MI’s Flaherty thrives as a United States Army first lieutenant
Published 6:30 pm Thursday, May 14, 2026
Benjamin Flaherty was up for a challenge and aimed to work with people from all walks of life when he joined the United States Army on active duty in July of 2024.
The Mercer Island High School (MIHS) Class of 2020 graduate has been stationed in Grafenwöhr, Germany, since December of 2024 and last month joined his squad in winning the 2026 Best Squad Competition hosted by the 21st Theater Sustainment Command at the Grafenwöhr Training Area.
First Lt. Flaherty, 23, and his crew will next represent the command at the upcoming U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition.
When delving into the competition, which included physical fitness events, marksmanship and soldier skills, Flaherty said he was honored to represent the 15th Engineer Battalion (which is part of the 7th Engineer Brigade) in the competition and notch the victory. That great achievement included competing with, leading and learning “from the best soldiers in the unit,” he said in an email interview.
The triumphant unit included Staff Sgt. Jonah Mang, Sgt. Marcus Robinson, Spc. Pedro Cardona, Spc. Matthew Falone and Pfc. Cleopheus Lane.
“The key to our success was continuously training for the competition where we refined our soldier skills and became a cohesive team and during the competition we relied on the experience of the competitors on our team,” said Flaherty, who moved to Mercer Island in 2005 and attended The George Washington University (GWU) in Washington, D.C., after graduating from MIHS to study political science while he was enrolled in ROTC at Georgetown University. He graduated from GWU in 2024 and then headed into the U.S. Army.
During the six-day competition, Flaherty and others also tackled a 12-mile ruck march — during which soldiers walk long distances with a weighted backpack — obstacle and confidence courses and more.
“This competition is about identifying squads that can operate and win in a contested environment,” said Maj. Gen. Michael B. Lalor, the command’s commanding general, in a press release. “The team moving forward has proven it can meet the standard and represent this command at the next level.”
Flaherty looks forward to working with the stellar Army officers and non-commissioned officers in his unit each day and has made lifelong friends who have inspired and motivated him throughout his active duty. He doesn’t take the experience for granted, he said.
As a 41-soldier platoon leader in the 902nd Engineer Construction Company for 14 months, he oversaw a construction project in Poland where his platoon constructed roads and engaged in tactical training events.
“The highlights during those 14 months were getting to work with and lead motivated and experienced soldiers. The challenges are overseeing experienced individuals who have years of experience while I had none,” he said.
He gained patience while being involved in the construction mission and rose above the daily mistakes he made in his new position.
“I believe my patience made me a better person and therefore a better leader, allowed me to make more rational decisions, and helped balance the priorities of the mission with the well-being of my soldiers,” he said.
When asked to discuss his daily philosophy, Flaherty noted that he tries to live by the quote, “The beaver that keeps on building never fears the rains that refuse to cease.”
Flaherty, who will continue to serve in his current role until he heads to Engineer Captain Career Course in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, in 2027, added about his daily ideology: “I try and remind myself that challenges are ahead and I must always be prepared to face them, and the more I work to improve myself, the less I have to be concerned about while being more capable during testing times.”
