Army National Guard Announces 2025 Best Warriors

Strategic Insights -

In a highly competitive event, Sgt. Michael Fouts and Sgt. Luke Cloward emerged as the top Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) in the Army National Guard's 2025 Best Warriors Competition. The duo dominated a field of 14 elite Soldiers and NCOs from across seven regions of the United States, showcasing their tactical expertise, mental agility, and physical endurance. Their victory earns them a spot in the U.S. Army's Best Squad Competition later this year.

Key Takeaways:

  • Sgt. Michael Fouts, an infantryman in the Arizona Army National Guard's 158th Infantry Regiment, and Sgt. Luke Cloward, a motor vehicle operator in the Utah Army National Guard's 214th Forward Support Company, were named the Army National Guard's 2025 Best Warriors in the Soldier and NCO categories.
  • The competition, held in Annapolis, Maryland, on July 18, 2025, featured over 20 demanding events designed to test the competitors' skills in tactical expertise, mental agility, and physical endurance.
  • The competitors, who had to win both state and regional Best Warrior events, represented a broad cross-section of the National Guard, bringing a variety of military occupational specialties, backgrounds, and experiences to the field.
  • Maj. Gen. Janeen L. Birckhead, adjutant general of Maryland, emphasized that the competition is "the culmination of months, sometimes years, of preparation," highlighting the grit, leadership, and excellence that the National Guard strives for.
  • Command Sgt. Maj. David Harry, Command Senior Enlisted Leader of the Maryland National Guard, noted that the events are designed to "push each Soldier beyond their comfort zone," and that this year's competitors demonstrated "tremendous determination, adaptability, and leadership."
  • The top Soldier and NCO will represent the National Guard at the U.S. Army's Best Squad Competition later this year, where they will compete against the best from across all Army components.
  • Spc. Canyon Blassingame, Spc. Logan J. Rutledge, and Staff Sgt. Brandon M. Byrne were also selected to join Fouts and Cloward in competing in Best Squad.

Statistics:

  • 14 elite Soldiers and NCOs from across seven regions of the United States competed in the Army National Guard's 2025 Best Warriors Competition.
  • The competition featured over 20 demanding events, including day and night land navigation, obstacle courses, marksmanship, ruck marches, medical scenarios, and mystery tasks.
  • The competitors represented a broad cross-section of the National Guard, bringing a wide variety of military occupational specialties, backgrounds, and experiences to the field.
  • The Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition has been held annually since the early 2000s, and remains one of the most prestigious tests of Soldier skills and endurance.

Sources:

  • U.S. Army-Asia Pacific: "2025 Best Warriors Competition" (July 21, 2025)