FORT RILEY, Kan. – The 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, hosted its first Expert Infantryman Badge test during a week-long trial of evaluations from April 11-15 at various training sites on Fort Riley, Kan.
“It’s a mark that every infantryman should achieve,” said Sgt. Maj. Todd Ziegler, the senior non-commissioned officer in charge of the 4IBCT, operations office.
“It shows that he knows his job because he’s been tested and proven; it’s a highly distinguished award for an infantryman,” he added.
Over 300 soldiers competed in various events such as; day and night land navigation, grenade throwing, casualty assistance, weapons functions checks and a 12-mile ruck march which they had to complete within a three hour period.
This week-long test was preceded by a week of training, for soldiers to refresh their skills not commonly used in the garrison environment.
Most of the candidates were lost during the Army physical fitness test and during the land navigation courses. By end of day two only 41 soldiers remained in the running for this bragging right.
The series of precision tests were hand chosen by Command Sgt. Maj. Wylie Hutchison, the president of the EIB committee and the senior non-commissioned officer of ‘Dragon’ Brigade, 1st Inf. Div. This EIB course was designed to the specific area of operations the brigade will encounter during the upcoming deployment. The infantrymen were forced to make mental and physical evaluations before continuing to a different event.
“It’s a rite of passage,” said Hutchison.
“It shows your fellow infantryman that you have been tested … and earned the right to be called an Expert Infantryman,” he added.
After the week-long tests were complete, 40 soldier from the ‘Dragon’ Brigade earned the privilege to be called expert infantryman.
The brigade is scheduled to host its second Expert Infantryman Badge test in the fall before the battle rhythm kicks up into high gear for their the upcoming deployment.
