Page 5 - JSOM Spring 2018

Rangel explained that there wasn’t a need to prepare for
I would like to give a shout-out to our medical editor, COL the competition because being a Ranger, they are always ex-
Dan Godbee, who is now the 20th Special Forces Group pected to perform at a higher level at all times.
Surgeon. Dan has been a part of the JSOM editorial team “We practice our normal SOPs and protocols throughout the
for 17 years; the only one who has been with the JSOM training cycle. We went at it with what we had,” said Rangel.
longer is me. . . . Congratulations, Dan! The competition is designed to test the medic’s medical pro-
ficiency and leadership while working together as a team.
RANGER MEDICS WIN 2017 ARMY’S BEST MEDIC The ABMC is open to all active duty, Reserve, and Na-
COMPETITION tional Guard Soldiers who have earned the Expert Field Medi-
ifty-six US Army Medics competed as two-person teams in cal Badge or the Combat Medical Badge.
Fthe punishing 72-hour Army Best Medic Competition at Competitors must be adaptive leaders who are tested in
Fort Sam Houston, TX, and Camp Bullis, TX, from 29 OCT physical fitness (walking up to 30 miles throughout the com-
to 2 NOV. SSGT Joseph M. Rangel and SSGT Richard Philbin petition), tactical pistol and rifle marksmanship, land naviga-
were the winning team representing the 75th Ranger Regiment. tion, and overall knowledge of medical, technical, and tactical
The Army Best Medic Competition is hosted by the US proficiencies through hands-on tasks.
Army Medical Command and hosted by the US Army Medi- Competitors’ skill sets must be a solid mix of tactical,
cal Department Center and School. It is designed to physically technical, and critical thinking to win the Army Best Medic
and intellectually challenge medics in a simulated tactical envi- Competition.
ronment. This year’s competition included 28 teams. “This [competition] was a test to prepare you for the ulti-
LTG Nadja Y. West, the US Army Surgeon General and mate test on the battlefield—Go back to your units and share
commanding general of US Army Medical Command, said your excellence,” said Command SGM Gerald C. Ecker of US
during the award ceremony, “By participating in this competi- Army Medical Command.
tion you have set yourself apart from your peers . . . you rep- [Excerpts from original report by Wesley P. Elliott (Army Med-
resent the best of Army Medicine.” icine); https://www.ausa.org/articles/army-best-medics-2017.]
—Lt Col (Ret) Michelle Landers, MBA, BSN, RN

(photo below) LTG Nadja Y. West (left), the
US Army Surgeon General and Commanding
General, US Army Medical Command,
MEDCOM, and Command SGM Gerald C.
Ecker (right) congratulate SSG Joseph M.
Rangel and SSG Richard Philbin representing
the 75th Ranger Regiment, the first-place
winners of the 2017 Army Best Medic
Competition, at an awards ceremony at Blesse
Auditorium, Willis Hall, US Army Medical
Department Center and School, 2 NOV 2017.
Photo Credit: US Army

(photo above) LTG Nadja Y. West (left), the US Army Surgeon General and Commanding
General, US Army Medical Command, MEDCOM, and Command SGM Gerald C. Ecker (right)
congratulate SSG Joseph M. Rangel and SSG Richard Philbin representing the 75th Ranger
Regiment, the first-place winners of the 2017 Army Best Medic Competition, at an awards
ceremony at Blesse Auditorium, Willis Hall, US Army Medical Department Center and School,
2 NOV 2017. Photo Credit: US Army

Correction to Winter Vol 17, Ed 4.
On page 20 of Extraglottic Airways in Tactical Combat Ca- defined as a Combat Casualty Aeromedical Transport Team.
sualty Care: TCCC Guidelines Change 17-01, CCATT is The correct definition is Critical Care Air Transport Team.

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