Expert Field Medical Badge

Purpose of EFMB Testing

The Department of the Army approved the Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB), a special skill award for recognition of exceptional competence and outstanding performance by field medical personnel, on 18 June 1965.

Personnel eligible to earn the EFMB include all officers assigned or detailed to an Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Corps, Army officers in training at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Army officers enrolled in the Health Professions Scholarship Program, Warrant Officers who have an AMEDD primary military occupational specialty (MOS) controlled by the Surgeon General, Warrant Officer pilots that have a special qualification identifier "D" (Aeromedical Evacuation Pilot) and are assigned to an air ambulance unit, and Enlisted personnel who have an MOS in the 68- Career Management Field (CMF) as well as an AMEDD primary MOS, MOS18D, 38W, 38ZW4.

Candidate Eligibility Requirements

In order to be an EFMB candidate, Service Members must meet the following requirements:

• Volunteer for EFMB Testing.
• Be recommended by their unit commander.
• Be physically and mentally prepared to cope with the rigorous demands of the EFMB test and trained in the prevention of heat related injuries.
• Qualify as Expert on their individual weapon dated within one year of EFMB testing.
• Possess a current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. The certification must be valid through the final day of EFMB testing.
• Meet standards outlined in AR 600-9.
• Must not be flagged IAW AR 600-8-2.

Note: Please contact the host unit OIC/NCOIC to ensure you are submitting all required documents. Examples of the required documents are located under the “Resources” tab and contact information for the host units can be found under the “EFMB Schedule” tab.

History of Expert Field Medical Badge

Prior to the establishment of the Expert Field Medical Badge, some AMEDD units of V Corps in Europe developed and conducted tests to ensure their Soldiers were trained to the highest level of proficiency required of their wartime mission. These tests lasted for 2 1/2 days and consisted of written and practical exercises (identification of types of wounds, bandaging, application of splints, treatment of war casualties, removal of injured personnel from tanks, loading and unloading of patients from helicopters, map reading, aerial photo reading and maintenance of equipment). If the Soldiers passed the test, they were issued a "Expert Medical Soldier Certificate". These tests were apparently the forerunner of the EFMB test.

MG Duncan, Chief of Staff, US Continental Army Command recommended establishment of an Expert Field Medical Badge as a Department of the Army special skill award for recognition of exceptional competence and outstanding performance by field medical personnel in a letter to Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, (DCSPER), dated 20 January 1964, in accordance with correspondence between General Waters and General Heaton, The Surgeon General.  (DCSPER and the Army Chief of Staff for Force Development (ACSFOR) did not favorably consider an earlier request in 1963 for the same badge.) On 14 May 1964, DCSPER tentatively approved the recommendation, subject to Headquarters US Continental Army Command and ACSFOR`s development and submission of criteria. DSCPER received the design of the badge, with criteria for the award, by Summary Sheet on 2 February 1965, and returned it without action on 27 February 1965 due to pending further study of questions posed by the Vice Chief of Staff, US Army. DCSPER advised Commander, The Institute of Heraldry (TIOH), US Army, by Disposition Form (DF), dated 6 July 1965, of the approved Summary Sheet, dated 18 June 1965, establishing an Expert Field Medical Badge.  TIOH took on the responsibility of preparing the necessary Army Regulation and commencing action on procurement of the new badge.  A reproduction sample of the Expert Field Medical Badge was approved on 8 December 1965. The badge was oxidized silver consisting of a stretcher placed horizontally behind a caduceus with a cross of the Geneva Convention at the junction of the wings, 15/16 inch high and 1 7/17 inches long.  The badge has not changed since its inception. AR 672-10, dated 1 March 1966, prescribed the authority for the award of the badge. Current Regulations: AMEDDC&S HRCOE PAM 350-10, dated 1 March 2019.

Today, the EFMB test is the utmost challenge to the professional competence and physical endurance of the Soldier medic. It is the most sought after peacetime award in the AMEDD, and while the Combat Medical Badge is the "portrait of courage" in wartime, the Expert Field Medical Badge is undoubtedly the "portrait of excellence" in the Army all of the time.

• MEDCoE Pamphlet 350-10 The Expert Field Medical Badge Test (CAC Required)
• Updated PFA Event and Standard 17 JAN 23
• Expert Physical Fitness Assessment (EPFA)

Requesting to Host

• Questions to Analyze Prior to Requesting to Conduct EFMB Testing
• Request to Conduct EFMB Testing
• Request for Exception to Policy
• EFMB Cancellation Memo

Planning and Training

• Concept Brief (CAC Required)
• EFMB Planning Workbook
• EFMB Cadre Appointment Orders
• EFMB Land Navigation Point/Lane Distance Workbook (CAC Required)
• Host Unit Best Practices and Lessons Learned (CAC Required)
• Validation Checklists
• Grey Area Discussion/Questions

Candidate Packet

• Commander`s Recommendation
• Expert Weapon Qualification M9/M17/M18 or M4/M16 (Within 1 year of test-start date)
• Military Training Network (MTN) Basic Life Support Certification (American Heart Association or American Red Cross; copy of front and back, valid through test-end date)
• Enlisted Record Brief/Officer Record Brief
• Permanent Profile (if applicable)

• Recommended Packing List 
• Candidate Do`s and Don`ts (CAC Required)

Analysis of Units Tested in FY23

FY22 EFMB Testing Statistics (CAC Required)

FY21 EFMB Testing Statistics (CAC Required)

FY20 EFMB Testing Statistics (CAC Required)

FY19 EFMB Testing Statistics (OCT18-SEP19) (CAC Required)

68W Sustainment

The 68W sustainment course, in combination with the Expert Field Medical Badge train-up and testing, provides units an additional avenue to ensure 68W Combat Medics complete their annual skills validation by supplementing EFMB with an additional 16 - 20 hours of didactic training and 8 hours of hands-on testing to fulfill the annual requirements set forth by the US Army EMS Programs Management Division. This training is executed over the course of three days, prior to EFMB train-up and testing.

Eligibility:

Units may provide 68W candidates that are not current with Tables I-VIII and skills validation to attend the training with approval from their Company Commander.

Candidates participating in the 68W sustainment program must be prospective EFMB candidates for the sites upcoming EFMB.

NOTE: Candidates must attend the entirety of both the 68W sustainment training and EFMB train-up to receive their training certificate for TC 8-800 tables I-VII. To receive table VIII skills validation credit, candidates must pass 68W sustainment program hands-on testing and the Tactical Combat Casualty Care lane.

TC 8-800 (CAC Required)

Required Training Material (Zip File, CAC Required)

DA From 7442 (CAC Required)

DA Form 7741 (CAC Required)

Example Sign-In/Out Roster

68W Sustainment Fillable Training Schedule (CAC Required)

68W Sustainment Task Completion Memorandum