21st TSC sends 4 candidates to the Army Best Medic Competition

Photo By Maj. Jeku Arce | Command Sgt. Maj. David Hunt, 30th Medical Brigade senior enlisted leader, thanks the cadre and challenges the candidates during his keynote speech at the 21st Theater Sustainment Command's Best Medic Competition award ceremony in Baumholder, Germany. (U.S. Photo by Capt. Jeku Arce, 30th Medical Brigade Public Affairs)  

BAUMHOLDER, RP, GERMANY

09.23.2015

Story by Capt. Jeku Arce 

30th Medical Brigade

SEMBACH, Germany – Four U.S. Army in Europe Soldiers have qualified to compete in the Command Sgt. Maj Jack L. Clark, Jr. Army Best Medic Competition, hosted by the Army Medical Department Museum Foundation, in Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis, Texas, Oct. 28-30 after winning the USAREUR level Best Medic Competition hosted by the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 30th Medical Brigade Sept. 21-23 in Baumholder, Germany.

Best medic competitors compete in teams of two, and these teams remain intact throughout multiple levels of the competition. Team 30th Medical Brigade consists of 1st Lt. William Moreo, 212th Combat Support Hospital and Staff Sgt. Justin Cogdill, 421st Multifunctional Medical Battalion. Team 21st TSC consists of Sgt. 1st Class Ismael Rodriguez, 421st Multifunctional Medical Battalion, and Spc. Harley Salomo, 615th Military Police Company, 18th Military Police Brigade.

These four candidates will be competing against active Army, U.S. Army National Guard, and U.S. Army Reserve medic teams of two to earn the title of the Army’s Best Medic Team.

All 11 USAREUR candidates competed against each other in a point-based grading system performing various soldier and medic tasks such as day and night land navigation, tactical combat casualty care, patient evacuation, obstacle course, M16, and M9 street shoot, a 12-mile ruck march, and a mass casualty lane. These events lead into the next event testing the physical endurance of the candidates in a 72-hour period.

Salomo said that the intensive physical activity of the competition was not a problem for him.

“You have to show up to PT every day - that’s your base, but you have to do more than that. You have to do more on your own to stay fit,” said Salmo.

Command Sgt. Maj David Hunt gave his thanks to the supporting units who served as cadre and challenged the candidates who qualified that they are representing U.S. Army Europe.

“You get to tell them our story over there and show our caliber of soldiers at the forefront,” said Hunt in his keynote speech.

The first Best Medic Competition was first held June 3-5 in 1994 in Fort McClellan, Alabama. The intent was to test competitors on their medical and soldier skills in the same manner the Army’s Best Ranger Competition tested their competitors. The Best Medic Competition was revived in 2011 after a period of high operation tempo and renamed the Command Sgt. Maj Jack L. Clark, Jr. Best Medic Competition in memory of the 13th Command Sergeant Major of the Army Medical Department. Soldiers who have earned a Combat Medical Badge or Expert Field Medical Badge are eligible to compete in regional Best Medical Competitions.

• Date Taken: 09.23.2015
• Date Posted: 09.25.2015 10:57
• Story ID: 177197
• Location: BAUMHOLDER, RP, DE