El Paso, Texas, December 2, 2025 – El Paso Community College (EPCC) Department of Emergency Medical Services Paramedic (EMSP) Program held a Completion Ceremony for its fifth U.S. Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) Cohort Paramedic course at EPCC. This collaboration with the U.S. Army began in April 2023 and this year, the Accelerated Paramedic and Advanced EMT courses graduated 11 at a ceremony held at the EPCC Administrative Services Center.

11 graduates received a Certificate of Completion in the Paramedic program with 41 college credit hours, while three students earned the Advanced EMT certificate. Breel Naranjo was named Valedictorian, while Austin Jones was named Outstanding Student.

Eight of the 11 graduates have already passed the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) Paramedic exams to become certified paramedics.

“Your hard work, dedication, and countless hours of study have truly paid off,” Dr. Souraya Hajjar, EPCC Rio Grande Dean of Health, Career and Technical Education, Math and Science said. “As active members of the military, you committed yourselves to intensive training in five months and raise to the challenge with excellence.”

EPCC provides paramedic education to medical Soldiers utilizing this model (Accelerated Paramedic Program). Soldiers completed the program in 171 days. This course combines classroom learning, clinical hours, and field experience, training students six days a week, sometimes in 12-hour shifts.

“A program like this doesn’t evolve with the support of many important people, and that’s family, so please give yourselves a round of applause,” EPCC EMSP Director Tony Ayub said. “We worked hard, and they prepared harder to make sure they are prepared as possible to have the tools to save lives as they function in the field.”

“I’d like to thank the instructors, what an amazing job,” Valedictorian Breel Naranjo said. “I’d like to thank the cohort of students, we all did this together, and I’d like to thank my family. My mindset going into this program was that I would rather fail knowing I studied my best than fail wishing I should have studied more, so that’s why I am here today.”

EPCC was the first site chosen to team with Fort Bliss to provide paramedic education to medical Soldiers utilizing this model (Accelerated Paramedic Program). The accelerated paramedic course combined classroom, clinical, and field experience to prepare students for careers and skills in out-of-hospital emergency medical care. 

Soldiers from across the country, and one from Germany, trained six days a week, including some 12-hour days, in this six month, rigorous and accelerated training to become certified paramedics with 41 college credit hours. Completing this program opens the door so that with additional education and earned credit, these soldiers could easily obtain an Associate of Applied Science-Paramedic degree and earn points towards a promotion.

EPCC has a long history of serving the military and veteran community since its founding in 1969. The college has numerous programs to assist and train soldiers and their families to further their careers while on active duty and after. “EPCC has partnered with the United States Army for over 15 years in paramedic training,” Ayub added. “This program will increase the number of paramedics at a national level.”

For more information on the EPCC Emergency Medical Services Program, please visit: https://www.epcc.edu/Academics/Health/ems

Amaris Vasquez, center, graduated from the EPCC MEDCOM Accelerated Paramedic Course Tuesday. Among the dignitaries were Dr. Souraya Hajjar, left, Col. Wendy Gray, Tony Ayub and Tim Groover