OCTOBER 11, 2022 – Five members Army National Guard were among four teams selected for the final round of the U.S. Army’s inaugural Best Squad Competition.
The Best Squad Competition, formerly known as the U.S. Army Best Warrior Competition, is an annual event used to name the U.S. Army’s Best Squad as well as the Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and Soldier of the Year.
The 2022 U.S. Army BSC began with twelve Active Duty, Reserve Component, and Special Forces teams competing at Fort Bragg, N.C. Sept. 29 to Oct. 6. Once the top four teams were selected they moved on to the District of Columbia to complete the final boards, and the winners were announced Oct. 10. Although the ARNG team did not take home the top honors, their success in the competition was a significant sign of the capabilities of the National Guard, said Command Sgt. Major Raines, the Command Sgt. Major of the Army National Guard.
“It’s a tough competition. It’s physically and mentally challenging,” said Command Sgt. Maj. John Raines, the command sergeant major of the Army National Guard. “Working cohesively as a team is what allows for success here and it’s also what makes Army Guard units effective when deploying overseas or responding at home.”
The ARNG team was comprised of five Soldiers selected through National Guard competitions in all 54 states, territories, and the District of Columbia. The team members included:
- Staff Sgt. Bryan Kummer – Nebraska Army National Guard
- Sgt. Tyler Holloway – Wyoming National Guard
- Sgt. Austin Manville – New York Army National Guard
- Spc. Wyatt Walls – Oregon Army National Guard
- Spc. Nathaniel Miska – Minnesota Army National Guard
The 2022 BSC challenges Soldiers with completing the Army Combat Fitness Test, a 12-mile foot march, rifle qualification, proctored assessment phase, hands-on squad tasks, written exam and essay, and board interviews with sergeants major from across the Army. The competition is designed to promote morale and cohesion within the participating commands and reinforce the importance of squad tactics.
The National Guard team focused on this unit cohesion by attending a month of training together at the National Guard’s Warrior Training Center at Fort Benning, Georgia. This helped prepare them for the competition and made them more well-rounded Soldiers, said Staff Sgt. Bryan Kummer, the squad leader for the ARNG Best Squad.
“Everyone came here with an attitude of being ready to learn from each other and their experiences,” said Kummer. “Not only have we improved our warrior tasks, but we have all learned something from one another, whether it be leadership or how to handle any situation we may come across in the Army.”
Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston, who oversaw the event, credits professional development as a critical driver of the competition’s intent.
“I want units to really think about what makes up a squad,” Grinston explained. “It’s about those small groups of Soldiers who really know and care about each other and hold each other to a high standard of proficiency, discipline, and fitness.”
Kummer said that he not only took that sentiment to heart, but also feels a sense of responsibility to take it beyond the scope of competition to enhance overall readiness in his state.
“The competition was structured to meet the vision of what the Sergeant Major of the Army wants in his fighting force,” said Kummer. “So having done it ourselves, now we have an obligation to take this back to our units, so we are helping better our organizations.”
Story by Sgt. 1st Class Whitney Hughes
National Guard Bureau