EFMB

Sam spent the past two weeks in the field, training, testing and PASSING the Expert Field Medical Badge.
I am so happy for him and just a little proud of That Sam I Am.  Well, a lot proud of him.  Just in case you aren't familiar with the EFMB requirements I've posted them below, taken from Wikipedia.  Not always a great source but this will give us an idea of the requirements.

"The Expert Field Medical Badge is a United States Army decoration first created on June 18, 1965. This badge is the non-combat equivalent of the Combat Medical Badge and is awarded to medical personnel of the US Military who successfully complete a set of qualification tests including both written and performance portions. It is authorized for wear by United States Air Force medical personnel that meet the same requirements.
Army regulations prohibit the wearing of both decorations simultaneously by personnel awarded the Expert Field Medical Badge and the Combat Medical Badge. In such cases, the Combat Medical Badge has precedence according to Army Regulation 670-1.

The pass rate for FY 2008 was 15.3%, making the EFMB one of the most difficult and prestigious Army skill badges to earn.

Comprehensive Written Test

60 multiple choice questions; 75% to pass.

Army Physical Fitness Test

Pass to standard.

M16 or M4 Weapons Qualification

Pass to standard within last 12 months.

Land Navigation

Day and night land navigation courses.

Forced Road March

12-mile road march with a standard fighting load to be completed in three hours.

Current CPR certification

Tactical Combat Casualty Care Tasks

• Perform a TCCC patient assessment
• Triage casualties
• Control bleeding using a tourniquet, hemostatic device, and dressings
• Initiate a saline lock and IV
• Initiate treatment for hypovolemic shock & prevent hypothermia
• Insert nasopharyngeal airway
• Treat a penetrating chest wound
• Perform needle chest decompression
• Treat an open abdominal wound
• Treat a casualty with an open head injury
• Immobilize a suspected fracture of the arm
• Treat eye lacerations/contusions/extrusions

Medical and Casualty Evacuation Tasks

• Evacuate a casualty using a SKED litter and litter carries
• Evacuate casualties using one- or two-person carries or drags
• Extricate a casualty from a vehicle
• Establish a helicopter landing point
• Load casualties onto a helicopter, ground evacuation platform, and two nonstandard vehicles

Warrior Skills Tasks

• Protect self from chem/bio contamination with protective mask
• Decontaminate self with chemical decon kits
• Protect self from CBRN injury or contamination with JSLIST gear
• Store protective mask
• Protect self from bio/chem contamination when removing JSLIST
• Perform self-aid for mild nerve agent poisoning
• Correct malfunction of M16 or M4
• Disassemble, assemble, and perform functions check of an M9 pistol and an M16 (or M4) rifle
• Move under direct fire, react to indirect fire, and react to an UXO or possible IED
• Move over, through, and around obstacles

Communications Tasks (5 Tasks)

• Assemble and operate SINCGARS or SINCGARS (ASIP) w/o ANCD
• Load FH/COMSEC data and conduct radio check using SINCGARS / SINCGARS (ASIP)
• Prepare and Transmit a MEDEVAC request (All 9 lines) (No longer a Mandatory GO)
• Submit an NBC 1 Report
• Submit an Explosive Hazard Spot Report"

The testing takes five days and by Friday morning Sam had passed all tests and lanes.  He was texting us each day to let us know if he had passed.  Hubby and I were praying for him and his buddy, Perkins.  On Friday morning the last requirement is a 12 mile ruck in full gear in less than 3 hours.  Normally this wouldn't be a problem for Sam but after two weeks in the field he was very tired and hungry(honestly, rations!).  His buddy Nate Perkins was with him and they were the only two from their group to pass the five days of tests.  Sgt. Tucker came out and ran back with them to cheer them on to the finish line.  They made it with 12 minutes to spare.

Sam on the left and Nate on the right at the finish.

Nate has a wife and twin baby boys, God bless them too.

Congratulations guys!