Sgt. Yexson Amaya, a senior training NCO assigned to 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, finishes a 12-mile ruck march in 2 hours, 33 minutes, during the Iron Horse Best Medic Competition Sept. 30, 2016. Amaya will represent the division at the Army Best Medic Competition at Camp Bullis, Texas, Oct. 24-28, 2016. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jason Epperson)
By Sgt. 1st Class Jason Epperson
4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office
A group of combat medics, 4th Infantry Division Soldiers and supporters gathered outside the division headquarters Sept. 30, 2016, to recognize two Soldiers for being named the top team in the Iron Horse Best Medic Competition.
Command Sgt. Maj. Michael A. Crosby, left, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, presents a division coin to Staff Sgt. Jesse Celko, a platoon sergeant assigned to 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., for winning the Iron Horse Best Medic Competition at Fort Carson Sept. 30, 2016. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jason Epperson)
Staff Sgt. Jesse Celko, platoon sergeant, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, and Sgt. Yexson Amaya, senior training NCO, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., rose to the top of the four teams in the competition that concluded Sept. 30, 2016.
The three-day event included an Army Physical Fitness Test, written test, tactical combat casualty care, day and night land navigation, 12-mile ruck march and warrior and medical skills lanes consisting of emergency medical triage, common skills, communications, litter obstacle and evacuation skills.
Celko, a native of Woodstock, Connecticut, said the competition afforded him the opportunity to improve upon his skills.
“My platoon leader and I wanted to lead the way instead of telling our Soldiers to go do it,” Celko said. “There (were) a lot of endurance-based events that always (help) me improve. The most challenging part of the competition was the one-man drags; that definitely gave me a run for my money.”
Staff Sgt. Matthew Harris, a medic assigned to 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducts radio communications procedures during the Iron Horse Best Medic Competition Sept. 29, 2016. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jason Epperson)
Even for the best of the best, there were still challenges.
Amaya, a native of San Bernardino, California, said the three hours spent in the different skill lanes were the most demanding for him.
“You’re competing against the best of the best, so you know you’re competing against other high-quality athletic Soldiers,” Amaya said. “It was great to have that competition that pushed you harder. I also appreciated the support from my chain of command and platoon sergeant for being there.”
“I was exhausted afterwards, but the 12-miler definitely checked your heart,” said Amaya, who finished the ruck march in 2 hours, 33 minutes.
The competition’s lead planner, Staff Sgt. Fatu M. Kamara, patient administrator, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Inf. Div., said Celko and Amaya will represent the 4th Inf. Div. at the Army Best Medic Competition at Camp Bullis, Texas, Oct. 24, 2016.
Sgt. Michael Graham, combat medic, 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, provides medical care prior to evacuating a simulated casualty during the Iron Horse Best Medic Competition Sept. 29, 2016. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)
“The candidate must prequalify to compete,” Kamara said. “They must have either the Expert Field Medical Badge or Combat Medical Badge, volunteer for the event and be recommended by a supervisor. Also, no one can be flagged or have any (Uniformed Code of Military Justice) actions pending against them to compete.”
Kamara said that medical lanes could be the most difficult part of the event, even though the participants are medics by trade.
“The medical lanes may seem the easiest since (the participants) are medics, but they don’t get to practice this stuff day-to-day, and get put in that situation,” Kamara said. “They have to treat three to four casualties, move them, and low crawl while accessing their mental agility and endurance.”
Participants in the Iron Horse Best Medic Competition stand in front of the 4th Infantry Division headquarters, Sept. 30, 2016. They are, from left, 1st Lt. Sinclair Lee and Staff. Sgt. Jesse Celko, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team;Staff Sgt. Matthew Harris, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team; Sgt. Michael Graham, 3rd Armor Brigade Combat Team; Sgts. Yexson Amaya, Andres Fernandez, Douglas Polites, 1st BCT; and Cpl. Brenden Murray, 3rd ABCT. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jason Epperson)