As a result of the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, the Army has canceled its annual “Best Squad” competition for 2025, which rewards military teamwork. The Army announced that the event would not take place “due to a lapse in appropriations.”
The competition was scheduled to run from October 3 to October 12, 2025, evaluating squads based on their technical and tactical proficiency as well as their ability to work cohesively as a unit. Each squad is made up of five soldiers, including a squad leader (either a sergeant first class or staff sergeant), a team leader (either a sergeant or corporal), and three additional members ranked specialist or below.
Originally set to commence at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, the event included various fitness and combat tests, a 12-mile foot march, and individual warrior tasks along with squad battle drills. Following the initial events at Fort Bragg, participants were expected to travel to Washington, D.C., to interview with senior Army leaders to demonstrate their knowledge.
The Army launched the “Best Squad” competition in 2022. At that time, then-Sergeant Major of the Army, Michael Grinston, stated that the competition aimed to build cohesive teams that are highly trained, disciplined, and fit. The most recent “Best Squad of the Year,” awarded for 2024, went to a squad from the U.S. Army Pacific.
The U.S. government officially shut down on October 1, 2025, when Congress failed to pass appropriations legislation for fiscal 2026. Senate Democrats voted against a Republican-funded bill, marking the first government shutdown in seven years. Democrats argued that Republicans were unwilling to negotiate on extending tax credits for the Affordable Care Act, which expired at the end of fiscal 2025.
As part of the shutdown, officials are expected to furlough about half of the 741,477 civilian employees in the Department of Defense, as outlined in DOD guidance. While some family and child development centers at various military bases remain open, several others have closed.
In addition, the military pay for active-duty troops and reserve personnel may be jeopardized, with paychecks for October 15 pending unless Congress reaches a short-term funding agreement or passes legislation to ensure military pay during the shutdown.
Reporting on this matter is Riley Ceder, a Military Times reporter covering breaking news, criminal justice, investigations, and cyber issues. He previously contributed to an investigative initiative at The Washington Post.
