No room for weak: 2nd BCT, 1AD Infantry Soldiers test for EIB

Photo By Sgt. Maj. Michael Noggle | Pfc. Jacob Paxson, dons his Nuclear, Biological and Chemical mask during the NBC portion of the Expert Infantryman Badge event. Soldiers were required to don their mask then simulate injecting atropine into their leg. (Photo by Spc. Michael R. Noggle)  

CAMP BUEHRING, KUWAIT

03.27.2006

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

Spc. Michael R. Noggle
CFLCC PAO/11th PAD

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait - Three days, 40 events, zero mistakes.

That's what it takes to be among the elite infantry Soldiers in the United States Army.

Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armor Division, strived for that achievement by putting their skills to the test for the Expert Infantryman Badge here Thursday through Saturday.

"These are all individual skills that the infantryman has to conduct in day-to-day conditions," said Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Eyer, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment command sergeant major. "It is very important for each Soldier to conduct every skill to standard."

To be recommended for the EIB, prior to the competition, Soldiers in the infantry field must complete a 12-mile road march in three hours, score 70 points in each event on their physical fitness test and qualify as an expert marksman on an M-16 rifle.

For the first time in a deployed environment, the brigade challenged its Soldiers to enter the competition and be among the elite. Each participant had to complete 40 infantry common task tests, such as throwing a grenade, weapon handling, first aid and call-to-fire field artillery, among others.

"It's a lot more mental toughness than physical," said Spc. Trevor Young, Company B, 2nd Bn., 6th Inf.

"There are no shortcuts in these events; everything must be done in a sequence," he said.

After the first day, 38 participants were eliminated, the majority of them failing on the hand grenade task.

"Grenades have become one of the harder tasks because it is physically demanding and a skill that can be lost if you don't do it frequently," Eyer said.

"Everything must be done in sequence and that's what takes them apart from the others," said Sgt. 1st Class Jon Otero, mine lanes supervisor. "We have to be strict during the testing."

"If you were on the streets of Fallujah or Ramadi, you wouldn't want to make any mistakes," Eyer said. "So it is important that a Soldier knows his task before going into battle."

Spc. David Kearney, Co. A, 2nd Bn., 6th Inf., said he agrees that this event allowed him to hone those skills.

"You weren't familiar with this stuff three weeks prior to the training leading to the event," he said. "Now you're proficient and confident on the basic skills."

To make things easier, squads of Soldiers would quiz one another before entering the testing zone. Once they entered the test, there was no turning back.

"It's not a competition, it's about helping each other out and for everyone to succeed," Kearney said.

"It's very important that someone is there to watch over them," Eyer said. "Soldiers are very young nowadays and they tend to think they know everything. Then they get up on the test line and freeze."

At the end of the three-day test period, those who met the challenges were awarded the EIB.

Perhaps more importantly, they were given a chance to familiarize themselves with important infantry skills.

"It's a mark of perfection," Eyer said. "At the end of testing, you have a well-rounded Soldier who has been through a lot of physical and mental strain to get there."

"This will definitely help you out when you go into combat," Kearney said. "You shouldn't have to second-guess yourself on whether it's the right way to do something, you should already know it."

• Date Taken: 03.27.2006
• Date Posted: 03.27.2006 10:47
• Story ID: 5874
• Location: CAMP BUEHRING, KW