Nerves and excitement ripple through the air here this week as multinational medical Soldiers from across Europe prepare to pass the tests for the prestigious Expert Field Medical Badge.

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany - 1st Lt. Ivan Corridori from the Italian army participates in a combat testing lane to prepare for the Expert Field Medical Badge assessment in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Sep 12.

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany - Sgt. Chrstina Fintinan, 212th Combat Support Hospital, and 1st Lt. Ivan Corridori from the Italian army stay low during a combat testing lane to prepare for the Expert Field Medical Badge assessment in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Sep 12.

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany - Italian and American soldiers get ready to go through a combat testing lane to prepare for the 2012 U.S. Army Europe Expert Field Medical Badge assessment in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Sep. 12

At the 2011 U.S. Army Europe Expert Field Medical Badge Standardization and Testing, held Aug.1-13, 285 U.S and German military health professionals, from behavioral health specialists to dental technicians, gathered here to try their hand at earning the badge.

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany-- 1st Lt. Alan Vaugn, a first-time participant in the EFMB and laboratory officer assigned to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, assembles a tactical radio prior to delivering a medical evacuation request as part of Combat Testing Lane 3 during the 2011 U.S. Army Europe Expert Field Medical Badge Standardization and Testing held Aug. 1-13, 2011. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Wheeler)

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany-- 1st Lt. Alan Vaugn (left), a first time participant in the 2011 U.S. Army Europe Expert Field Medical Badge Standardization and Testing and laboratory officer assigned to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, leads support personnel in evacuating a simulated casualty to a Blackhawk helicopter as part of Combat Testing Lane 3, Aug. 6, 2011. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Wheeler)

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany-- 1st Lt. Alan Vaugn (left), a first-time participant in the EFMB and laboratory officer assigned to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, straps a simulated casualty to a skid; in preparation for transport as part of Combat Testing Lane 3 during the 2011 U.S. Army Europe Expert Field Medical Badge Standardization and Testing held Aug. 1-13, 2011. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Wheeler)

West Point cadets worked side-by-side and observed Soldiers of both the officer and the enlisted corps during the 2011 U.S. Army Europe Expert Field Medical Badge Standardization and Testing on the Grafenwoehr Training Area, Aug. 1-13.

Medical personnel from the U.S. Army Europe and NATO-ally Germany are in Grafenwoehr, Germany for the 2011 U.S. Army Europe Expert Field Medical Badge Standardization and Testing, August 1-13.

Naval Corpsmen rarely are seen training with U.S. Army Soldiers, however, League and Seaman Corey Keating, are participating in the EFMB in order to further improve the overall standard of care down range.

United States Army health professionals throughout Europe, along with health professionals from NATO-partner Germany have come here to attempt to earn the 2011 U.S. Army Europe Expert Field Medical Badge.

As U.S. and German candidates cross the finish line of a two-mile run together, Soldiers of one nation supported soldiers from another in their efforts to earn the right to participate in the 2011 U.S. Army Europe Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB) Standardization and Testing.

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany - Sgt. John Anthony Kasen, a medic from the 557th Medical Company (Area Support), trains multi-national soldiers in Basic Lifesaving Skills (BLS) July 27, during the pre-qualification phase of the upcoming 2011 U.S. Army in Europe Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB) Standardization and Testing. All participants must pre-qualify for participation in EFMB testing, and have a medical background. Pre-qualification events for the EFMB include an up-to-date Army Physical Fitness Test, an individual weapons qualification using the M16A2 rifle, and an updated CPR certification. All candidates must successfully complete a 12-mile road march, day and night land navigation, emergency medical treatment, and other tasks. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Trisha Pinczes)

Leaders from across the Europe Regional Medical Command sent their best and brightest Soldiers, Noncommissioned Officers and Officers to the Baumholder Training Area here to compete in the ERMC Best Warrior Competition and Expert Field Medical Competition Sept. 20-24.

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany - More than 230 U.S. Army Europe and 16 partner nation medical personnel began competing for the Army's Expert Field Medical Badge (EFBM) at Camp Aachen in the Grafenwoehr Training Area, March 25.