Stand-to! update Beginning May 2022, STAND-TO! will no longer be published on Army.mil and/or distributed to its subscribers. Please continue to learn about the U.S. Army on www.army.mil and follow @USArmy on our social media platforms. Thank you for your continued interest in learning about the U.S. Army.

Expert Field Medical Badge

Thursday, December 4, 2014

What is it?

The Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB) is a special skill award for recognition of exceptional competence and outstanding performance by field medical personnel and approved by the Department of the Army on June 18, 1965.

The Expert Field Medical Badge may be awarded to all enlisted personnel who have a military occupational specialty (MOS) in the Career Management Field (CMF) 68, MOS18D, or AMEDD area of concentration. The badge also may be awarded to officers assigned or detailed to an Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Corps; Army officers in training at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; Army officers enrolled in the Health Professions Scholarship Program; warrant officers who have an AMEDD primary military occupational specialty (MOS) controlled by The Surgeon General; warrant officer pilots that have a special qualification identifier “D” (Aeromedical Evacuation Pilot) and are assigned to an air ambulance unit.

What has the Army done?

The current EFMB implements battlefield scenario and combat lane concepts. Pyrotechnics, smoke, opposing force activity, realistic moulage, anatomic simulators, and casualty simulators are used extensively to enhance conditions for realism. Combat testing lanes (CTLs) include mission-related tasks using reaction-based testing. Unlike previous EFMB testing, warrior skill stations and round-robin style testing are not authorized.

Why is this important to the Army?

The EFMB test measures the individual medical Soldier’s physical fitness, mental toughness, and ability to perform to standards of excellence in a broad spectrum of critical medical and Soldier skills. The purpose of the EFMB is to:

  • – Recognize qualified AMEDD personnel who demonstrate a high degree of professional skill, stamina, and proficiency
  • – Recognize medical personnel who can expertly perform combat medical and Soldier tasks that support medical care in a simulated combat environment
  • – Promote esprit-de-corps

What efforts does the Army plan to continue in the future?

The current EFMB Test, AMEDDC&S PAM 350-10, dated Nov. 10, 2011, test the candidate’s ability to successfully perform numerous tasks. To accomplish this, candidates must take a written examination comprising of 60 questions, execute three separate Combat Testing Lanes and must receive a “GO” on 11 of 14 Medical, eight of 10 Evacuation, 10 of 13 Warrior Skills, and four of five Communication tasks. Candidates must correctly identify three of four points during the Day and Night Land Navigation and complete a 12-mile Foot March in three hours.

Candidates who successfully complete the foot march are presented with the Expert Field Medical Badge at a formal ceremony. The top three candidates are awarded an EFMB coin to signify their exceptional accomplishments during the EFMB testing.

Resources:

Subscribe to STAND-TO! to learn about the U.S. Army initiatives.