U.S. Army Spc. Dillion Risk, a weapons locating radar operator, clears his M240B machine gun after completing a live-fire iteration as Pfc. Elijah Cotharn, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist, observes during the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, July 30, 2026. The post-fire procedures reinforce disciplined weapons handling and accountability as Soldiers transition safely between iterations on the range.
Teams from across U.S. Army Europe and Africa will meet at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, to compete for the title of Best Squad, July 30-Aug. 6, 2026. The event tests the squad’s effectiveness, communication, and overall cohesion, as well as the individual Soldiers’ technical and tactical proficiency, endurance, and fortitude. This competitive training event exercises a full range of Squad-Level Skills; highlighting professional excellence and knowledge to determine the command’s top teams. Winners of this competition will advance to represent U.S. Army Europe and Africa at the Army Best Squad Competition. One noncommissioned officer and one junior Soldier will be selected out of the final winning squad to be named the Army’s Best NCO and Best Soldier of the Year, respectively. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Griffin Payne)
| Date Taken: | 07.30.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 07.30.2026 11:33 |
| Photo ID: | 9840131 |
| VIRIN: | 260730-A-WQ640-1020 |
| Resolution: | 6000x3368 |
| Size: | 6.21 MB |
| Location: | GRAFENWOEHR, BAYERN, DE |
| Web Views: | 9 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
This work, U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competitors Conduct M240B Live-Fire [Image 8 of 8], by SGT Griffin Payne, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.