Photo By Sgt. Joshua Laidacker | Expert Infantryman Badge candidates wait at the start of the 12-mile foot march before...... read more read more
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FORT STEWART, Ga. – Infantrymen from the 3rd Infantry Division, as well as the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Georgia Army National Guard, tested their competence and resolve to earn the coveted Expert Infantryman Badge during testing from March 30 to April 3 at Camp Oliver, Fort Stewart, Ga.
Candidates conducted the Army Physical Fitness Test, a day and night land navigation course, tests on weapons mastery skills, individual tactical test lanes, and a 12-mile foot march during testing.
The Expert Infantryman Badge was introduced in 1944 as a way to recognize an infantryman’s proficiency in the skill sets required for the rigors of combat.
In the first EIB testing 100 noncommissioned officers were tested. Only 10 completed the testing successfully, which included a 25 mile foot march with an 8 hour time limit then. 70 years later, those numbers are closely in line with the numbers in this year’s testing as there were 892 candidates at the start with 94 candidates successfully completing the test and earning the badge on Cottrell Field April 3.
“It’s not an unattainable item to get or an unobtainable trophy, but you do have to put some work into it,” said 1st Sgt. Lloyd Pegues, the senior non-commissioned officer for Company B, 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd ID.
“I think the most difficult part is just getting your mind where it needs to be,” said 1st Lt. Ryan Ferraro, a native of Memphis Tenn., and an infantryman with 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th IBCT, and now an EIB bearer. “You need to learn as much as you can.”
Although this was a division event, the Vanguard Brigade lived up to their motto by being “out front” and spearheaded the event. 3-15 Inf. led Soldiers from across the brigade to setup the testing lanes.
The candidates of 4th IBCT showed the vanguard spirit by having the most passing candidates with a total of 51 new EIB holders.
The division’s 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team had five, 2nd ABCT had 25, 3rd ABCT had 11, and the National Guard’s 48th IBCT had two new EIB recipients.
“For the most part these guys came already pre-trained by their unit,” Pegues said.
Those who are able to pass the test are only a small portion of those that start. Several events have very high attrition rates and leave candidates with only hope to try again.
“It might be a simple mistake; it might be a failure to train; it might be a failure to retain information; it might be nervousness; it might just not be your day, but they can come back next year,” said Pegues, a native of East St. Louis, Ill. “I got it my second time.”
“I got my EIB back in 2001,” said Master Sgt. Andre Green, an EIB cadre with 3-15 Inf., and EIB bearer who oversaw the urban lane portion of the training, and didn’t quite earn the badge on his first two attempts. “Third time’s the charm,” he said.
There is very little room for error in the EIB testing and many candidates are disqualified due to seemingly minor infractions.
Some however come in with a plan to succeed.
“Instead of sleeping you just mentally manipulate weapons systems until you have the process down, and then you go test,” said Ferraro, who finished his 12-mile march in 2 hours and 38 minutes.
“The first timers are honestly your best ones because they have no bad habits,” said Green, a Honolulu native.
There is a reason why these infantrymen force themselves through such rigorous standards to test, retest and maybe add a badge to their chest, or feel the disappointment of hearing they are a catastrophic no-go.
“It signifies you are the best of the best, the epitome of the infantry,” said Green.
“It’s like the super bowl, it’s my championship ring,” Pegues added.
“EIB is a very individual task. It always has been an individual task. I think it’s the only thing that measures me as an infantry Soldier.”
“I feel like I earned it,” Ferraro added. “It was tough.”
| Date Taken: | 04.03.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 04.08.2014 10:53 |
| Story ID: | 124891 |
| Location: | FORT STEWART, GA, US |
| Hometown: | EAST ST. LOUIS, IL, US |
| Hometown: | HONOLULU, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 73 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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