Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Stephen Crofoot | The commander for the 1-335th, 205th Infantry Brigade, First Army Division East,...... read more read more
CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. — The Army Infantry has a historic way of determining its best Soldiers: the Expert Infantry Badge is awarded to the elite few who are able to complete a series of rigorous tests.
Observer coach/trainers with the 1-335th, 205th Infantry Brigade, Division East, First Army, recently conducted regional EIB testing here with Army National Guard and Reserve Soldiers from several states, as well as active duty Soldiers from several units.
The EIB is a unique award, not only in the infantry, but in the entire Army, according to Command Sgt. Maj. David Pitt, command sergeant major for the 1-335th.
“With other infantry awards, you may not know what exactly what someone did to earn that honor,” Pitt said. “But with the EIB, you have across-the-board standards that have to be met, so you know exactly what a Soldier did and went through to earn it.”
With the standardization of EIB testing in 1989, Soldiers spend two weeks trying to earn the badge. In the first week, they study the various tasks on which they will be tested. In the second week, they are tested on the tasks, which include day and night land navigation, first aid, weapons maintenance and familiarization, and urban operations.
No matter the outcome, Pitt said, Soldiers – and the Army – gain from the experience. “Even if someone doesn’t walk away with an EIB, they still received premier training that they can take back to their units and share with other Soldiers. The training leading up to the testing is exactly what infantry units need to maintain force readiness.”
Because EIB testing is resource-intensive, it can be difficult for a single National Guard or reserve unit to run the event themselves. In many cases, it would also wipe out a unit’s annual training allocation. However, when Guard and Reserve units partner with First Army for EIB testing, everyone wins.
The units send resources and Soldiers to the First Army location and still have the option to conduct annual training, which helps maintain the readiness of the force.
“I like seeing the partnerships. I like seeing how the other components within the Army function as a whole,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Zeigler, 1-335th Infantry. “This is also a great opportunity for Soldiers to teach different techniques, and learn different techniques as well. With Guard and Reserve Soldiers, they have skill sets from the civilian world that enhance the experience level. Everyone – active, Guard and reserve – can pull from this training and take it home to their Soldiers.”
Zeigler, one of four Division East Soldiers who earned the EIB, said the knowledge of the First Army OC/Ts was extremely beneficial.
“I have learned a lot from my peers here,” Zeigler said. “The things that I am learning will help me better my career and, when I go back out to a line unit, it will help me be a stronger leader and have the tools that are needed to teach my Soldiers. The really nice thing is that, even for the people here that don’t get their EIB, the training we received here takes us back to the basics and really helps us become stronger infantrymen. Unlike other events where you just brush up on certain areas, here you really focus on doctrinal standards for basic infantry skills.”
Although the Army has an overall EIB pass rate of 8 percent, the rate for this event was slightly higher –further proof, according to Pitt, of the abilities of First Army OC/Ts.
“This really shows the knowledge of the premier trainers from First Army Division East,” Pitt said. “Many times, at an event like this, you will have junior NCOs running the testing. Here, you have senior NCOs with multiple deployments and vast amounts of personal experience. So, even if someone doesn’t walk away with an EIB, they still received premier training that they can take back to their units and share with other Soldiers.”
Out of 141 Soldiers who began the EIB testing process, 40 were left for the final day’s event: a 12-mile ruck march with a three-hour time limit. All 40 completed the march and went on to earn the EIB.
Many of those who didn’t make it said they would take the knowledge from this year and come back next time to complete the testing.
| Date Taken: | 07.18.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 07.22.2014 13:50 |
| Story ID: | 136901 |
| Location: | CAMP ATTERBURY, IN, US |
| Web Views: | 86 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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