. Kareco Green of the 16th Sustainment Brigade provides security from a foxhole during the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, on Aug. 4, 2026. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

One difference soldiers noted was the increased use of drones during the competition, which some said they had not encountered at their previous command-level competitions.

That forced squads to dig deeper fighting positions with more cover and remain mindful of what was going on overhead even when they were not actively participating in a graded event. 

This year’s team from the Vilseck-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment did not finish with a podium position.

The engineer squad is expected to represent the Europe and Africa theaters at the Army-level Best Squad Competition at Fort Benning, Ga., from Sept. 11-19.

Last year, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment team selected to represent the theater at the Army-level competition never got the chance after the event was canceled because of the government shutdown. 

This year’s competition remains on the horizon, but it is unclear whether a potential government shutdown could affect the October phase, when the Best Squad, Soldier of the Year and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year winners are scheduled to be announced.