CAMP BULLIS, TX - Sixty-eight Soldiers from across the Army competed in a grueling, continuous 72-hour two-Soldier team competition that tested competitor's physical and cognitive abilities at Camp Bullis Nov 3-7 2014.
The 1st Place winners of this year's competition were: Sgt. 1st Class Vinicios Occhiena and Staff Sgt. Melvyn Mayo, Jr. of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. (Note: Nearly half of all Combat Medics (68W) are in the Reserve Component.)
The Command Sgt. Maj. Jack L. Clark Jr. Army Best Medic Competition originally evolved from the Expert Field Medical Badge Challenge and is dedicated to the 13th Command Sergeant Major of the U.S. Army Medical Command. This year's competition was the 20th year the U.S. Army Medical Command sought to identify the Army's best medics.
CSM Clark was one of the most respected leaders and Noncommissioned Officers in the history of the command who understood the important role of medics in the Army and the trust Soldiers and leaders of units in combat must have in the Army Medical Department.
The first day of the competition began with a physical fitness challenge, a rope bridge crossing with patient, an obstacle course followed by the M-16 rifle qualification range and M-9 stress shoot. Day one events ended with a challenging night land navigation course designed to test the team's ability to locate predetermine locations in the Camp Bullis training area.
The obstacle course tested the team's agility and physical strength. The M-9 stress shoot replicated a combat situation where every shot counts. The rope bridge tested each team's cognitive thinking and agility.
The second day of the competition began with day land navigation where the requirements were the same as night land navigation. Upon completion of the day land navigation event, the teams executed an urban assault course followed by military operations in urban terrain, a 12-mile foot march and concluded with the combat medic lanes.
Competitors tackled the urban assault lane using simulated munitions. The Soldiers engaged the enemy while treating casualties and defending themselves. The 12-mile foot march tested the competitor's physical strength and endurance.
The combat medic lanes tested competitors' ability to perform combat casualty care in close quarters as well as their ability to evacuate wounded to a Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) aircraft. The teams were required to gain fire superiority, stabilize their casualty and move them to evacuation.
Events on the third day included a night medic lane where the teams were tested on their ability to provide medical treatment. The final event was a timed buddy run, testing the fortitude and endurance of the competitors.
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