ARMY RESERVE COMPETITIVE PROGRAMS

U.S. Army Reserve Best Squad Competitors execute a land navigation, and multiple obstacle course as part of U.S. Army Reserve Best Squad Competition at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, Sep. 5, 2023. Sixty Soldiers from across the nation traveled to Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, to compete in the 2023 U.S. Army Reserve Best Squad Competition from September 2-10. 2023. BSC is an annual competition that brings together the best Soldiers and squads from across the U.S. Army Reserve to earn the title of “Best Warrior” and “Best Squad” among their peers. Competitors are evaluated on their individual and collective ability to adapt to and overcome challenging scenarios and battle-focus events that test their technical and tactical abilities under stress and extreme fatigue (U.S. Army Reserve Video by Sgt. Dominque Ford)

Expert Soldier Badge candidates are tasked with completing ten weapon system lanes, which require candidates to perform weapon related tasks such as load and unload, correct malfunctions, and a functions check. The candidates must successfully complete all ten tasks and only have one no go for the day. Weapon systems shown in this video include: M26 modular accessory shotgun, AT4, M240B machine gun, M17 pistol, M249 squad automatic weapon and M2 machine gun. Soldiers from all three U.S. Army components, reserve, national guard and active, attempting to earn the Expert Soldier Badge must successfully complete various physical and mental tasks such as: an expert physical fitness assessment, day and night land navigation, Soldier tasks including weapons, medical and patrol procedures, and finally a ruck march. Successfully completing these tasks, Soldiers will earn the Expert Soldier Badge.

The Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers (CIOR) Military competition is an annual competition for Reserve Soldiers. CIOR Military Competition is a team competition in which each member of the team must complete the competition events together. The three-day competition consists of pistol and rifle shooting on the first day, obstacle course and utility swimming on the second day, and orienteering with additional tasks like range estimation, map reading and hand grenade throwing on the third day.