Sgt. Anthony Coleman and Sgt. Jason Roth, both assigned to the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Center, Europe, earned the Expert Field Medical Badge at Grafenwoehr, Germany, Sept. 21.

Out of 312 multinational candidates from across Europe, 75 earned the much desired badge. The average completion rate is approximately 20%.

The EFMB competition is a two-week course consisting of a one-week training phase and a 120-hour testing phase. The testing phase includes a written test, Day and Night Land Navigation, a 12-mile ruck march, and three combat testing lanes with basic combat scenarios and combat medical skills. In order to earn the badge, Soldiers must complete all tasks and cross the finish line within the allotted time.

In a ceremony following the event, Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, commanding general of the U.S. Army Europe, pinned the badges on the winners. In addition, Col. Thomas C. Slade, USAMMCE commander, presented the USAMMCE winners with a Commander's coin.

Upon returning to work, Roth said, "The most challenging task was probably the written test. Finding time to study, and the vast variety of possible questions and subjects, made that portion very tough for me. I don't think anyone can actually go into EFMB and think they fully have it in the bag."

Coleman agreed that the written test was the most challenging task for him as well.

"At first I was nervous about Combat Testing Lane 1," said Coleman, "but we managed to get some time to go over the lane, so that helped."

In an email message to all of USAMMCE, Slade stated that he is extremely proud of these two young non-commissioned officers.