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Medical field welcomes 21 new experts

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tara A. Williamson
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  More than 120 Soldiers, Sailors and an Airman spent the past two weeks pushing themselves to earn the U.S. Army Expert Field Medical Badge.

Each candidate performed more than 40 tasks, involving a written exam; tactical combat care; reacting to chemical attacks and medical evacuations; day and night land navigation; and a 12-mile foot march to be completed within three hours, while carrying nearly 40 pounds of equipment.

"Many say this is the hardest badge to earn in the Army, and I believe them," said Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Clark, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center director in Bethesda, Maryland.

The average pass rate for the badge is 19 percent, making the EFMB one of the most prestigious Army skill badges to earn.

"I didn't know if I could make it to this point," said Capt. Richard Pate, U.S. Air Force recipient of the badge and Walter Reed nurse. "It's emotional, I'm full of excitement. It's a wonderful relief. If you just do your best every day, put your head down and work hard, one day at a time, then you get done with the ruck and there you are. You're done."

Pate was recognized for completing the road march in the fastest time at 2 hours, 29 minutes and 49 seconds. "I don't remember smiling, but that's what they say. I was just happy to be done," he said.

The EFMB was established 50 years ago on June 18, 1965. Throughout the past 50 years, more than 100,000 Soldiers have attempted to earn the Army's most prestigious badge. Only about 16 percent over that time have earned it.

"Today, only three percent of Army medics have earned the EFMB," Clark stated while speaking at the graduation here. "Today you join them. You are now an expert medic. Congratulations."

U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Taariq Eddy, Bravo Company, 48th Combat Support Hospital, Fort Meade, Maryland, said his favorite part about EFMB was the comradery.

"You get to know respectable and dependable people out here. Some of the hardest moments are when you have to watch them go because they didn't complete a task," the honor graduate said.

While the EFMB is a U.S. Army program, it has been available for the past few years to U.S. Navy corpsmen and U.S. Air Force medics.

"This competition defines military medicine; it is very joint," Lt. Col. Amy Blank, Walter Reed Audiology and Speech Pathology director and EFMB competition OIC. "I come from Walter Reed, where it's not uncommon to see Army, Navy and Air Force every day, all over the hospital working together. To see this badge go joint is exciting."

To date, only three percent of Army Medics have earned the sought-after title of 'expert medic'.

"I strongly encourage any medics and corpsmen thinking about it, to compete; it's the core competencies they should all be good at," the general said. "You need to study and train beforehand, but I encourage you to come out. Even if you don't get the badge, and I hope you do, you're a better medic or corpsman for having done so.

"This badge is a symbol of excellence, this badge will set you apart from your peers, and I'm especially proud that we have an Airman and a Sailor about to be pinned with the EFMB."