75th Ranger Regiment Soldiers Win Top Army Awards

On 12 October 2026, during a ceremony in Washington, D.C., Cpl. Michael Shield of the 75th Ranger Regiment was awarded the title of 2026 Soldier of the Year, while Staff Sgt. Colin Doyle was recognized as the 2026 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. Both soldiers are part of the US Army Special Operations Command and earned their accolades through a rigorous multi-day competition held at Fort Benning, Georgia, from 11 to 19 September.

They competed against representatives from 11 major Army commands in various physically and mentally challenging events, including fitness assessments, weapons qualification, an 18.6-mile night foot march, and obstacle courses. The competition also involved a combat water survival assessment and operating an M1A2 Abrams tank.

Following the Fort Benning events, competitors visited Arlington National Cemetery and participated in the Army Ten-Miler race before the Association of the US Army Annual Meeting and Exposition. Doyle emphasized the competition's role in sharpening the skills of all participants.