U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Christopher Vandergrift smiles while discussing the events of the Best Warrior Competition with National Service Academy 1st Lt. Ibrihim Al-Sulalti [Image 2 of 7]

UMM SALAL MUHAMMED, QATAR

02.02.2025

Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Ariana Shuemake 

153rd Public Affairs Detachment

Qatar National Service Academy 1st Lt. Ibrihim Al-Sulalti, left, and U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Christopher Vandergrift smile during a conversation while observing a block of instruction on weapons familiarization at the National Service Academy in Umm Salal Muhammed, Qatar, Feb. 2, 2025. This year’s competition is the first to be hosted jointly with a partner nation outside the continental United States, and the first time that partner nation’s military members have competed alongside U.S. service members. The competition features a multitude of core competencies ranging from the Army Combat Fitness Test and weapons lanes; to a foot march and detailed individual warrior tasks and battle drills. The West Virginia National Guard and Qatar Armed Forces partnered in 2018 through the State Partnership Program, the National Guard’s flagship international affairs and security cooperation initiative. Years of combined training and development of enduring relationships between the militaries has led to this event, meant to foster more capable and interoperable partners and pursue shared objectives.

• Date Taken: 02.02.2025
• Date Posted: 02.08.2025 11:49
• Photo ID: 8862460
• VIRIN: 250202-Z-QC446-4011
• Resolution: 2475x3712
• Size: 5.04 MB
• Location: UMM SALAL MUHAMMED, QA