BAUMHOLDER, Germany — U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 30th Medical Brigade, alongside British Soldiers, tested their medical proficiency, physical readiness and tactical decision-making during the 30th Medical Brigade Best of the Best Competition, held across multiple training sites from Nov. 17-21, 2025.
“This competition is a great opportunity to work shoulder to shoulder with a partner nation. We know we won’t fight a war alone,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Franco, senior enlisted advisor of the 30th Medical Brigade. “Being able to show them how our equipment works — and learning the same from them — creates a sense of trust. If I’m on the battlefield and see them next to me, I know I’m safe.”
The competition kicked off Nov. 17 with a series of demanding events that immediately tested Soldiers’ endurance and grit. At Baumholder, competitors tackled the Expert Physical Fitness Assessment, beginning with a 1‑mile run before grinding through dead‑stop pushups, a 100‑meter sprint, stacking 16 heavy sandbags and a high crawl ending in a final 1‑mile run.
Next, they moved straight into stress shoots and weapons lanes, where medical and marksmanship tasks had to be executed under fatigue and pressure. The intensity continued at the water survival lane, forcing Soldiers to improvise flotation devices and maintain focus despite exhaustion. As darkness fell, the day concluded with night land navigation at Rhine Ordnance Barracks, where competitors traversed rugged terrain under low visibility and unforgiving timelines.
“The fitness events were tougher than we expected, but they pushed both medical squads to perform at a higher level,” said a British medic. “Competing alongside a NATO partner made the experience even better and showed how strong we are when we work together.”
As the week progressed, competitors were challenged with the Army Fitness Test — pushing through deadlifts, hand-release pushups, the sprint-drag-carry, a plank and a two-mile run. The trials continued with demanding medical evacuation drills, where teams hauled simulated casualties on litter across rugged obstacle courses.
From there, the pressure mounted in complex chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear casualty care scenarios, forcing soldiers to react under chemical threat simulations while providing lifesaving treatment. Finally, competitors conducted daytime land navigation, testing their ability to stay composed and mission-focused in the most disorienting conditions.
“It was a great opportunity to work with our allied medics,” said British Warrant Officer Class 1 Fiona Creed, “The healthy competition pushed us to train hard and compete at our best.”
Near Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, competitors were tested in advanced medical scenarios that demanded both skill and composure. They executed triage tasks, performed K9 tactical combat casualty care on an advanced canine medical trainer and faced a rigorous knowledge board. Each event required rapid decision-making, clear communication under pressure and the ability to maintain precision even while physically and mentally fatigued.
“This event tested us mentally and physically while keeping the competition friendly,” said Sgt. Caleb White, an operating room specialist assigned to the 512th Field Hospital. “Training alongside each other showed how they operate compared to us, and we walked away better because of it.”
Throughout the week, both U.S. and British Soldiers demonstrated interoperability and professionalism, reinforcing strong multinational medical cooperation. The competition strengthened readiness, enhanced combined medical response techniques, and showcased the value of training shoulder-to-shoulder with NATO partners.
“Anytime we can train together, we grow stronger together,” Sgt. Caleb White, an operating room specialist, assigned to the 30th Medical Brigade, “That’s what this competition was really about.”
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