FORT BRAGG, N.C. – Three medics assigned to the 16th Military Police Brigade sweated through two grueling weeks of warrior task and medical techniques training and testing to earn the Expert Field Medical Badge.
“That was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life,” said Spc. Alaina J. Hicks of Marion, Va., a medic assigned to 118th Military Police Company, 503D MP Bn, 16th MP Bde.
Spc. Brett A. Gurley of Denver, assigned to 21st MP Co., 503D MP Bn, 16th MP Bde, here, and Pfc. Sung Lee of Seoul, South Korea, assigned to 194 MP Co., 716th MP Bn, 16th MP Bde, Fort Campbell, Ky., also earned the EFMB, an Army medical proficiency badge.
The last event is a 12-mile foot march carrying at least 35 pounds in less than three hours.
Hicks was the last qualifying Soldier to complete the foot march crossing the finish linea at 2:59:39.
A senior enlisted Soldier observing her cross the line remarked, “Now that is time management. The Army gave her three hours to complete the task and she used all of it.”
Nearly two weeks had passed since the training began with weapons function checks, diagnosing and bandaging an eye injury, and transporting a litter with a mannequin under barbed wire obstacles, over a wall, and onto a military vehicle for transport.
“I just like to help people,” said Lee, in summary of the motivation for all three Soldiers as the reason for being medics.
“The training and testing was somewhat physical, but intensely mentally challenging,” said Gurley. “I am glad it is over.”