Age has no limit at EFMB

By 2nd Lt. Collin Welch and 2nd Lt. Sequoia TwymanMarch 26, 2015

Pvt. Corley begins the Communications tasks
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Sgt. 1st Class Hewitt is evaluated on Casualty Evacuation
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By 2nd Lt. Collin Welch and 2nd Lt. Sequoia Twyman, 421st Medical Battalion (Multifunctional)

VILSECK, Germany - Thomas Hewitt, 42, and Cara Corley, 19, arrived March 13 in the Grafenwoehr Training Area to compete for their Expert Field Medical Badge. The members of 1st Platoon both carry youthful energy and years of wisdom. Among the 183 candidates competing this year to earn a badge, they are the youngest and oldest candidates of the U.S. Army Europe EFMB competition, held March 13-27 and hosted by the 421st Medical Battalion (Multifunctional). Both are combat medics from 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, based in Vicenza, Italy. Nineteen-year-old Pvt. Cara Corley and 42-year-old Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Hewitt have high hopes of earning the prestigious Expert Field Medic Badge.

Corley grew up in Bredmond, Texas, where she joined the Army after finishing high school. After completing Basic and Advanced Individual Training, she attended the Army's Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia. After graduation, she went on to her first duty station last year and is eager to set herself apart from her peers.

"I'm highly motivated to be something more than just the standard. The standard isn't enough. I need to exceed it," she said.

When asked about how she will celebrate once she achieves the EFMB, she said she wishes to travel to Ibiza, Spain.

Hewitt from Bradenton, Florida, is no novice to the Army. He first joined in June 1990 and served seven years before taking a break in service until 2002. Like Corley, he is set on obtaining his EFMB.

Dedication has gotten Hewitt far in his Army career. He started as a physical therapy specialist and is now a combat medic, currently serving at West Point in Sports Medicine and working at Brooke Army Medical Center. He is not new to adapting, learning and mastering new medical trades.

When asked why he is competing for the badge so late in his career, he replied, "It brings you back to the basics. It shows you where your baseline is and reminds you of what the fundamentals are. It reaffirms your base."

You're never too young or old to improve in your field and running through the fundamentals may aid in bringing a new perspective on how you can improve in your field. That is what these two hopeful candidates are here at EFMB to accomplish.

Related Links:

EFMB Public Web Page

30th MED BDE on Facebook

421st MMB on Facebook