Soldier Of The Month Earns Prestigious Medic Badge - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

Each month Fort Hood picks one outstanding soldier who goes above and beyond the call of duty.

October's Soldier of the Month is in the business of saving troops' lives, and this medic is accomplished beyond her years.

PFC Christina Garcia is familiar with hands-on, scenario training exercises.

Out of more than 200 soldiers who competed to earn their Expert Field Medic Badge on Fort Hood earlier this month, she is one of only about 20 who proudly wear it today.

"I take pride in the fact that I feel like now, my battle buddies can trust me and trust the fact that I know what I'm doing, and that if something were to happen, that I would be able to do my job and take care of them," said Christina.

She is the only one in her brigade who earned the prestigious honor this round, but it's an honor she shares with those who train by her side.

Her platoon leader 2LT Paul Riojas said, "The whole unit, the platoon, the company, the battalion can take a little bit of pride in that."

Even he tried for the badge, but came up just short of earning it

The shock to many -- Christina has only been in the military for only one year.

"Other soldiers already look up to her, some are even a little jealous, because the PFC came in and already earned her expert field medic badge," said Paul.

Now Christina has her sights set high, on attending Fort Hood's new, fully-certified air assault school in January.

"I'm going to attempt to get that badge also, and I have hopes of becoming a flight medic," said Christina.

There's a long list of soldiers waiting to attend the air assault school, but because of that medic badge, Christina will be among those pushed to the top of the list.

Reporter/Photographer: Sophia Stamas sstamas@kcentv.com