FORT CARSON, Colo. — Soldiers with 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, walk to their final event during the “This is My Squad” competition March 10, 2020. Squads with 2nd IBCT tested their ability to work together as a team to accomplish various tasks to highlight the initiative launched by Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael A. Grinston. (Photo by Sgt. Gabrielle Peña)
By Sgt. David Davidson
4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office
FORT CARSON, Colo. — 1st Lt. Haley Ann Harrison, battalion personnel officer, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, weaves through the bars on an obstacle during a competition May 21, 2019, at Fort Carson. (Photo by Sgt. James Geelen)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — During Ivy Week 2022, the Best Squad Competition will take place May 23-24, 2022, at Fort Carson. The Best Squad Competition is a five-person organic squad competition that determines the best squad at Fort Carson. This competition lasts 48 hours and puts squads through grueling tests that showcase everything they have learned as experts of the Mountain Post.
“This sort of tactical event is important for higher leadership to gauge how well a typical squad would do while in a combat scenario,” said Sgt. Kristen Mercado, an unmanned aircraft systems repairer with 6th Attack Reconnaissance Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Pvt. Jacob Babineau, Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, waits for further instruction after donning his M50 gas mask during a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear test at the competition March 10, 2020. (Photo by Sgt. Gabrielle Peña)
There are 10 individual and squad drills each team must complete. These drills and tasks include marksmanship; land navigation; individual and squad drills; chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high yield explosives tactical tasks, and tactical combat casualty care. These tasks test the trust between each squad member.
“Yesterday, today and into tomorrow’s uncertain future, our units remain ready,” said Maj. Gen. David M. Hodne, commanding general, 4th Inf. Div., and Fort Carson. “Our units train to where drills are instinctive, adapt quickly to changing conditions, collaborate with adjacent units at the speed of combat, and can succeed in any environment across the spectrum.”
The winner of this competition will move on to represent 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson in the Army’s Best Squad Competition in June. The NCO and Soldier of the Quarter for 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson will be selected within the best squad teams. The competition will be worth the most points toward the Commander’s Cup, awarded to the battalion with the most points at the end of Ivy Week.