Finding the 1-181's Best Squad
BOURNE, Mass – Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment gathered on the parade field on Camp Edwards early in the morning of July 29, 2026, for the annual Dupont Challenge, a battalion-wide Best Squad Competition.
The challenge is named in remembrance of First Sergeant Kevin Dupont, a devoted Afghanistan War veteran who died on June 17, 2009, from injuries sustained when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device in eastern Afghanistan on March 8, 2009.
The competition was held for the first time last year after a decade long hiatus.
“The reason why we’re here is the First Sergeant Kevin Dupont Cup. I want to make sure that we’re continuing the lineage of the battalion, the lineage that First Sergeant Dupont set forth,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Tina, Commander of the 1-181 Infantry.
The Challenge brought together squads from each company in the battalion, plus a squad comprised of officers from throughout the battalion, for a demanding series of physical, knowledge, and tactical events, fostering camaraderie and honoring the legacy of First Sergeant Kevin Dupont.
For the technical and tactical tests, Soldiers had to complete a land navigation test, assemble a radio and call in a 9-line medical evacuation, perform a call for indirect fire, functions check on an M4 rifle and M249 Squad automatic weapon, and a test on battalion history and military leadership.
For the physical, the seven Soldier squads had to complete 181 25m farmers carries, 181 burpees, 181 squats with a medicine ball, and 181 kettlebell swings.
“Everyone who was on our team was a PT stud,” said Spc. Will Harrington, an infantryman with B Company, 1-181 Infantry. “And then obviously having that tactical awareness with weapons, radios, and military knowledge, it's always important when doing things like this,” he added
Unit pride was a big motivator for Harrington and his fellow D Company Soldiers.
“Everyone's fatigued during [the event], but I think ultimately you just want to be the best company, and you want to prove to your guys and everyone else that you can go out and show your best off," he explained.
There’s also the tie to a fellow Soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice.
"It's in memory of First Sergeant Dupont... and 181 is for the 181st battalion and we just wanted in memory of him and keep pushing strong, and we really want to win this cup for him," said Harrington.
Harrrington and the rest of D company proved that for at least this year, they were on top, taking home the cup with a total time of 51:47, almost 90 seconds faster than the second place team of Bravo Company.
Although D company came out on top, every unit was smiling at the end of the event, cheering as they crossed the finish line and congratulating each other on a hard fought competition.
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