SAN ANTONIO – The sound of gunfire overpowers the Muslim call to prayer echoing through a makeshift village at Camp Bullis, made to resemble a war zone in Afghanistan.
Created by the Southern Regional Medical Command as the backdrop for expert field medical badge competition, the true-to-life exercise is designed to test the soldiers' physical abilities and skills as field medics.
They are judged on different levels, including land navigation, a 12-mile march in less than three hours, and caring for combat casualties.
"It was very well simulated," said Private First Class Cameron Smith. "The casualties are yelling at you and you have to focus.
Second Lt. Adam Obregon said they put into practice what they have learned in the classroom.
"There's so many moving parts at once," Obregon said. "You want to keep your heart rate under control as well as not forgetting any of the critical tasks."
Organizers said the students are monitored closely as they move "wounded" soldiers out of the line of fire, triage several patients according to their medical needs, then stabilize them before being evacuated.
Those who make the grade earn the highly regarded expert field medical badge.
Obregon said, "It's a symbol that says I know what I'm doing within my field."
SFC Leslie Ash said, "It is very tough. It's the expert field medical badge, so it's supposed to be tough."