LRMC Medics Overcome Adversity to Take 3rd in MEDCOM Best Squad Competition
The awards recognized Staff Sgt. Joseph Cappiello, Sgt. Zachary Wright, Spc. Carlos Guizar, Spc. Kofi Ballogou, and Spc. Brucelee Tao, for their exceptional performance and dedication, which culminated in a third-place finish at the 2026 U.S. Army Medical Command Best Squad Competitionat Fort Benning, Georgia.
Chaplain Jonathan Fowler, MRC-EUR, command chaplain for Army Medical Command Europe and the Director of Religious Support for Defense Health Network Europe, opened the ceremony with an invocation.
Master Sgt. William Carlyle Jr., senior operation noncommission officer, MRC-EUR highlighted the leadership, technical proficiency, character, and physical fitness required of Soldiers competing at the Army’s highest levels.
“Once a year, we see individuals who not only meet those standards, but redefine them,” Carlyle said. “The journey of the squad being recognized here today didn’t begin in Fort Benning, Georgia. It began right here in Germany.”
The journey began with 22 candidates who volunteered to compete and were evaluated on their mental agility, physical fitness and technical abilities. From that group, five Soldiers were selected to represent Medical Readiness Command-Europe.
The Best Squad Competition is a grueling, multi-day event designed to test the physical endurance, mental resilience, and tactical proficiency of some of the Army’s top medical personnel. For the LRMC team, however, the true test began months before the competitors arrived in Georgia.
“The selection was only the starting point," said Carlyle "What followed was 10 weeks of intense, unforgiving collective training. For 70 days, these Soldiers pushed their bodies and minds to the absolute limit."
The team's success was also the product of deliberate preparation and strong coaching. The two coaches worked to build the competitors into a highly cohesive team capable of operating under extreme physical and mental pressure.
Kalili credited the team’s coaches, command teams and training staff for their commitment throughout the preparation process.
“This team didn’t get here by accident,” Kalili said. “It was through deliberate preparation that they made it through the training.”
She said the third-place finish at the Army-wide competition demonstrates the value of rigorous training and unwavering commitment.
“When our Soldiers returned from the event in Hawaii last year, I asked them to pay it forward,” Kalili said. “Today, we are seeing the incredible results of that commitment.”
Throughout the competition, participants were required to demonstrate proficiency in areas including tactical combat casualty care, land navigation, weapons qualification, and physical fitness, while operating under extreme stress and fatigue.
Stackle said the team’s performance demonstrated both individual competence and thehigh standards of medical readiness maintained at LRMC.
“Over the past few months, we have seen firsthand that Army medicine remains as critical as ever,” Stackle said. “This entire team has done an impressive job, and I thank you for what you do.”
Stackle also highlighted the positive feedback he has received about LRMC and the work being done throughout the organization, noting that Col. Warren Stewart, commander of LRMC, regularly keeps him informed about the command’s accomplishments.
During the ceremony, Stackle presented the Soldiers with the Army Achievement Medals and commander’s coins in recognition of their performance.
The road to third place was not without challenges. Kalili said unforeseen circumstances and changes to the roster required the command to assemble three iterations of the team before reaching the final competition lineup.
Despite those setbacks, the Soldiers remained focused and continued training at an elite level.
“This team took on the absolute best Soldiers the United States Army Medical Command had to offer while facing extreme heat, elite competition, and squad changes,” Kalili said.
Their performance ultimately demonstrated the grit, adaptability and resilience required of Army medical professionals operating in demanding environments.
The Soldiers’ achievement reflects not only their individual dedication but also the collective efforts of their coaches, leaders and teammates. Their third-place finish demonstrates LRMC’s commitment to maintaining a medically ready force capable of providing high-quality care in garrison and in forward-deployed environments.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
