Photo By Maj. Ian Roth | US Army Soldiers from 11th Airborne Division compete in Best Ranger Competition during...... read more read more
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11th Airborne Division Makes Historic Mark at Infantry Week 2026 and Best Ranger Competition
FORT BENNING, Ga. — The 11th Airborne Division, headquartered at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) and Fort Wainwright, Alaska, made history this year by fielding teams in every major event during U.S. Army Infantry Week 2026, including the Best Ranger Competition, International Sniper Competition, Best Mortar Competition, Best Jumpmaster Competition, and the Lacerda Cup Army Combatives Championship.
Among the highlights, one of the division’s three Best Ranger teams finished an impressive fifth place out of 61 teams, competing against the Army’s most elite Ranger-qualified officers, NCOs, and Soldiers.
“Best Ranger competition is where we find out who the best Ranger-qualified soldiers in the United States Army are,” said Maj. Gen. John P. Cogbill, commanding general of the 11th Airborne Division. “We bring them together into a 60-hour grueling competition, where they get very little sleep, very little chow, and just demonstrate expertise in all the fundamentals.”
The events, which mirror many of the tasks performed in Ranger School, test not only physical endurance but also mental toughness and technical proficiency. “We’re talking about basic infantry blocking and tackling tasks, but it’s really testing endurance—not just physical fitness, but mental fitness,” Cogbill explained. “There’s a lot of technical tasks on top of that. Some they can prepare for, but then there’s the unknown, and that’s where the mental aspect comes in. Layer on top of that fatigue and the adrenaline that comes with competition, and you really get to differentiate the competitors and find the best of the best.”
Teams trained for months in Alaska’s challenging Arctic environment, balancing a high operational tempo with the demands of elite competition.
“These warriors still found time to train,” Cogbill said, noting that the teams arrived in Georgia several weeks early to acclimate to the drastic change in climate. “They left JBER when it was below freezing, and now it’s 85 degrees at Fort Benning. We talk about being ‘Arctic tough’ in Alaska, but that toughness applies here in the heat as well.”
Each Best Ranger team consisted of two Rangers who trained together for months, learning each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
“You can’t do this unless you’re a good teammate,” Cogbill emphasized. “They went through this entire train-up together, getting to know each other, knowing how to pick each other up, and motivating each other. That bond will serve them through the entire 60-hour competition, and they’ll start and finish together. They’re bonded for life.”
According to Cogbilll, the division’s participation in Infantry Week is about more than just competition. “Competition breeds excellence,” Cogbill said. “It’s important that we compete in everything we do. The 11th Airborne Division has been represented in every one of these events and has demonstrated expertise across all of them. It’s a great way to measure ourselves against the rest of the Army and to showcase the talent we have in the 11th Airborne Division.”
As Infantry Week drew to a close with Soldiers crossing the finish line at the Best Ranger Competition, friends and family members who traveled from across the country cheered on the competitors, emphasizing the strong support network behind the Arctic Angels.
“I hope this inspires the rest of the Arctic Angels to be the best at everything they do,” Cogbill expressed. “When they see what their buddies are capable of, I think they’ll realize they’re capable of much more than they ever thought. It’s important to do hard things—hard times don’t last, but hard soldiers do.”
| Date Taken: | 04.15.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 04.17.2026 11:59 |
| Story ID: | 562830 |
| Location: | GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 212 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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