Soldiers vie for Expert Infantryman Badge

by Sgt. Brian Ragin
4/25th IBCT Public Affairs

9/23/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICAHRADSON, Alaska -- Paratroopers from the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division tested for the Expert Infantry Badge Sept. 9 through Saturday at Camp Mad Bull.

The EIB is awarded to Soldiers who hold infantry or Special Forces military occupational specialties. To earn the EIB, Soldiers must complete level 1 task infantry
skills.

In 1944, Army Chief of Staff Gen. George C. Marshall initiated the development of an award to honor U.S. infantryman. Then, on March 29, 1944, Army Lt. Gen. Lesley J. McNair presented the first EIB.

Testing for the EIB is done over a five-day process, which tests Soldiers on the Army Physical Fitness Test, day and night land navigation, weapons master skills testing stations, individual tactical test lanes, and a 12-mile foot march.

The APFT kicked off the first morning with more than 600 hundred candidates in attendance. The APFT is the first graded event and cannot be retested. The APFT measures the candidates' physical endurance and conditioning.

"EIB usually loses about 30 percent of the candidates the first day because of the PT test," said Army Staff Sgt. Stuart Williams, EIB cadre. "Then probably about half of them to land navigation."

Land navigation tests took place the first afternoon and night after the APFT. Land navigation tests the abilities of the candidates to navigate from one point to another using a map and compass while equipped with individual combat gear. This is the second graded event and also cannot be retested. With the unusual downpour of rain, the candidates' resolve was challenged.

"Weather definitely has been a factor," said Army Staff Sgt. James Martell, EIB cadre. "You can definitely see morale dropping. They're wet, they're tired, and for the most part they're hungry."

The master skills testing stations and individual tactical test lanes were split into three separate sections: blue, red and white. The MST stations evaluate an individual's proficiency in common infantry weapons systems. The ITT lanes evaluated a candidate's ability to demonstrate to standard their tactical and technical proficiencies on infantry tasks.

The lanes were conducted during the next three days ending on the night of Sept. 12.

"I got my EIB in 2009. It was one of the first lane style EIBs that went through," said Army Staff Sgt. Benjamin Cross, EIB cadre. "I took as many notes as I could, studied all the material they gave me. I took one task at a time. I didn't get ahead of myself thinking about the next lane for the next day. I focused on the lane ahead of me."

"I remember this day when I came through," Martell said. "Every time I went through a lane, I was nervous. You just have to keep a clear head and not let it fluster you. Stay cool, calm, and collected. Make sure you're hitting your performance measures and talk yourself through the task."

On Saturday morning, the candidates finished off testing with the completion of the 12-mile foot march. They were given three hours to complete the march. At the end, they were given a weapons proficiency skill test in which they broke down their M4 Carbine. Completion of this event was the end of testing, and the candidates received their badges in a ceremony.