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HomeNews101st Division Artillery Soldiers conduct Expert Field Medical Badge land navigation training

101st Division Artillery Soldiers conduct Expert Field Medical Badge land navigation training

Written by Pfc. Beverly Mejia
40th Public Affairs Detachment

Fort Campbell KY - 101st Airborne DivisionFort Campbell, KY – Combat medics from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery and 1-320th Field Artillery, 101st Division Artillery, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), trained on land navigation operations in the wood-lines of Fort Campbell, KY, May 8th, 2018.

The medics conducted this training to gain proficiency in land navigational operations as preparation for their upcoming Expert Field Medical Badge competition.

“The Soldiers conducted their land navigation portion today.” said Sgt. Juan Cosme, a combat medic specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 101st DIVARTY, 101st Airborne Division.

Combat medics from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery and 1-320th Field Artillery, 101st Division Artillery, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) prepare themselves to embark on a three-hour, five-point land navigation training, May 8th, 2018, Fort Campbell, KY. (Pfc. Beverly Roxane Mejia, 40th Public Affairs Detachment)
Combat medics from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery and 1-320th Field Artillery, 101st Division Artillery, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) prepare themselves to embark on a three-hour, five-point land navigation training, May 8th, 2018, Fort Campbell, KY. (Pfc. Beverly Roxane Mejia, 40th Public Affairs Detachment)

“This involved them finding their start point, end-point and 3 intermediate points within three hours. During the competition they will be doing a day and night portion,” commented Cosme.

The Expert Field Medical Badge is an awarded badge which recognizes the U.S. Army’s medical personnel after showing a high level of proficient in medical skills as well as common tactical soldier tasks.

The EFMB competitions are annually held across multiple states and major installations.

It consists of multiple different tests which help pick out the highest qualifying candidates for the EFMB.

Pvt. Sheyla Ocampo, a combat medic specialist from 1-320th Field Artillery, and Spc. Lauren L. Barlow, a combat medic specialist from Headquarter and Headquarters Battery, both from 101st Division Artillery, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), find their way back to the main roads during an Expert Field Medical Badge land navigation training on Fort Campbell, KY, May 8th, 2018.  (Pfc. Beverly Roxane Mejia, 40th Public Affairs Detachment)
Pvt. Sheyla Ocampo, a combat medic specialist from 1-320th Field Artillery, and Spc. Lauren L. Barlow, a combat medic specialist from Headquarter and Headquarters Battery, both from 101st Division Artillery, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), find their way back to the main roads during an Expert Field Medical Badge land navigation training on Fort Campbell, KY, May 8th, 2018. (Pfc. Beverly Roxane Mejia, 40th Public Affairs Detachment)

The areas that are tested include a written test, Army physical fitness test, land navigation course, weapons qualification, littler obstacle courses, 12-mile ruck march, prepare and transmit a medical evacuation request using a field radio and proper communication skills, survival skills in a simulated nuclear, biological and chemical environment, emergency medical treatment and even cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

“Several 68 series MOS’s can compete for the Expert Field Medical Badge,” said Cosme. “The competition is usually conducted on each individual installation. The EFMB is a very coveted badge among the Army’s medical personnel. This badge is similar to how the Infantry has their Expert Infantry Badge.”

Taking the time out to train in rough terrain environments for large competitions can better prepare and highlight key learning points for the first time competing soldiers.

“I really enjoyed doing the land navigation portion of our training for EFMB,” said Spc. Lauren L. Barlow, a combat medic specialist with HHB, DIVARTY, 101st Airborne Division.

Pvt. Sheyla Ocampo, a combat medic specialist from 1-320th Field Artillery, 101st Division Artillery, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) calibrates her compass during an Expert Field Medical Badge land navigation training, May 8th, 2018, Fort Campbell, KY. The EFMB is awarded to Solders with proficient medical and tactical soldier skills. (Pfc. Beverly Roxane Mejia, 40th Public Affairs Detachment)
Pvt. Sheyla Ocampo, a combat medic specialist from 1-320th Field Artillery, 101st Division Artillery, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) calibrates her compass during an Expert Field Medical Badge land navigation training, May 8th, 2018, Fort Campbell, KY. The EFMB is awarded to Solders with proficient medical and tactical soldier skills. (Pfc. Beverly Roxane Mejia, 40th Public Affairs Detachment)

“The terrain made it very challenging and exciting compared to where I’ve done land-nav in the past. I learned how important it is to recheck your azimuth quite often in wooded terrain. You can easily change your direction on accident. I think it was a great training opportunity for us medics to expand on our knowledge and skills as Soldiers,” stated Barlow.

“I feel confident about my Soldiers,” said Cosme. “We have been practicing a lot and have even done a virtual land navigation course which is an interactive course where they essentially apply the basic fundamentals of land navigation.”

Combat medics from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery and 1-320th Field Artillery, 101st Division Artillery, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) get their pace-count ready for land navigation training, May 8th, 2018, Fort Campbell, KY. The land navigation training is a testable subject in the Expert Field Medical Badge, awarded to Solders with proficient medical and tactical soldier skills. (Pfc. Beverly Roxane Mejia, 40th Public Affairs Detachment)
Combat medics from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery and 1-320th Field Artillery, 101st Division Artillery, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) get their pace-count ready for land navigation training, May 8th, 2018, Fort Campbell, KY. The land navigation training is a testable subject in the Expert Field Medical Badge, awarded to Solders with proficient medical and tactical soldier skills. (Pfc. Beverly Roxane Mejia, 40th Public Affairs Detachment)

“Here, today, they got to use they skills they’ve honed in to apply them to real-life. This is the real deal. I am looking forward to my soldiers succeeding not only the competition but also in there every day medial careers,” Cosme stated.

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