The Badge & the Gauntlet

Video by Jorge Gomez

Irwin Army Community Hospital

May 18, 2025 | 6:06

The journey to the coveted Expert Field Medical Badge begins with sweat, grit—and no turning back. At Camp Funston on Fort Riley, eight Soldiers from Irwin Army Community Hospital launched into the first event of EFMB testing: the Expert Physical Fitness Assessment (EPFA).

From sprinting and lifting to crawling and climbing, the EPFA is designed to test their limits—and expose their heart.Follow SPC Kangle Lin as he powers through pain with the words: “Let it burn... one distance at a time.”Hear CPT Joseph Marcotte, a physical therapist and candidate, share his insight: “Don’t underestimate anything.”

With land navigation, trauma lanes, and a 12-mile ruck still ahead, these Soldiers are pushing for expert status, one brutal challenge at a time.

Music title "Rites of Passage 2" by Scott Buckley (@ScottBuckley) – released under CC-BY 4.0.

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The Badge & the Gauntlet

Mission:
189th IN BDE (CATB) observes, coaches, and trains our ARNG and USAR partners to provide trained and ready units to support combatant commander requirements around the world. O/O, conduct Mobilization and Large Scale Mobilization Operations (LSMO) in support of our ARNG and USAR partners to meet combatant commander OPLAN requirements.
Vision:
Our purpose is to support First Army’s mission to achieve FORSCOM directed readiness and deliver trained and ready NG and RC forces. We accomplish this through partnership with the National Guard and US Army Reserve as FORSCOM’s proponent for the integration of the Army’s Total Force Policy (ATFP) and execution of Mobilization Training Centers (MTC) operations as part of the Army’s LSMO effort.

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