By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Medics seeing who is the best
Stewart hosts southern regional competition
web 0921 Medic competition 2
Soldier medics are graded on how well they triage the wounded in a combat situation - photo by Photo by Denise Etheridge

Rapid small-arms fire, groans of the wounded and repeated shouts of “Incoming!” were heard before explosions split the forest air Tuesday at the Georgia Garrison Training Center on Fort Stewart. Dense yellow or green fog ringed several pairs of soldier medics as they bent over injured dummies, assessing and treating the fake soldiers’ injuries while senior NCOs and officers graded their performance.
This emergency medical treatment exercise was part of the Southern Regional Medical Command Best Medic Team Selection Competition this week. Winn Army Community Hospital is sponsoring the event.
“So far, so good,” WACH optometrist Capt. Donnie Appleman said. “These candidates are prepared, but they’re unaware of what they will encounter out here.”
Ten two-soldier medic teams from Army installations across the Southeast participated in the regional competition, Appleman said.  The winning team will represent the Army’s southern region in the Army-wide best medic competition in November.
During the field emergency medical treatment exercise, medics must show the skills used to keep wounded comrades alive on the battlefield, according to Appleman.
“All of them have the expert field medical badge,” he said. Teams were chosen by their military hospitals or infantry units to compete. Team members have at least three to four years experience as medics, Appleman
said.
“It’s an honor to compete,” Sgt. Ethan Mergentime of Redstone Arsenal, Ala., said. “This will probably be my only chance.”
Medics “treated” soldiers for such serious injuries as shock, gunshot wounds, head trauma and fractures, Appleman said.
Teams took a medical and general military knowledge written test Monday, Winn spokesperson Michelle Gordon said.
Other competition events will include the Army physical fitness test, an obstacle course, day and night land navigation and manual casualty evacuation tasks, Gordon said. She said the competition will end with a timed, 12-mile foot march Friday. Appleman said competing medics will carry a wounded soldier (dummy) the last half mile of the march.
Sgt. Maj. Thomas Wrighton with WACH helped plan and coordinate the competition. Planning took six weeks, he said.
A combat medic who has treated the wounded on the field during his Iraq deployments, Wrighton said medics are “demonstrating their efficiency,” during the competition.

Sign up for our E-Newsletters
Exchange Service salutes Vietnam vets with custom truck design
Army and Air Force Exchange Service redesigned logo 2011

To thank Vietnam veterans for their sacrifices, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service is debuting a new truck design, part of the Department of Defense retailer’s efforts alongside the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration to honor veterans during the 50th anniversary of the war.

“The Exchange is privileged to have the opportunity to recognize Vietnam veterans through our fleet,” said Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull, who served in the Army during the Vietnam era. “These trucks will serve as rolling billboards, expressing gratitude for all who served during this era.”

The truck design features the silhouette of a lone service member set against the background of a faded horizon with a call to “thank a Vietnam veteran for service to our nation.” The single military member represents the warfighters who served during this time.

Three trucks in the fleet feature the commemorative design and will deliver merchandise to Exchange stores from the organization’s distribution centers in the continental United States.

The West Coast Distribution Center at Sharpe Army Depot in California; Dan Daniel Distribution Center in Newport News, Va.; and the Waco Distribution Center in Texas will each have a truck in service on their standard delivery routes, serving the whole country.

Air Force veteran Pat Thompson served in Vietnam before coming to the Exchange as a truck driver and mechanic. In his 18 years with the Exchange, he has deployed four times to support the troops. The new design means a lot to him.

“They remember,” said Thompson, who is based at the Exchange’s Waco Distribution Center. “We want to be remembered.”

The trucks also highlight the veteran online shopping benefit, which launched in November. The lifelong online military exchange benefit authorizes all who served honorably to enjoy tax-free shopping and exclusive military pricing at ShopMyExchange.com.

The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration is a program administered by the Office of the Secretary of Defense to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The U.S. began commemoration of the Vietnam War’s 50th anniversary in 2012 and will continue through Veterans Day 2025.

The Exchange is a 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Partner, planning and conducting events and activities that recognize Vietnam veterans and their families for service, valor and sacrifice in conjunction with the commemoration.

Latest Obituaries