Ivy Division's Best Medic Competition

Photo By Sgt. Woodlyne Escarne | Spc. John Levine, an apache company line medic from 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, dives into the pool during Ivy’s Best Medic Competition at Fort Carson, Colorado, Dec. 13, 2022. The medics had to complete events such as the Army Combat Fitness Test, simulated combat casualty care lanes, advanced medical skills lanes, Mabry Mile obstacle course, urban orienteering land navigation along with a 12-mile ruck, Warriors skills test, combat water skills test and an M-17 stress shot. (U.S. Army photo by Sg. Woodlyne Escarne)  

FORT CARSON, COLORADO, UNITED STATES

12.16.2022

Story by Sgt. Woodlyne Escarne  

14th Public Affairs Detachment

FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Medics across the Ivy Division competed for the Best Medic Competition title, Dec. 12-16. The Competitors faced a demanding, continuous, and realistic operational environment in which their skill sets were being challenged.
In total, nine competitors rose to the challenge and they put in the strenuous effort needed during the 4-day long test. It was a close call but Sgt. Brandon Gracia, assigned to 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, and Spc. Trevor Taylor from 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div. won the Best Medic Competition.
The medics had to complete events such as the Army Combat Fitness Test, simulated combat casualty care lanes, advanced medical skills lanes, Mabry Mile obstacle course, urban orienteering land navigation along with a 12-mile ruck, Warriors skills test, combat water skills test and an M4-M17 stress shoot.
The events were made to simulate realistic combat scenarios for medics, which heightened the level of how impactful and effective the medics competed.
“It feels great to win but it took a lot of hard work and I appreciate all the help I got from everyone who helped me prepare for this,” said Taylor.
Now, Gracia and Taylor have the opportunity to compete as a team at the Army-wide Best Medic Competition.
“The purpose of the Best Medic Competition is to identify our team that we're going to send to the Army's Best Medic Competition in January,” said Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Allen, the operations noncommissioned officer with Division Surgeon Cell, Signal Intelligence and Sustainment Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Inf. Div.

The Army Best Medic Competition will be held next year in January at Fort Polk, La. where the winners of this competition will continue to be tested physically and intellectually.
“The Best Medic Competition is a good representation of the medics because they do a lot of things that I don't think everybody understands,” said Allen. “Their knowledge base is incredible and their skill set is vital to mission readiness and combat survival in general.”
The competitors had to take time to train and prepare for all of the different events held at this competition.
“Instead of conducting regular physical training, a group of four of us in my unit who are competing went out to physically train for the Best Medic,” said Spc. John Levine, an apache company line medic from 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div. “We went to the gym and did a lot of cardio along with a workout program to prepare us physically. The rest was more independent in learning, brushing up on our medical knowledge, and getting up to date on the standards for Soldier tasks.”
The Ivy Division Best Medic Competition goal was to uncover the leading medic team but it also provided a valuable training opportunity for every medic that participated.
“Even for those of us who may not make it the first or second place in this competition, we get the opportunity to come out here, go to ranges, do medical lanes, and complete all these different valuable pieces of training that everybody else isn't getting,” said Levine.
The competition tested the medics thoroughly in ways that were both physically and mentally draining however, all of the competitors showcased their skills, displayed resilience, and excelled throughout the entire competition.
Next, Gracia and Taylor are ready to train with each other and build team chemistry to be prepared to face the challenge of the Army Best Medic Competition.
“It feels good to win. I did it last year and I just really, really wanted to redeem myself at the big Army competition,” said Gracia. “What’s next is just training, learning about Taylor, and knowing each other’s strengths and weaknesses.”
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• Date Taken: 12.16.2022
• Date Posted: 01.18.2023 14:17
• Story ID: 435396
• Location: FORT CARSON, COLORADO, US