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PYEONGTAEK, South Korea - The best medic competition is a 72-hour
two-Soldier team competition. It pushes the participants to their
physical and mental limits. What do you think you have to do to
prepare for this competition? Some might think weeks of special
pre-training is needed. However, the winner of the 8th U.S. Army
Best Medic Competition said the standard Army morning physical
training and an everyday personal workout are enough preparation to
succeed.
Sgt. Scott Lackey, an emergency care
non-commissioned officer for the 602nd Aviation Support Battalion,
2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, will participate
the 2015 Command Sgt. Maj. Jack L. Clark Jr. Army Best Medic
Competition after winning the 2nd Infantry Division competition and
8th Army competition.
Lackey teamed up with Sgt. Balamurali
Devarajan, a flight medic from the Co. C, 3rd General Support
Aviation Battalion, 2nd CAB, and won the 8th Army Best Medic
Competition. The winning team will represent the 8th Army at the
Army-wide Best Medic Competition, held in San Antonio, Texas in
November.
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Sgt. Scott Lackey (left), an emergency care non-commissioned officer
for the 602nd Aviation Support Battalion, 2nd Combat Aviation
Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division and Sgt. Balamurali Devarajan
(right), a flight medic with the Company C, 3rd General Support
Aviation Battalion, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade ... use teamwork to
crawl under low barbed wire during the 2nd Infantry Division Best
Medic Competition on June 23, 2015 at an obstacle course on Camp
Casey in the Republic of Korea. Devarajan and Lackey were part of a
two-Soldier team hoping for a chance to compete in the 8th U.S. Army
Best Medic Competition. The event included day and night land
navigation, a written test, and obstacle course, a physical fitness
challenge and a buddy run. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jesse Smith)
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“Early on the first day, we started off with the modified
physical training test,” said Lackey. “The competition had
multiple events to include night and day land navigation, an
obstacle course, a written test, and more. It was painful.”
Over the course of the 72-hour Army Best Medic Competition,
medics are pushed non-stop to complete a number of events to
include a two-mile run, obstacle course, casualty evacuation
across a one-rope bridge, a physical fitness challenge, a
12-mile foot march with embedded medical tasks, land
navigation, combat medic lanes, and an urban assault course.
Despite the excruciating tasks, Lackey felt honored and
privileged to participate in the competition.
“There are many
requirements to participate in the competition,” said
Lackey.
A Soldier's Date of Eligible for Return from
Overseas (DEROS) had be to before Nov. 2. Also the Soldiers
should be in good standing and recommended by a supervisor.
Last but not least, only the holders of the Combat Medical
Badge or the Expert Field Medical Badge, which are highly
distinguished qualifications, can participate. A total of
six two-man teams made the qualifications to compete.
Lackey said he was fortunate to participate and believed
that it was an opportunity for him to distinguish himself
from all the other medics in the Army. When asked how he
prepared himself for the competition, he said that his
experience in the Army so far has helped him.
“I
have done boxing for a couple years, but Army PT is the best
preparation for the competition,” Lackey said.
Now
waiting for the Army-wide Best Medic Competition, Lackey
said he is “staying with the usual” and not changing his
already successful training routine.
Article by U.S. Army Chung Il Kim
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2015
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