Capt. (Dr.) Barrett Campbell faced a double challenge.

During a patrol, he and four soldiers came across a vehicle that had been hit with an improvised explosive device.

Sounds of a gun battle sounded surrounded them.

One soldier lay on the ground, conscious with a severe laceration on his lower right leg.  The second soldier, the vehicle driver, also conscious, had sustained a severe spinal injury.

Campbell had several of his soldiers secure the area.  He then quickly put a tourniquet on the soldier with the leg cut.

He then quickly went to work on figuring out how to safely extricate the driver from the Humvee.

Standing nearby with a stopwatch and a clipboard, an evaluator noted everything.

One mistake, and Campbell would be done.

A West Point graduate and second year resident in family practice medicine at the Madigan Healthcare System, Campbell was one of about 100 soldiers still participating in a weeklong test to earn the Expert Field Medical Badge, or EFMB.

The competition took place at Contingency Operating Location (COL) Eagle last week.

"At the start of the week we had 301 candidates attempting to earn the badge," said Capt. David Chappell, 62nd Medical Brigade.

Supporting the competition as role players, evaluators and logisticians were about 400 soldiers assigned to 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT), 2nd Infantry Division.

"We're now halfway through the testing, and about two-thirds have already failed," added Chappell.

Created in 1965, the badge is a special skill award that recognizes exceptional competence and outstanding performance by field medical personnel.

Many try to earn the badge; relatively few actually do.

Since 1986, over 96,000 personnel have competed for the badge and only 15 percent have earned it.

The professional competence and physical endurance of the candidates is tested through a series of events, all of which require the soldiers to demonstrate a high-degree of proficiency in both military and medical skills.

In addition to achieving required scores on the Army Physical Fitness Test, the candidates must successfully negotiate the following areas:  Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), Medical and Casualty Evacuation (MEDEVAC/CASEVAC), communications, warrior skills, day and night land navigation, a written test and a 12-mile road march.

"What you're seeing here is part of the medical and casualty evacuation portion," pointed out Capt. Corrie Brisson, 62nd Medical Brigade.

"Everything has to be done by the book, or the candidate fails this part of the test."

Campbell showed no signs of failing.

He worked methodically in stabilizing both patients; his orders to his soldiers were clear and unambiguous; he seemed unflappable.

Watching and listening to ensure that Campbell did everything by the book was an evaluator.

Once both patients were stabilized to Campbell's liking, he ordered them moved to a helicopter evacuation zone.

Once on the zone, Campbell was informed that the helicopter would not be landing and that he had to move the casualties to a nearby Stryker Medical Evacuation Vehicle.

After coordinating with the Stryker crew, Campbell and his team successfully loaded the two casualties into the vehicle.

Upon finishing, Campbell walked over to a debriefing area to find out his results.

He brimmed with confidence.

"The challenges are apt representations," said Campbell, who plans on making the Army a career.

"Earning this badge demonstrates competence in warrior, medical and leadership skills."

At end of the competition, Campbell earned his EFMB.