European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 6, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Friday april 6, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 9over Here a i have to get it. Even if it takes me 10 a spec. Gilkey a amps l. Emmett Lewis or. Spec. Serena Gilkey struggles to pull a loaded Stretcher under a barbed wire obstacle during the recent remedy rests in badge of Honor by Ron Mckinney staff writer Darmstadt West Germany a spec. Serena Gilkey almost had it All this year. The medical Supply clerk recently graduated from the a professional leadership development course she is her company a Soldier of the year and she a earning a College degree by taking night classes. But there sat least one goal that has eluded her. The Calls it the expert Field medical badge. Twice she has tried to Complete the 12-part requirements. Twice she has been knocked out by one particular part a the 100-question written test. But the failures wont get in her Way. A they have made me More determined than Ever a said Gilkey who is assigned to a 769th medical det dental clinic at Augsburg West Germany. There was no particular incentive behind Gilkey a drive. Sure she might need it to stay in her Field if she decides to make a career of the . More important the training could help her save someone a life. But those reasons done to adequately explain Gilkey a drive to obtain the badge. A it always looked like a Challenge to me a she said. She could not have picked a better one. The award is considered one of the most difficult military badges to obtain. Only 34 of 128 soldiers qualified for it during the latest testing administered by the 32nd air defense come which holds the test twice a year. That 26 percent passing rate is considered High. To earn the badge a Soldier in the medical Field must pass a rigorous series of eight combat and medical tests Over four Days. The Soldier must also be qualified with a weapon pass a physical fitness test score 7 5 percent on a written test and Complete a 12-mile Road March with gear within three hours. This year Gilkey a commitment to obtaining the badge was put to the test Long before she got to the examination site. First her dental company was late in getting word about the deadline for requesting a Slot. When she finally found out the 140 slots were filled and Gilkey had to Hope that someone would drop out. But Gilkey Wasny to willing to leave it All to Chance. A she wanted the badge so bad that she badgered us basically to get Back into the course a said chief warrant officer 3 Robert Burkenbine who was in charge of Quality control in testing for the commands held site near Darmstadt. On the Day medics began arriving for a amps l. Emmett Lewis or. Spec. Gilkey Back left adjusts her mask during a simulated Gas attack. The week of training that precedes the tests Gilkey struggled with the military Telephone system to find out whether someone had dropped out. It took nearly an hour of constant dealing and hearing Busy signals before her Call went through. Once she had someone on the other end of the line she was told that Burkenbine was at the Field site which could be reached Only by a civilian Telephone. A i had to get on a civilian phone pay my Marks and they told me he was t in again a she said. Still she refused to give up. An hour later she spoke to Burkenbine. That afternoon Gilkey received the news she had been hoping for someone did no to show up. She left that evening from Augsburg and arrived at the training site at 3 . Gilkey began rigorous training at 7 ., after Only two hours of sleep. Gilkey also had to pay close attention to the details to understand medical techniques with which she was unfamiliar. A a it a harder for me because 1 done to do these tasks on a daily basis Quot the Supply clerk said admitting she had never punctured someone sarm in order to insert an in. �?o1 never do that. That scares me a Gilkey put her fears aside and joined the medics Lor training in an environment far removed from her desk in the Supply office. During a simulated chemical attack medics were bombarded with contradictory orders As gunfire rattled from a nearby machine gun. It was a scene designed to create confusion a and the plan medic removed his chemical mask sat on a log and watched his fellow medics Scurry for cover. Another medic just turned away and walked into the Woods. But Gilkey stayed with the struggle. A a there a a lot of pressure a she said. A a you be got people coming at you. You re hearing All these noises. You done to know where to go and you re fumbling with your equipment. Last year i was getting confused. A now i know what to expect. They the casualties will be screaming and trying to Rush me. I just have to remember that i have an hour and in a going to take my time to get it right the first Gilkey did get it right when the testing began the next week. She led a group of medics carrying a wounded Soldier on a Stretcher through an obstacle course and onto a helicopter. One by one Gilkey also completed other requirements for the badge. She showed that she could navigate by Day and night. She breezed through cardiopulmonary resuscitation and radio communication. She demonstrated her abilities in emergency medical treatment and survival. Finally Only the ominous 100-question multiple Choice test and the Road March remained. Having concentrated intently on the medical subjects tested last year Gilkey was flowing with Confidence As she prepared to Pencil in her answers. But the Confidence did no to do her any Good. The test was packed with questions about common Soldier skills instead of the medical subjects for which shed prepared. A it had a Little bit of everything a she said her voice Laden with disappointment Over her score of 71, four Points below a passing Grade. But even with two strikes against Gilkey Burkenbine knows Shell be Back. A a she a quite a character a he said. A a she la come Back for the third fourth fifth time whatever it for her part Gilkey was frustrated but not Defeated. A to come that far and miss it by four Points and to know that you had put everything into it. At that moment of failing the Testi Felt like giving up a Gilkey said. A i was really Hurt. A i went in the bathroom and looked at myself in the Mirror and said i give up. I have to get it one Way or another even if it takes me 10 j
