History
The Best Sapper Competition began in 2005 as a means for service members to show off their skills. It has been hosted by the United States Army Engineer School every year since except 2013 and 2014 due to sequestration.
The three-day competition is open for two Person teams of Sapper Leader Course Graduates rank and MOS immaterial. Any unit desiring an exception to the established eligibility must submit exceptions through the Sapper Training Company to the United States Army Engineer School Commandant. A team must consist of at least one member who is a graduate of the Sapper Leader Course.
The competition's concept is to not only determine the next "Best Sapper" team, but to challenge and test the service members' knowledge, physical prowess and mental fortitude.The competition showcases the Army's elite Soldiers in combat engineering military occupation specialties.
In 2018 the competition was named after LTG Robert B. Flowers for his efforts in getting the Sapper Tab approved.
The Lieutenant General Robert B. Flowers Best Sapper Competition Winners
16th Annual Best Sapper Competition-2023
CPT MATTHEW CUSHING AND CPT JOSEPH PALAZINI
21st BEB - Fort Campbell, KY
15th Annual Best Sapper Competiton-2022
CPT ALAIMOANA PAUNGA & 1LT ERIC MATTIA
20TH EN BN, TX
14th Annual Best Sapper Competiton-2021
CPT DARIUS JAVAN & CPT PATRICK RICHARDSON
39th BEB, Fort Campbell, KY
13th Annual Best Sapper Competiton
1LT TERENCE HUGHES & CPT JOHN BAER
39th BEB, Fort Campbell, KY
12th Annual Best Sapper Competition - 2018
SFC ROBERT CLARK & CPT RUDY CHELEDNIK
21st BEB, 3/101st ABN DIV - Fort Campbell, KY
11th Annual Best Sapper Competition - 2017
1LT LUKE GROOM & SSG CARLOS JIMENEZ
307th BEB, 3/82nd ABN DIV - Fort Bragg, NC
10th Annual Best Sapper Competition - 2016
CPT JASON BAHMER AND SFC DAVID RIZO
2nd BN, 505th PIR, 3/82nd ABN DIV & 37th BEB, 2/82nd ABN DIV - Fort Bragg, NC
9th Annual Best Sapper Competition - 2015
1LT DANIEL FOKY AND SGT BRANDON LOEDER
B/127th EN BN, 1/82nd ABN DIV - Fort Bragg, NC
8th Annual Best Sapper Competition-2012
CPT MIKE KENDALL AND SSG FRANK BATTS
3rd BCT, 82nd ABN DIV - Fort Bragg, NC
7th Annual Best Sapper Competition-2011
CPT JOE RILEY AND CPT JOHN CHAMBERS
554th Engineer Battalion - Fort Leonard Wood, MO
6th Annual Best Sapper Competition- 2010
CPT JOSEPH BYRNES AND CPT JASON CASTRO
554th Engineer Battalion - Fort Leonard Wood, MO
5th Annual Best Sapper Competition-2009
MSG MICHAEL BEHNKENDORF AND 1LT SHAWN HOGAN
7th Engineer Battalion - Fort Drum, NY
4th Annual Best Sapper Competition-2008
CPT JASON WINKELMAN AND 2LT JOEL GROVES
8th Engineer Battalion - Fort Hood, TX
3rd Annual Best Sapper Competition- 2007
1LT COLBY KRUG AND SSG ERASMO FLORES
66th Engineer Company - Schofield Barracks, HI
2nd Annual Best Sapper Competition-2006
2LT JOSEPH BYRNES AND SSG JEFFEREY GOODMAN
66th Engineer Company - Schofield Barracks, HI
Inaugural Best Sapper Competition-2005
CPT WILLIAM BOYD AND CPT ANTHONY BARBINA
65th Engineer Battalion - Schofield Barracks, HI