Expert Field Medical Badge

Last updated
Expert Field Medical Badge
ExpertMedBadge.svg
U.S. Army Expert Field Medical Badge
TypeBadge
Awarded forCompletion of all Expert Field Medical Badge requirements.
Presented by United States Army
EligibilityU.S. Military Medical personnel and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military medical personal. [1]
StatusCurrently awarded
EstablishedJune 18, 1965
Last awardedCurrently awarded
Precedence
Next (higher) Combat Medical Badge
Equivalent Expert Infantryman Badge
Expert Soldier Badge
Next (lower) Parachutist Badges [2]
Related Combat Infantryman Badge and Combat Medical Badge

The Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB) is a United States Army special skills badge first created on June 18, 1965. This badge is the non-combat equivalent of the Combat Medical Badge (CMB) and is awarded to U.S. military personnel and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military personnel who successfully complete a set of qualification tests, including both written and performance portions. [3] [4] The EFMB is known for its adherence to its testing standards and, as such, requires strict attention to detail from candidates in order to receive a "GO" on its combat testing lanes. The pass rate for FY 2017 was 7%, making the EFMB one of the most difficult and prestigious Army special skill badges to earn. [5]

Contents

Any Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) may attempt to earn the badge. However, the wear of the badge is only authorized when a service member is currently serving or has served in a medical-series MOS during the time that the service member earned it. The infantry equivalent of the Expert Field Medical Badge is the Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB). The MOS 18D Special Forces Medical Sergeant, are only authorized to earn the EFMB as an expert skill badge, and they are not authorized to earn the EIB, but are authorized to wear the CIB if awarded.

Current badge requirements (as of 2022)

Physical Fitness Requirements EFMB no longer requires Soldiers to take the ACFT. Now, according to Maj. Andrey Tsepelev, "Soldiers must now complete 15 burpees, 15 rowers, a 400-meter run, and a 50-meter drag of a 160-pound Sked." [6]

M4 Basic Marksmanship qualification
Qualify "expert" within the last 12 months.
Current CPR certification
Comprehensive Written Test
80 multiple choice questions; 75% to pass. There are four references for the written test: Unit Field Sanitation Team (ATP 4-25.12), Medical Support to Detainee Operations (ATP 4-02.46), Soldier's Manual of Common Tasks (STP 21-1-SMCT), and Soldier's Manual and Trainer's Guide, MOS 68W Health Care Specialist (STP 8-68W13-SM-TG).
Land Navigation
Day and night land navigation courses. The candidate must be able to locate three out of four assigned points. The candidate is given three hours each during the day and night to complete the task.
Combat Testing Lane 1
Combat Testing Lane 2
Combat Testing Lane 3
Forced road march
12-mile road march with a standard fighting load to be completed in under three hours. The candidate may not sling his/her assigned weapon or take off any of his/her worn equipment at any time during the road march. The candidate must complete the road march with the assigned gear and equipment from start to finish. An inspection of the candidate's equipment is conducted at the end of the road march. This is the final task that the candidate must complete; successful completion is followed by the graduation ceremony and badge presentation.

Previous test requirements (before 2008)

Part "Evacuation of Sick and Wounded" Fireman carry Army.jpg
Part "Evacuation of Sick and Wounded"
Comprehensive Written Test
100 multiple choice questions; 75% to pass.
Army Physical Fitness Test
Pass to standard.
M16 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.
Litter Obstacle Course
Done as a 4-man team with candidates graded individually.
Lane testing
Tasks graded individually but lanes are pass/fail.

In summary, current requirements differ from previous requirements with the addition of the M9 Pistol for survival tasks, CPR card certification in lieu of demonstrating CPR proficiency, and the reorganization of the lanes into a combat scenario.

EFMB pass / fail rates for FY98 to FY01

FY 01 EFMB test pass rates (overall EFMB test pass rate 16%)

Written Test – 55% Day Land Navigation – 80% Night Land Navigation – 72% Communications – 82% Survival – 95% Emergency Medical Treatment – 73 % Evacuation – 90% Litter Obstacle Course – 96 % CPR – 85% 12 Mile Road March – 86%

FY 00 EFMB test pass rates (overall EFMB test pass rate 18%)

Written Test -66% Day Land Navigation – 83% Night Land Navigation – 63% Communications – 78% Survival – 94% Emergency Medical Treatment -81 % Evacuation – 89% Litter Obstacle Course -97 % CPR -85% 12 Mile Road March – 91%

FY 99 EFMB test pass rates (overall EFMB test pass rate 21%)

Written Test – 51% Day Land Navigation – 82% Night Land Navigation – 80% Communications – 86% Survival – 92% Emergency Medical Treatment – 81% Evacuation – 90% Litter Obstacle Course – 89% CPR – 87% 12 Mile Road March – 90%

FY 98 EFMB test pass rates (overall EFMB test pass rate 21%)

Written Test – 63% Day Land Navigation – 81% Night Land Navigation – 76% Communications – 86% Survival – 91% Emergency Medical Treatment – 74% Evacuation – 87% Litter Obstacle Course – 91% CPR – 84% 12 Mile Road March – 91%

Related Research Articles

References

  1. United States European Command, August 11, 2011
  2. Army Regulation 600-8-22 Military Awards (24 June 2013). Table 8-1, U.S. Army Badges and Tabs: Orders of precedence. p. 120 Archived October 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  3. United States European Command, August 11, 2011
  4. U.S. Army site, "Navy Corpsmen in Europe Test for Prestigious U.S. Army Badge", August 5, 2011
  5. CS.amedd.army.mil
  6. https://www.army.mil/article/259806/earning_the_armys_expert_field_medical_badge [ bare URL ]