The 1st Battalion 181st Infantry Regiment held the Dupont Challenge, a battalion-wide Best Squad Competition, July 22, 2025, at Joint Base Cape Cod.
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.
The challenge is named in solemn 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 event started with Lt. Col. Matthew Tina, Commander 1-181 Infantry, about who First Sgt. Dupont was.
“I’d like to start with a historical reading of who First Sgt. Kevin Dupont was,” said Tina. “That way, we understand where this event originated from. and get a little better understanding of why we’re out here doing this,” he added.
First Sgt. Kevin Dupont had been deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was embedded with the 1st Brigade, 203rd Corps of the Afghan National Army training team, serving as part of a two-member unit supporting the Afghan Regional Security Intergration Command, Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix. A native of Holyoke and raised in Chicopee, First Sergeant Dupont graduated from Chicopee High School in 1976.
His military career began after high school when he joined the Marine Corps as a rifleman and was trained as a sniper, serving six years of active duty, including two years on the aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower. In March 1984, he joined the Massachusetts Army National Guard as an infantryman and worked with the National Guard’s counter-drug program in Milford since 1992, holding positions such as senior airborne narcotics eradication observer and senior intelligence analyst. In 2008, he was promoted to First Sergeant at headquarters and headquarters troop of the Army’s First Squadron, 182nd Cavalry Regiment. His numerous accolades included the Bronze Star, Combat Infantryman Badge, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, and multiple Army Commendation and Achievement Medals, among others, reflecting his distinguished service.
After hearing about Dupont’s service and sacrifice, the squads headed to the startline, ready to begin the challenge.
Squads took on six events in the Dupont challenge, starting and ending with a half mile run.
Testing their skills as Soldiers, the squads completed a land navigation test after the first run, and had to perform weapons function checks on two weapons before heading off for the last run.
Between those tests of skills, squads completed 181 reps of four different exercises: farmer carries, deadlifts, medball squats, and burpees.
Beyond testing Soldiers on their physical and technical proficiencies, events like best squad competitions help foster healthy competition among Soldiers, build camaraderie, and unit cohesion.
“I think it builds camaraderie. It builds within your squad and then within your company, and all together with your battalion,” said Staff Sgt. Bo Palonza, a squad leader from Alpha Company 1-181. “Seeing Soldiers pushing it and trying their best makes for a positive environment. Friendly competition is always a good thing. Brings guys together,” he added.
The competition saw intense efforts from all participants, and maybe more intense cheering from their fellow Soldiers watching. Throughout the entire event, Soldiers both competeing and specatating were cheering. “Let’s Go”, “One More”, and “You got this” were common phrases being yelled front he field and the stands.
Coming out on top was the squad from Charlie company. The attributed their succes to sticking to their plan, communictiaon and everyone doing their parts and stepping up when needed.
After the celebration’s ended, and the clean up began, the Soldiers were off to a well earned breakfast and a full day of training.
