FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Two Soldiers assigned to the Pennsylvania National Guard’s Medical Battalion Training Site located here placed first in the Army-wide 2014 Command Sgt. Maj. Jack L. Clark Jr. Best Medic Competition held Nov. 3–7 at Camp Bullis, Texas.
Sgt. 1st Class Vinicios Occhiena, of Jonestown, and Staff Sgt. Melvyn Mayo, of Reading, beat 32 other teams from around the world. Active-duty medics made up 30 of the teams while reserve components brought one. The teams were from installations around the world including Germany and Korea. Soldiers represented a variety of commands including special forces, infantry and airborne.
The competition is a two-soldier team, 72-hour grueling challenge that places medics in a simulated operational environment. Events included int he competition include a physical fitness challenge, an urban assault course, a mass casualty lane, an advanced land navigation exercise, a buddy run, an obstacle course, a litter obstacle course and an M4 and M9 stress shoot.
Both Soldiers said it was an honor to be selected to the competition and represent the National Guard.
“It was an opportunity to exhibit our own personal abilities while enduring and overcoming a multitude of physical and mental stresses, but it also provided a venue to perhaps display the capabilities and ever vigilance of the many outstanding medics and Soldiers who serve in the Army National Guard,” Mayo said.
“Our goal was to do our best and have fun regardless of the stresses we faced,” Ochinena said. “I am extremely happy with our performance.”
Medics are trained to operate under stress in combat situations including the air, on land or at sea and trained to meet the medical needs of Soldiers and to never leave a fallen comrade behind.
The two Soldiers will return to the Medical Battalion Training site as instructors and both acknowledged their command’s support in the competition. The Pennsylvania NationalGuard’s Medical Battalion Training Site provides real-life battlefield simulated training on medical tasks and offers training for Soldiers from all components.