By Staff Sgt. Micah VanDyke
2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
Capt. Christine Lang, Evans Army Community Hospital, assists a Soldier with simulated injuries during Combat Training Lane 1 during Expert Field Medical Badge testing hosted by 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, July 27, 2017. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Micah VanDyke)
One of the most significant achievements for U.S. Army medical professionals to earn, the Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB), had 155 Soldiers pursue it.
An average of only 10 percent across the medical community has earned it since its creation in June 1965.
The 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, hosted EFMB training, validation and testing of the coveted badge at Fort Carson July 17-27, 2017.
Candidates from as far as Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland; Camp Shelby, Mississippi; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Fort Riley, Kansas; and other places came to test themselves and compete for the badge.
“EFMB was established in 1965 to test and recognize the very best within the Army medical community,” said Col. David Zinn, commander, 2nd IBCT. “Over the past two weeks, the Soldiers have undergone intensive physical and mental duress to earn the badge. Their (medical aptitude) has truly been tested.”
2nd Lt. Sean Miller, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division enters the last 100 meters during the 12-mile forced ruck march on the last day of the Expert Field Medical Badge testing week hosted by 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, at Fort Carson July 27, 2017. (Photo by Sgt. Shane McGowan)
There are three Combat Training Lanes. On CTL1, there were 14 tactical combat casualty care tasks, three warrior skills and three evacuation tasks. CTL2 focused on protecting oneself from a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attack. CTL3 focused on many casualty evacuation tasks requiring the use of a grappling hook and safely moving a patient under barbwire.
Besides the three CTLs, candidates had to pass day and night land navigation.
“The lanes require candidates to perform their duties in very difficult combat-like conditions,” said Zinn. “The land navigation portion took place on a challenging non-self-correcting course. This course would challenge the very best infantrymen and Rangers in my ‘Warhorse’ Brigade.”
According to the official EFMB description, the EFMB test is the utmost challenge to the professional competence and physical endurance of the Soldier medic. It is the most sought after peacetime award in the Army Medical Department (AMEDD).
2nd Lt. Sean Miller, center-right, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, is awarded the Expert Field Medical Badge by Col. David Zinn, right, commander, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div.; and Lt. Col. James A. Morrison, troop commander, U.S. Army Medical Department Activity-Fort Carson, during the EFMB awards ceremony hosted by 2nd IBCT at Fort Carson July 27, 2017. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Micah VanDyke)
The current EFMB implements battlefield scenarios and combat lane concepts. Pyrotechnics, smoke, opposing force activity, realistic moulage, anatomic simulators, and casualty simulators are used extensively to enhance conditions for realism.
The final major event to earn the EFMB was to complete a 12-mile forced ruck march. Out of the seven remaining candidates who started the ruck march, only two made it under three hours and earned the coveted badge — Capt. Ema Loewen, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), and 2nd Lt. Sean Miller, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div. One candidate missed the cutoff by 54 seconds.
“The most challenging part was after mile six going into mile seven, it was uphill in the mud, and it felt like you were barely moving anymore, like walking in snow,” said Miller.
“I think the pressure that you have every day knowing that there are so many little things that you have to get right with barely any room for error,” he added. “After you finish one CTL, there’s another one coming up right after it where you have to have the same level of concentration and focus.”
2nd Lt. Sean Miller, right, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, is awarded an impact Army Commendation Medal for having the fastest ruck time and top written test score by Col. David Zinn, left, commander, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., during the Expert Field Medical Badge awards ceremony hosted by 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team at Fort Carson July 27, 2017. (Photo by Sgt. Shane McGowan)
He reflected on his experience of the last two weeks after he completed the ruck march with the fastest time.
“It’s definitely a lot of work. My two highlights were passing CTL1 with all of the medical steps in it; it was the hardest — and finishing the ruck,” said Miller. “I could see the finish line, I knew I was under time and it was over.”
Miller had some words of advice for anyone debating on trying to earn an EFMB, despite the extreme attrition rate this year’s group had.
“No matter what happens, it’s great training. Everybody that I know received spectacular training for at least a week,” said Miller. “If you try and practice and go to study hall every night, anyone can do it. There (were) more than two of us that made it to the ruck march. Practice the ruck march and get out to a land nav. course.”
During the award ceremony for the two candidates that achieved course standards and earned their EFMB, Zinn closed his speech with a strong message.
“Army medics and medical personnel are universally respected by Soldiers for their willingness to put others before themselves, but we all recognize those few with the EFMB as the hallmark of excellence,” he said
A Candidate simulates evacuating a patient under a barbwire obstacle during Combat Training Lane 3 at the Expert Field Medical Badge testing hosted by 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, at Fort Carson July 27, 2017. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Micah VanDyke)
Spc. David Johnson, Evans Army Community Hospital, assists a Soldier with simulated injuries during Combat Training Lane 1 during Expert Field Medical Badge testing hosted by 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, at Fort Carson July 27, 2017. (Photo by Sgt. Shane McGowan)
Capt. Ema Loewen, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), keeps her pace up a hill during the 12-mile forced ruck march on the last day of the Expert Field Medical Badge testing week hosted by 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson July 27, 2017. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Micah VanDyke)