Servicemen from the Ministry of Defense of Uzbekistan, Junior Sergeant Ilkhom Salomov and Third-Class Sergeant Turdimurod Avlayev, participated in the international military competition 'Best Warrior – 2026', held from March 16 to 18 at the 'Camp Shelby' military training base in Mississippi, United States. The competition was organized to strengthen international military cooperation and enhance the prestige of service in special units.

During the competition, participants completed 13 different challenges, including individual physical fitness standards (an 8-exercise fitness test), navigating a complex obstacle course designed to overcome physical and psychological stresses, night land navigation over a 15-kilometer distance, a 20-kilometer ruck march with a 20-kilogram load, combat and general training tests, writing an essay of at least 500 words on military cooperation, artillery fire control, partial disassembly and assembly of NATO-standard small arms with preparation for combat, shooting under various conditions, medical aid provision, calling in helicopter aviation to an unfamiliar area followed by rappelling onto an objective using a rope, and executing unexpected tasks.

In the team event, the Uzbek servicemen completed the 20-kilometer ruck march with a 20-kilogram load in 1 hour and 48 minutes. In individual challenges, Third-Class Sergeant Turdimurod Avlayev navigated the complex obstacle course in 10 minutes and 34 seconds, while Junior Sergeant Ilkhom Salomov successfully completed the 15-kilometer night land navigation task in 59 minutes. Notably, competition records were updated in all these disciplines.

At the conclusion of the competition, the Uzbek servicemen were awarded a special prize. Since 2019, representatives from Uzbekistan have regularly participated in this competition, demonstrating superiority and securing leading positions. The winners will be ceremoniously welcomed at the Islam Karimov International Airport in Tashkent on March 22.

Source: kun.uz