European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 7, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Persistent medic finally triumphs in Pursuit of a badge sunday August 1988 the stars and stripes Page 3 by Janet Howells Tierney staff writer Fulda West Germany some people Don t know when to quit. For example 1 St it. James w. Hickey failed three times to pass the strenuous test for the expert Field medical badge but last week he was Back for a fourth try. Hickey 24, of Fulda s combat sup port so Lith army Cav regt received his first no go for the coveted badge in 1983 while at fort Bragg . He Wasan enlisted Soldier then and had Given a wrong command during the grueling lit Ter obstacle course one of the test s 11 critical performance areas. A year ago Hickey came painfully close to completing the test in Fuld when he suffered heatstroke 250 feet from the finish line of the 12-mile Road March. The March is the final task per formed and always is followed by successful candidates receiving the badge. I could see the finish line Hickey said. But then everything went Blank. Later they told me i crawled for awhile and then turned belly  the Providence r.i., native had re covered enough by april to take the test again but he failed to find one of the Points during the night land navigation Compass course. I was failing for things i knew i could do Hickey said. I also realized that iwas always thinking about going on leave or being somewhere else. People who pass Are at that Point in time Only thinking about the  thursday was a Day of smiles hand shakes and pats on the Back when Hickey finally passed. Dirty sweaty and exhausted he received the badge along with 52 other candidates. But Hickey insists that enduring the test four time stakes More than a desire to Wear a distinctive decoration. If i just wanted the badge i Wouldhave tried once and Given up he said. The wide variety of tasks tested prove that by passing them All i m the Best at what i do. Hickey said it s important for combat medic to know How to survive while doing his Job. Without shooting a anyone it gets Tough to protect yourself and three or four patients  and he pointed out that airborne air assault and flight wings always Are worn below the efm because of the difficulty in getting it. The test which began monday i Fulda Drew 110 soldiers from across Germany. It was open to anyone with a medical specially and was designed to teach medics How to function and sur Vive on the Battlefield. Of the 72 who passed the written exam 39 were testing for at least the second time. With so Many returning there is no stigma attached to not passing said capt. Stephen s. Bradley the 11th army Cav regt medical troop commander. But sgt. Terry w. Smith knows that failing is Tough to accept even if he is part of a crowd. Last year on the 12-mile Road Marchat Fulda Smith collapsed from heat exhaustion just after Hickey and could finish the test. Thursday armed with Moleskin for blisters and supplied with Salt tablets Smith crossed the finish line and received his badge. But not All efm stories have Happy endings. Going Back to my unit without the badge will be rough said staff sgt. Rob Ert d. Mcnew from the 32nd combat support Hospital in Wiesbaden. Mcnew failed the Fulda test his second try forthe badge. They la probably give me a hard time about  Mcnew s wife and a candidate  m. Mcnew of Wiesbaden pushed her helmet Back and encouraged her Hus band to try again. They la dog him out if i make it said the nurse s aide who was on he first try for the badge. Although cutting it close Trina is Gus Schuettler pvt. 2 William e. German gives test medical assistance to pvt. 2 Robert g. Cooper. Mcnew was one of the 53 candidates earning the efm. She finished the 12 mile Road March with three seconds Lefton the three hour time limit. Last year 126 candidates tried for thee feb in Fulda and 22 got it. It. Col. Larry j. Lust who command the combat support so 11th army Cav regt attributes the above average num Ber of badge recipients to a we Klong training Camp held before testing began. We did t hold training Camp Las year and it really made the difference this year lust said. People were aware of our Tough standards and what we were looking  spec. Trey e. Phillips of medical troop 11th army Cav regt in the mid dle of his first testing was t sure what to make of those who would Brave the rigorous tasks More than once. I m not coming Back he said. Heck i Don t want to go through this stuff  True to his word Phillips passed on his first try and got the badge. Skis a t in its a Gus Schuettler the difficulty of getting the expert Field medical badge top makes it All the More cherished by those who earn it. Left after emerging from an ambush area a four Man team transports a patient through the hazards of the litter obstacle course