SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii -- Two of U.S. Army Health Clinic-Schofield Barracks' Medical Company medics took first place in the 2012 Pacific Regional Medical Command Best Medic Competition held Aug. 28-30, here.
The competition was fierce as Sgt. Justin Runyan and Sgt. Robert Edwards, earned the title with just a 1-point lead over Sgt. Fernando Garcia-Diaz and Pvt. 1st Class Joshua Yi, who participated representing U.S. Army MEDDAC-Korea.
This year's competition featured four two-person teams, representing the Pacific from USAHC-SB, Tripler Army Medical Center, and MEDDAC-K.
Consisting of more than 15 different events, the 72-hour competition was designed to mentally and physically challenge the medics on technical and tactical Soldier and medic skills.
"I think it is good for medics to branch out because it reminds (them) how much they can accomplish," Runyan said. "I like the team (aspect) because you can push each other and motivate each other through the whole (competition).
"(Competitions like Best Medic) give you the ability to challenge and set yourself apart from your peers," Edwards added.
This competition is one more avenue to prepare medics for deployment. Coordinators purposely make the competition overly challenging for them because they want the Soldiers to be prepared for the next step in their careers.
"I think the most challenging (events) for the competitors are the day and night medic courses," said Sgt. 1st Class Royregus Cosby, noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Logistics Division, TAMC, who also served as the NCOIC for the competition. "They have to be physically and mentally tough to complete the tasks, especially during the night lanes when they are operating under the cover of darkness. It can be very disorienting when you can't see what is coming."
In addition to testing their medical knowledge during tactical situations, the competition requires the medics to take a written test in which they have 15 minutes to answer 100 questions.
"Medics need a lot of fortitude (to be Best Medic)," Cosby explains. "They need to have an 'I can win and I will never quit' attitude. They need to be tough."
An awards ceremony was held after the final event of the competition where the cadre and local command teams could honor and congratulate all the competitors.
"It was a relief to find out that all the hard work over the three days was well worth it," Runyan said.
Both medics look forward to their opportunity to represent PRMC and compete in the MEDCOM Best Medic Competition in San Antonio, which will be held in October.
"I am incredibly proud of our team and all the medics who competed," said Col. Mary Krueger, commander, USAHC-SB. "They worked so hard and they showed physical endurance and expertise, as well as an unwavering commitment to being Army medics. I am confident they will do a great job representing PRMC."
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