Medic challenge tests Airmen skills

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class C.J. Hatch
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Fifteen teams, three challenges and only one team could walk away with the right to be called the best. 

The 56th Medical Group held a combat medic challenge at Fowler Park Feb. 14 to help keep the group combat ready. 

"We have been planning and coordinating this for a couple months," said Tech. Sgt. Chantel Libby, 56th Medical Support Squadron unit fitness program monitor. 

To start the challenge 120 members of the Med Group lined up into ten lines of 12 members each. After a short warm up, the teams received their instructions. During the course the whole team had to have one hand on a rope unless a challenge permitted them to temporarily let go. 

Before they could begin the teams where given a test of knowledge. The teams were given a test and had to score 100 percent before continuing to the first challenge. If a team got even one wrong, they had to do 30 jumping jacks and then resubmit the test with the right answers. Some teams struggled with the test, bringing it back for grading three or four times. 

The team designated "A" left, all attached to their rope, crying in victory as the first to leave the starting point. Team "O" was the last to leave the testing area. 

Each team ran from the park down Thunderbird Road into base housing to find their next challenge which was waiting at the basketball courts. 

As the teams arrived at the first challenge self aid buddy care they selected one of three choices, which included shooting a basket from the three-point line for the easy scenario, free throw line for the medium scenario or bottom of the key for the hardest scenario. The first couple teams had time to try for the 3-pointer shots but as the other teams started to arrive desperate people began to shot from the key, receiving the hardest scenario. 

Each scenario had one team member pretend to be injured in a nearby field. The rest of the team had to use their knowledge of self aid buddy care to treat the injured member. The hardest scenario had seven different injuries to treat and an improvised litter carry the medium had five injuries and an improvised litter carry and the easiest had only three injuries. 

As they began to leave, team "A" was still in the lead running to the next challenge. 

The teams then faced the second challenge a litter carry. Each team faced having to carry their whole team from the beginning of a course to the end. The only way across was to be on or carrying a litter. The teams began to quickly grasp the point and passed the challenge without difficulty. 

The third challenge at the base theater turned the tide for many teams, including the current leader team, "A." 

The critical thinking challenge was designed to help teams better communicate. One person at a time from each team entered the theater to find an envelope with their team letter on it taped under one of the seats. The team member returned to tell the other team members where they had searched in order to not search the same place twice. 

It took a while for some of the teams to understand but soon team "C" found their envelope and left running back to Fowler Park where the last challenge awaited. 

The last challenge was three mini challenges in one. Each team split into three groups with some members waiting at each mini challenge. 

The water carry required three members to fill a container at point b with water from point a using only ladles while running a hoop course. When they filled the container one member ran to the next challenge to signal the start. The next challenge was MOPP levels. One team member pulled a number from a bucket and the other team member had to put on the appropriate MOPP gear according to the level. When done they ran to the third group who were waiting at a low crawl challenge. When completed the entire team crossed the finish line. 

After almost two hours of physical and mental tests, team "C" was declared the winner of the combat medic challenge. 

"We wanted to do something that would enhance the morale of our group and at the same time incorporate the physical and combat aspect," Sergeant Libby said. "We definitely want to make this an annual event."