US Army Military District of Washington

TWILIGHT TATTOO ANNOUNCEMENT!

Due to pending inclement weather, the Twilight Tattoo scheduled for today (May 13th) will be moved INDOORS to Conmy Hall on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. For more information, including important updates about accessing JBM-HH, visit:

JTF-NCR/USAMDW > Ceremonies/Events > Events > Twilight Tattoo > Schedule Official website for the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region and U.S. Army Military District of Washington

Last week, while five Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) were at Fort Anderson Pinn Hill (A.P. Hill) competing in and eventually winning MDW's 2026 Best Squad Competition, Soldiers from the 1st Battalion's Bravo Company traveled in UH-60s to Fort A.P. Hill to participate in an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise (EDRE). This no-notice exercise checked the team's ability to complete a rapid recall of necessary forces as well as their alert‑to‑deployment timelines, mission planning, air‑loading procedures, tactical movements and objective‑area security capabilities.

(U.S. Army photos by Staff Sgt. Antony J. Martinez)

MONDAY MENTAL HEALTH MOTIVATION! Exercise is good for your physical fitness, but it also is an important tool for your mental fitness. Our Soldiers improve their heart rates and their mental wellness by participating in events such as MDW's Best Squad Competition (pictured), which took place last week at Fort Anderson Pinn Hill (A.P. Hill), as well as at Infantry Week, which was held last month at U.S. Army Garrison Fort Benning, Georgia.

The month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which has been observed in the U.S. since 1949. Through programs like ACE (Ask, Care, Es**rt), the U.S. Army Directorate of Prevention, Resilience and Readiness encourages intervention when Soldiers feel someone they know is not doing well or their mental health is not as strong as usual.

Learn more: https://dvidshub.net/r/7o477t

(U.S. Army photos by Cpl. Joseph Martin)

We had another awesome Twilight Tattoo show this week! Shout out to our terrific host for the show last Wednesday, Lt. Gen. Jon Stubbs, Director of the Army National Guard, and others from the who joined us and visited with our Soldiers before and after the show....thank you!

Do you have tickets to join us this season? There are still tickets remaining! For more information, visit: https://dvidshub.net/r/ouhx6b

(U.S. Army National Guard photos by Maj. Cibeles Ramírez Rodríguez, Sgt. Braira R. Tolbert and Brianna Rodriguez-Munns)

We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 Military District of Washington Best Squad Competition!

Congratulations to our Best Squad, Team 3 from 1st Battalion, 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)!

Staff Sgt. Cale Splivalo (squad leader)
Sgt. James Hash (team leader)
Spc. Garrett Gensler
Pfc. Logan Aldridge
Pvt. Colby Garner

These battle-ready Soldiers will spend the next few months training to prepare for the next phase of the Army's Best Squad Competition which will be hosted by the U.S. Army Medical Command in July at Fort Benning, Georgia. During that event, they will represent MDW as they compete against squads from other Direct Reporting Units across the Army.

We want to acknowledge all 15 Soldiers who competed from both The Old Guard and The Army Aviation Brigade, who never quit but gave it their all throughout the week. Each Soldier's determination made us proud. No matter how tired and exhausted you might have been, you each fought hard to the end.

Please join us in congratulating our MDW Best Squad from "One Legion," and give a Soldier a shout out in the comments!

(U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Christopher Smith and Cpl. Joseph Martin)

Yesterday was DAY THREE of the 2026 Military District of Washington Best Squad Competition. It was a day of constant action and elevated heart rates. After a few hours at the obstacle course, the Soldiers were then transported via UH-60s to the firing ranges for a stress shoot on M4 carbines and M17s. They concluded the day with medical lanes.

( U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Christopher Smith and Cpl. Joseph Martin)

Yesterday was DAY TWO of the 2026 MDW Best Squad Competition, and our 15 Soldiers pushed past the elements, including steady winds and occasional rain, and overcame their fatigue to power through each challenge they were given. Each team was tested on their ability to navigate and patrol lanes in the thick Virginia woods on Fort A.P. Hill.

Every Soldier is well-trained and totally ready for the hurdles they are facing, but one team will rise to the top to claim the title of MDW Best Squad. Who is going to win? We will find out tomorrow!

(U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Christopher Smith and Cpl. Joseph Martin)

DAY ONE of the MDW Best Squad Competition is complete! All day long, our 15 Soldiers proved their physical and mental grit and fortitude. They began with the Army's Expert Physical Fitness Assessment (EPFA) and a 12-mile foot march, and they ended the day with a written exam and essay. In between these two portions, they laid out all of their gear for an inspection.

Who are you are you cheering for? Give a shout out for a Soldier below!

(U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Christopher Smith and Cpl. Joseph Martin)