Best Warrior

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BALTIMORE – Fourteen competitors from throughout the Army National Guard are slated to battle it out in a physically and mentally challenging five-day competition to determine the Army Guard’s Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the year July 14-18 in locations throughout Maryland.

Hosted by the Maryland Army National Guard the 2025 Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition tests competitors on a variety of tactical and technical tasks including weapons proficiency, land navigation, emergency medical tasks, and combat casualty care. These tasks are completed over a grueling set of courses throughout the state that includes multiple timed ruck marches and the Army Combat Fitness Test.

Winners in the competition – one Soldier and one NCO – are named the Army Guard’s Soldier and NCO of the Year and will compete in the Department of the Army Best Squad Competition this fall. Runners-up in the Best Warrior Competition fill out the Army Guard squad competing in the Best Squad Competition based on their finish in Best Warrior.

Competitors in this year’s Army Guard Best Warrior Competition include:

Soldier Category
Spc. Adam Andrews - Rhode Island
Spc. Robert Ruiz-Rhoades – Pennsylvania
Spc. Jaden Hughes - Alabama
Spc. Logan Rutledge – Indiana
Spc. Alexander Thomson – Nebraska
Spc. Canyon Blassingame - Montana
Sgt. Michael Fouts – Arizona

NCO Category
Sgt. Kristopher Piwowarczyk - New Jersey
Staff Sgt. Miles Crawford – Maryland
Staff Sgt. Nicolas White – Georgia
Staff Sgt. Brandon Byrne - Wisconsin
Sgt. Luke Entz – Nebraska
Sgt. Matthew Lee – Montana
Sgt. Luke Cloward - Utah

Video Gallery

Video by Marshall Mason

Happy 84th Birthday EOD_9-16

20th CBRNE Command

Aug. 13, 2025 | 1:22

The U.S. Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) community celebrates its birthday on August 22, commemorating the graduation of the first Navy Mine Disposal class in 1941, which served as the foundation for all other U.S. military EOD programs.

The history of U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) began during World War II in response to the threat of German delayed-action bombs and other enemy ordnance.

The first “Bomb Disposal” training school was established at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in 1942 under the leadership of Maj. Thomas J. Kane, often referred to as the father of U.S. Army Bomb Disposal.

Following the war, some EOD units were deactivated or converted to reserve status and in 1949, the remaining units were redesignated as "Explosive Ordnance Disposal".

The Korean and Vietnam Wars highlighted the continued need for EOD capabilities and led to increased training and equipment investments.

EOD units have played a crucial role in recent conflicts, particularly in Afghanistan and Iraq, where they faced the challenge of Improvised Explosive Devices.

The emphasis on counter-IED efforts led to the establishment of the 52nd Ordnance Group (EOD), based in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and the Fort Carson, Colorado-based 71st Ordnance Group (EOD).

Both groups are part of the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command, the U.S. military’s premier multifunctional and deployable CBRNE formation, located at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

Soldiers and Army civilians from the 20th CBRNE Command deploy from 19 bases in 16 states to confront and defeat the world’s most dangerous hazards in support of joint, interagency and multinational operations.

EOD technicians continue to support Special Operations Forces and other military units in addition to Very Important Person Protection Support Activity missions, which provides protection to the president, first lady, vice president and foreign heads of states.

Happy birthday, EOD!