FORT MOORE, Ga. – Command Sgt. Maj. John T. Raines, the 13th command sergeant major of the Army National Guard, visited Soldiers preparing to compete in the National Best Squad Competition.

The Army National Guard Best Squad will represent the Army Guard at the 2024 U.S. Army Best Squad Competition from Sept. 29 through Oct. 14, 2024, at Fort Liberty in North Carolina.

The Soldiers will spend 80 days together at the range, in the classroom, working on weapons proficiencies, preparing uniforms, reviewing potential board questions and practicing the events they will compete in during the competition.

Raines mentored the Army National Guard team. He said he is often asked about the Army National Guard Best Squad not being an organic squad because they come from units across our 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia.

“Our organic squads, on average, spend about 39 days together spread over an entire year,” said Raines. “This squad will have spent around 80 days together at the conclusion of the competition. That is two years in Guard time. They are as much an organic squad as any in the Army Guard, and given where they are in just 80 days is a credit to the families they come from, the units they come from, and our entire Army National Guard.”

“They are mentally alert, physically strong and morally straight,“ said Raines. “That is two years in Guard years, and this squad is some of the best we have to offer. I am proud of their accomplishments and look forward to more.“

During the competition, each squad will test its tactical and technical proficiency and its ability to work as a disciplined and cohesive team.

Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Miska from the Minnesota Army National Guard is competing for the second time, the first in 2022 as a squad member and now a second time as the Army National Guard Best Squad’s team leader.

”I am honored to have been extended an offer from Command Sgt. Maj. John Raines on such short notice,” said Miska. ”Returning to the best squad competition a second time is a phenomenal opportunity to leverage my prior experience from 2022. Being familiar with the competition structure and what is expected, I can help refine our strategies and improve our overall team’s performance. Our team’s wealth of knowledge and eagerness to compete makes us bound to succeed.”

The competition features the Army Combat Fitness Test, weapons lanes, individual warrior tasks, squad battle drills, and ruck marches from 4 to 20 miles carrying a 50-pound pack.

This year, Staff Sgt. Lucas Peterson from Iowa, competing for the first time, is taking on the role of squad leader.

“I feel pretty lucky to have a squad full of hard-working, disciplined and dedicated Soldiers,” said Peterson. “All our personalities have meshed well since Day 1. We all enjoy pushing ourselves and look forward to seeing how hard the competition will be for us.“

The U.S. Army’s Best Squad Competition features 12 squads from across the three components of the U.S. Army. The top four teams from the Fort Liberty Best Squad competition will travel to Washington, D.C., for a board-style interview to test their knowledge and professionalism in front of Army leaders. The winner will be announced at the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual conference.