After two weeks of hot temperatures, strong thunderstorms and testing on combat training lanes in typical Kentucky humidity, 40 101st Airborne Division Soldiers stood tall June 30 as they were pinned with the Expert Field Medical Badge at the Lozada Physical Fitness Center.
To qualify for the EFMB, Soldiers spent one week reviewing the standards they would be tested on and a week of testing that included completing more than 200 tasks in a specific order, a written test and a 12-mile ruck march completed in under three hours.
"Medics get trained and then they develop unique tactics, techniques and procedures for things that they do on the unit level," said Sgt. Maj. Timothy Sprunger, guest speaker and command surgeon for United States Army Forces Command. "Then they come to this qualification and they are tested against a standard as it's written, which makes this badge challenging."
Sprunger said some medics get overwhelmed with the testing because they have to relearn some techniques or procedures and have to complete multiple tasks in a specific order throughout the training lanes.
"More than half the days I was there, I wasn't motivated, I didn't want to be there, it was hot, I was miserable, said Sgt. Christopher Pate, 320th Field Artillery, Division Artillery, 101st Airborne Division. "But I knew I still had the chance to get the badge. So even when you are wore out and all you want to do is go home, just keep going."
For Pate, the most challenging part of earning his badge was the 12-mile ruck march.
"The ruck march was the biggest fear I had from day one because I've never been good at rucking, it's always been a challenge for me mentally and physically," he said. "But throughout the duration of the march, it was the cheers from everyone I would pass, even if they weren't there for me directly, that kept me motivated."
For Sgt. Mishayla Salmons, a medic with Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, this was her second and final attempt at the elusive badge.
"I was motivated because this is my last chance to earn this badge because I'm actually switching out of the 68-series military occupational specialty," Salmons said. "So as soon as I found out I passed the last lane, I was really emotional and coming across the finish line [on the ruck march] was emotional because I know [this badge] will set me above my peers. I felt absolutely elated." Salmon spent the last three months preparing for the EFMB testing. She said the hardest part was mentally focusing on one task at a time.
"My mind was trying to think ahead to what was next, but you can't do that," she said. "You have to focus on what's going on in that moment. Stay motivated, don't get in your head. You know more than you think you know so trust yourself."
Pate said he felt most challenged mentally on the Chemical Biological Radioactive Nuclear lane because the weather made it very uncomfortable to wear full joint service lightweight integrate suit technology.
"Not only was it hot and humid outside, you had the full JLIST on and you're sweating horribly," Pate said. "It's a huge mental challenge because you want to stop, take off the mask, and catch your breath, but if you do you automatically fail. That was the hardest mental aspect of the training."
Overall, EFMB has a passing rate of about 19 percent across the Army, smaller than any other badge. With more than 180 Soldiers participating, this qualification saw a pass rate of about 22 percent.
Strunger said EFMB is not just about finding the best or strongest medics, it's about finding the best fully-rounded, mission capable Soldiers who stand above their peers in the medical field. Testing includes a full gamut of tasks including land navigation, CBRN skills, basic rifle marksmanship tasks, among many others.
"One Soldier missed the ruck march by 24 seconds, and it's hard to miss it by so little, but you have to meet the standard," Strunger said. "It's not as easy as some people think it is."
Sergeant Chelsey Friedburg, a medic with C Company, 526th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, said she failed the ruck march on her first attempt, and was over confident on her second, but that the third time was the charm.
"It's a coveted badge because of the small pass rate, so it distinguishes you above other leaders," Friedburg said. "I had to get it."
Strunger told the 40 officers, noncommissioned officers and junior enlisted Soldiers that they could not stop now that they had their badge.
"They need to influence their peers, subordinates and even leaders to go earn their badge," Strunger said. "Some medics think because they earned the Combat Medical Badge, they don't need to get the EFMB, but in my opinion, it's more important to get that EFMB because it is you testing yourself against the known standard. Never give up and understand meeting the standard is key. If you fail, study and go back at it."
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