FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — After three days of competition, the squad representing 1st Engineer Brigade was named the 2026 Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Best Squad during an award ceremony March 26, 2026, in Baker Theater.
The MSCoE Best Squad Competition, held March 23 – 26, 2026, across Fort Leonard Wood, featured an array of events simulating the rigors of combat. These challenges were designed to assess everything from individual Soldier skills to the squad's collective ability to execute complex missions.
The winning squad consisted ofSgt. 1st Class Steven Huffstutter, Staff Sgt. Todd Holm Jr., Spc. Julian Ramon, and Pfcs. Sawyer Williamson and Estel Summers.
Huffstutter, a 1st Eng. Bde. senior drill sergeant, said his squad embraced the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers motto to persevere through the mental and physical adversity of the three-day competition.
“As engineers our motto is ‘Essayons,’ which translates from the French language to ‘Let Us Try.’ Our motto as engineer Soldiers is special and can be described as not a shy-hearted gesture into attempting tasks, but a promise,” said Huffstutter, who served as his squad’s leader. “We will be there, we will show up, and it will take excruciating amounts of effort to find a way to slow us down.”
During the ceremony, MSCoE and Fort Leonard Wood Command Sgt. Maj. Jorge Arzabala said MSCoE’s Best Squad Competition challenges Fort Leonard Wood’s brigades to find the most highly trained, disciplined and fit squad who demonstrate commitment to the Army Values and Warrior Ethos.
“This competition demonstrates what we aspire to be as Soldiers,” Arzabala said. “These 15 individuals put their hearts and souls into these events.”
Three squads, comprised of five Soldiers each, were tested on their physical fitness and endurance, marksmanship and weapons proficiency, tactical and technical skills, and innovative and emerging capabilities.
“We modified this year’s competition to integrate drones into the mission in a realistic fashion,” Arzabala said.
Unmanned aerial systems were used during patrol lane events held March 25 at Training Area 128.
Huffstutter said the most challenging day for his squad was March 24, during events based on the Expert Infantryman Badge and Expert Soldier Badge tasks.
“Combining proper sequence, not knowing what tasks were going to be graded, as well as having Soldiers with little exposure to said tasks can be overwhelming,’ Huffstutter said. “Ultimately, my squad was able to adapt, overcome and put a healthy score on the scoreboard.”
The night land navigation portion of the competition, across Training Area 148, was a favorite for the engineer squad.
“It gave tremendous amounts of training value to my junior enlisted squad members to see how more experienced leaders navigate by foot utilizing methods such as terrain association,” Huffstutter said. “It was enjoyable due to the fact that once we were within close proximity of our point, we could all get online, spread out, and use a clover leaf method to hone in on the point we were looking for.”
He said they trained for the competition by “simply staying consistent in what Soldiers are expected to do” by living up to their Army creeds.
“Trained and proficient in my warrior risks and drills,’ as well as ‘I am an expert and I am a professional,’ are two verses from the [Soldier’s Creed](https://www.army.mil/values/soldiers.html).,” Huffstutter said.“(We) live by our creed and will not settle for mediocrity. It's what we’re supposed to do as Soldiers.”
As engineers, he said they are expected to be called upon in all aspects of mobility, counter-mobility and survivability.
“These are incredibly demanding roles in today’s modern battlefield. It is vital that our year-round training and readiness is challenging,” Huffstutter said.
According to Huffstutter, the squad's physical readiness was guided by a fitness-fatigue model, a scientific approach to training that ensures athletes are at their strongest and most rested when it counts.
“This involves a progressive increase in volume and intensity, followed by reducing volume while sustaining intensity before a key event,” he said.
MSCOE’s Best Squad will go on to compete in the [Transformation and Training Command](https://www.army.mil/t2com)’s Best Squad Competition scheduled for May in Fort Polk, Louisiana.
More photos from this competition are available on [Fort Leonard Wood’sFlickrpage](https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCNUhk).
| Date Taken: |
04.01.2026 |
| Date Posted: |
04.01.2026 16:09 |
| Story ID: |
561768 |
| Location: |
FORT LEONARD WOOD, MISSOURI, US |
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