3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment Secures Best Squad Title
In a display of exceptional skill and endurance, a five-soldier squad from the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment emerged victorious at the Best Squad competition. The announcement was made during the Association of the U.S. Army Annual Meeting and Exposition. This victory was the culmination of a rigorous series of challenges held at Fort Benning, Georgia, from September 11 to 19.
Competing against 10 other squads, the Rangers not only claimed the Best Squad title but also saw Cpl. Michael Shield and Staff Sgt. Colin Doyle honored as the Army’s Soldier of the Year and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, respectively. This success further cements the 75th Ranger Regiment’s reputation as a formidable force, having dominated three of the last four competitions.
In an Army release, Doyle highlighted the unit’s focus, stating, “The 75th Ranger Regiment is a one-of-a-kind unit. We simply show up to work every day focused on marksmanship, small unit tactics, medical training and mobility.”
The awards were presented by Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael R. Weimer to Shield, Doyle, and the rest of the squad members: Sgt. William Masters, Spc. William Schaeffer, and Spc. Marshall Garren.
The competition tested a wide range of skills, including fitness, weapons handling, medical response scenarios, and featured an 18.6-mile nighttime march. Soldiers also tackled the “First 100 Yards” exercise, a modern take on the recruit initiation process, completed a combat water survival course, and were evaluated by review boards.
Shield remarked on the significance of the event, saying, “The Army Best Squad Competition is important because it shows where the readiness of the different commands is at across the entire Army. And on top of that, competition is a huge part of the Army. And who doesn’t want to be first?”
This year marked the first Best Squad competition since 2024, as the 2025 event was canceled due to budgetary issues caused by Congress’ failure to pass a fiscal 2026 budget. Previously, the Rangers had won the Best Squad title in 2022 and swept all three major awards in 2023. In 2024, the U.S. Army Pacific team took home the top squad honors.
