Following a recent Wilderness EMT course in Leavenworth, Washington, Remote Medical International Instructor Steve Guthrie was awarded an honorary ice axe from the Special Operations Training Command, USMC. The ice axe award doesn't have an official name and it is rarely awarded, although there has been a 40-year tradition of Marine Recon units awarding paddles to honor exceptional performance. The ice axe is an adaptation from that award. It is presented to an instructor, or occasionally a student that shows "...exceptional expertise, dedication and commitment, and consistently performs above and beyond expectations."

RMI Instructor Steve Guthrie (center) poses with his new ice axe and two Marine Corp students.Every individual ice axe is customized primarily by the Marine that will present the award. There have only been 2 occasions where this award was presented to anyone outside of the Marine Corps. The first was to the U.S. Army 10th Special Forces Groups Mountaineering School. The second, and the only time it has every been awarded outside of the military, was to Steve.

Michael Truax, who presented the award, stated, "It is important to recognize the effort outside agencies make to facilitate our training. Steve, and RMI, definitely went out of it's way to make sure we were taken care of."

Steve tells us.. "I am deeply honored in receiving this award. It reflects not only individual achievement but also the excellence of the program and the hard work and dedication of everyone at Remote Medical International."