JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. — Soldiers from across Joint Base Lewis-McChord showcased their strength, skill and teamwork during the America’s First Corps Best Squad Competition, held on June 9–13, 2025.
Throughout the five-day event, the participants tested their limits through a series of physically and mentally challenging tasks. The competition was designed to identify the most cohesive and capable squad, emphasizing both individual proficiency and collective performance.
“Lethality starts where you know where you’re standing and strive to where you are headed,” said Brig. Gen. Kevin Cotman, the commander of the 593rd Corps Sustainment Command. “This competition was not a test of ability but of mental toughness.”
The event began with the Army Fitness Test, followed by an appearance board and a written exam, setting a high standard from the outset. As the week progressed, squads were tested on a variety of Soldier tasks, including tactical field exercises, medical lanes, and complex battle drills under pressure.
Land navigation both day and night required squads to traverse rugged terrain using only a map and compass, highlighting their precision and endurance. Weapons proficiency played a major role, with each five-person squad demonstrating competence with a range of systems: the M2 .50 caliber machine gun, M240B, M249, M4 carbine, M17 pistol, and M320 grenade launcher.
One of the most demanding segments was the stress shoot, a live-fire exercise conducted under simulated combat conditions. This tested not only marksmanship, but also the squad’s ability to communicate, coordinate, and perform effectively while under extreme stress.
This year, the cadre added a mystery event for the participants of the best squad competition. Squads were given three minutes to memorize a two-layer packing list, then complete a series of physically demanding tasks including grenade throw, pushing a sled, low crawl, and hopping over barriers.
They next individually entered the cognitive lane to place the items of the original packing list in the correct order 1 to 6, left to right on a tarp using color-coded markers. The timed event reinforced team coordination, physical and mental agility, and operational precision under pressure.
The competition concluded with a 12-mile ruck march, requiring squads to maintain a pace of 15 minutes per mile or faster to meet the Army standard. The final stretch served as a true test of mental resilience, physical stamina, and unit cohesion.
This competition is not about the title,” said Brig. Gen. Cotman, “Every soldier who competes is stronger and more resilient than before.”
As the competition wrapped up, teams anxiously awaited the announcement of the best squad at Evergreen theatre at JBLM.
Squad 9, the team representing the 2-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division, was awarded the title of America’s First Corps Best Squad.
“The best part of the competition was the squad coming together as a cohesive team,” said Staff Sgt. Keaton Vansickle, the squad leader of Squad 9, representing the 2-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division. “The best squad isn’t just a title, It’s a reflection of our hard work and who we are.
The I Corps Best Squad Competition 2025 showcased the exceptional professionalism, readiness, and warrior ethos of America’s First Corps Soldiers, further underscoring the Army’s continued commitment to developing highly capable, combat-ready teams.
“It's an honor to be the one squad out of the entire corps to go represent at the FORSCOM level,” said Staff Sgt. Vansickle, “That's a pretty prestigious honor to have.”
| Date Taken: | 06.13.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 06.15.2025 23:22 |
| Story ID: | 500622 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 12 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, I Corps Best Squad 2025, by SPC Elsi Delgado, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
