Photo By Sgt. Edward Balaban | A timed 12-mile long march with weapon and medical rucksack culminates the week-long...... read more read more
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FLORENCE, Ariz. - Fifty-seven soldiers representing active duty, reserves and National Guard components reported to the Military Reservation here to qualify for the elite Expert Field Medical Badge. At week’s end, 11 candidates earned the coveted device.
Scheduled for March, before the torrid desert heat could take hold, the students range in rank from private to lieutenant colonel.
The Expert Field Medical Badge was established in June 1965 as a Department of the Army special skill award for the recognition of exceptional competence and outstanding performance by field medical personnel.
In accordance with instruction, all enlisted personnel possess a medical military occupational specialty and all the officers are assigned or detailed to a component of the medical corps. All students are volunteers for EFMB testing.
Additional prerequisites are: recommendation by their unit commander, be physically and mentally prepared to cope with the rigorous testing demands as well as trained in the prevention of heat-related injuries, qualify as marksman or higher with their assigned weapon, secure a minimum of 180 points on the Army Physical Fitness Test with a minimum of 60 points in each event, and possess current cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification.
Master Sgt. Rock Rakosi, an Arizona Guardsman, qualified for the EFMB in 1987 and leads the training cadre for this event. Rakosi said the last time Arizona hosted this training was 1998.
“A combination of available candidates and convenient time brought the course back to Arizona now,” said Rakosi.
“The testing coincides with spring break for most eastern Arizona colleges, allowing the majority of Guard and reserve soldiers, many of whom are students, to attend,” Rakosi said. The scheduling of the course was not as critical to active duty soldiers.
Pvt. Edwardo Jacquez, a Flagstaff native, joined the active duty Army last April. At 21, he has already qualified as a medic and is assigned to the 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade at Fort Hood, Texas.
While “it feels good to be home in Arizona,” Jacquez said he is “excited and grateful to be learning more about how I can better serve my fellow soldiers when we go into battle.”
“The Expert Field Medical Badge is not only a personal qualification, but a visible measure of self-worth as an Army medic,” said Pfc. Catherine Pinney, also from Ft. Hood’s 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.
Pinney, an active duty soldier from Virginia, welcomes the challenges of the EFMB and views the experience as an opportunity to acquire and enhance her skills as an Army medic.
Stacy Black works as a civilian management analyst at Fort Knox, Ky. He is also a Medical Service Corps first lieutenant in the Army reserve and attending this course.
“In order for me to fully appreciate what my medics go through, I felt it was appropriate for me to challenge myself and go through the same training as them,” said Black.
“Regardless of one’s military or academic background, one has to properly prepare for the rigors of this course because it’s not only medical knowledge but all-around soldier skills that are being observed and tested,” Black said.
During the weeklong training, EFMB candidates must validate their professional knowledge on written examinations. Candidates are also required to demonstrate a myriad of skills in graded exercises including day and night land navigation, tactical combat casualty care, medical and casualty evacuation tasks, communication tasks, and warrior skills tasks.
Warrior skills involve practical knowledge of weapons (M4/M16 rifle; M9 pistol), response to chemical/biological/radiological/nuclear environments, and response to unexploded ordnance/improvised explosive devices.
Training culminates with a timed 12-mile road march with weapons and packs.
Candidates and training cadre acknowledge that the skills identified for the EFMB qualification are evaporative. The skills must be routinely exercised and practiced in order to be able to maintain at least a minimum proficiency.
Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Uptgraft is a reservist assigned to 1984th U.S. Army Hospital at Fort Wainwright, near Fairbanks, Alaska. He qualified for his EFMB in 1989 and is a member of this training cadre, observing and grading candidates on the requisite tasks and skills.
“Active duty members have the opportunity to be doing these things all the time. In order to be better prepared for this kind of training these training tasks should be an annual event for Guard and reserve troops,” said Uptgraft.
Senior members of the Arizona Army National Guard chain of command visited here to observe the progress of the course and speak with candidates and training cadre personnel.
Col. Matthew J. Brown, Arizona assistant adjutant general – Army, upon touring the site said, “Seeing this training up close is very impressive; I personally have a greater appreciation for the level of professionalism the Expert Field Medical Badge represents.”
Brown expressed hope that Arizona will be able to host this training again.
State Command Sgt. Major Max Butler was introduced to several training cadre soldiers whose assistance contributed to the realism and importance of the tasks being addressed.
“It is encouraging to see the energy and enthusiasm that our young troops bring to the field,” said Butler.
“The effort they put forth is incredible and clearly shows how big their hearts are,” Butler said.
Maj. Gen. Hugo E. Salazar, the adjutant general and commanding general of the Arizona National Guard, presented the coveted EFMB to the 11 soldiers who successfully completed the grueling course.
Those earning the Expert Field Medical Badge are listed below by name, with rank/component/unit information:
1st Lt. Stacy T. Black, USAR (6253rd CSH/11TH AVN CMD)
Capt. Michael J. Crivello, USA (USAARL, Fort Rucker)
Maj. Erica R. Dijoseph, USA (D CO 187th MED BN)
Capt. Karl D. Granroth, AZ ARNG (ARNG MED DET AZ)
Capt. Mika J. Hakkarainen, AZ ARNG (91st CIV SPT TEAM)
Spc. Timothy C. Osteen, USA (HHT 1/11th ACR, Fort Irwin)
Spc. Austin L. Richardson, AZ ARNG (ARNG MED DET AZ)
Sgt. Jeremiah P. Stoddard, AZ ARNG (ARNG MED DET AZ)
Staff Sgt. Emily C. Warren, USA (HHC 508th STB, 82nd Airborne)
Spc. Steven M. Wickert, AZ ARNG (HHC 1st BN 158th IN)
Spc. Ian M. West, AZ ARNG (HHC 1st BN 158th IN)
“When a soldier earns a qualification badge in his or her military specialty, the prestige that accompanies the privilege to wear that badge is a greater honor than receiving a medal,” said Salazar.
Salazar said, “That badge tells the world, ‘I am a professional.'”
| Date Taken: | 03.18.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.21.2011 17:35 |
| Story ID: | 67503 |
| Location: | FLORENCE, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 735 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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