BAGHDAD, June 28, 2011 -- Soldiers from around the 2nd “Dagger” Advise and Assist Brigade 1st Infantry Division, United States Division " Center, participated in a brigade-wide, Best Medic Competition June 19-20, 2011, at Camp Liberty, Iraq.
Soldiers with 1st “Vanguard” Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment based at Camp Taji, Iraq and 5th “Longknife” Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment based at Joint Security Station Falcon, Iraq, joined medics with the “Griffin” Special Troops Battalion and the 299th “Lifeline” Brigade Support Battalion, both located at Camp Liberty -- all to be a part of the competition.
Lt. Col. Dale Farrand, commander of the 299th BSB, said he recognized that the brigade’s medics could benefit from a break in the regular, day-to-day rhythm of a deployment and practice their skills by engaging in friendly competition. He tasked his battalion’s Company C to take the lead in sponsoring a brigade combat medic competition.
The participants started the first day with the Army physical fitness test. With little downtime between events, the medics headed to the weapons qualification range where each medic attempted to score expert on their assigned weapon. Following qualification, each team had to disassemble and assemble the M-9 pistol and M4 rifle as quickly as possible.
One of the highlights of the competition was the litter obstacle course, held on the afternoon of the first day. Each team was challenged to push through the obstacle course while carrying a 100-pound mannequin, which simulated having to move a patient. The teams negotiated high and low walls, narrow lanes, uphill and downhill slopes, and ended with a water obstacle.
“The litter obstacle course was challenging,” said Spc. Stephanie Cuepo, a medic with STB. “I just wish more females participated.”
Though tired, the medics had to complete a written examination prior to the end of the first day’s events.
The second day began early in the morning with a six-mile road march. Farrand, Command Sgt. Maj. Franklin Jordan, senior enlisted adviser with the 299th BSB, and other senior leaders from the brigade came out and supported the medics as they completed the trek.
"The competition was a chance to prove ourselves as Soldiers and as medical professionals,” said Spc. Casey Schaufler with Company C, 299th BS. “It was a challenge and an honor to compete against my peers in the [Dagger brigade] while deployed to a combat zone."
Later that day, the medics were scored individually on emergency medical treatment skills, as well as collectively as a group in a mass casualty situation.
The medic competition was both an individual and team competition, with individual scores added together to produce an overall team score. While all of the medics performed well throughout the competition, the team from 5th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, prevailed.
The combat medic competition was designed to mimic the Army’s Expert Field Medical Badge. When the medics return to Fort Riley, Kan., they will have the opportunity to compete for the badge, completing tasks and challenges similar to those of this competition.
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