Staff Sergeant Colin Doyle of Glenside was named the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year at the annual U.S. Army Annual Meeting and Exposition on October 12.
The 2019 La Salle High School graduate’s recognition was based on his squad and individual performances through events held at Fort Benning, Georgia, September 11-19, according to the U.S. Army’s website.
“The 75th Ranger Regiment is a one-of-a-kind unit. We simply show up to work every day focused on marksmanship, small unit tactics, medical training, and mobility. Winning the best squad is a good feeling because we can uphold the standard and the reputation of the 75th Ranger Regiment,” Doyle said. “I love to compete. I love to show the rest of the Army that we aspire to live our charters. It’s all good and well to say that, but actions speak louder than words. Winning this competition simply validates our abilities and that one day we are going to compete against the enemy. The idea behind why training and daily life is so hard in the ranger regiment is so that when you do you get that chance or that day overseas, it will not be the hardest thing you’ve ever done. It’s a great honor to be the best squad in the United States Army, but by no means does that mean we can step on the brakes. It is all gas from here and we do not slow down.”
The announcement continues:
During the Fort Benning competition, 11 squads representing their respective major Army commands demonstrated their technical and tactical proficiency as well as their ability to operate as disciplined and cohesive teams. The events ranged from a formal board, fitness assessments, weapons qualification and familiarization lanes to an 18.6-mile-night foot march and obstacle courses.
They also had a few unique opportunities to experience the “First 100 Yards” evolution that drill sergeants lead our Army’s newest trainees through during basic combat training, completing the combat water survival assessment course at Victory Pond and load and fire an M1A2 Abrams.
The competition concluded with the squads competing in a fitness challenge at the Fort Benning Community Day hosted by the National Infantry Museum.
Through the physically and mentally challenging events, the 2026 competing squads epitomized standards, discipline, grit and lethality together.
Following the tactical phase at Fort Benning, all squads traveled to the National Capital Region where they paid their respects at Arlington National Cemetery, ran in the annual Army Ten-Miler race and shared a celebratory gathering with each other and the Sergeant Major of the Army before AUSA events began.
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Photos: U.S. Army