Courtesy Photo | Maj. Gen. Thomas S. Vandal, commander of the 2nd Infantry Division, pins the Army’s...... read more read more
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FORT HOOD, Texas -- Since 1944, the Army's Expert Infantryman Badge has symbolized Soldiers' proficiency in infantry skills and has played vital role in infantry tradition.
Keeping with that tradition, approximately 111 infantrymen with the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment and 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team "Greywolf," 1st Cavalry Division, trained and tested for the EIB at Camp Casey, South Korea, Oct. 6-23.
The EIB came at a significant juncture for both units. While Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment were preparing to redeploy to Fort Hood after completing a nine-month deployment with the 2nd Infantry Division, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry troops were arriving as replacements to take the reins of the Korea rotational mission.
The 2nd Infantry Division hosted the test, which included almost 30 events. There were roughly 527 participants, 21 of which were South Korean soldiers.
Command Sgt. Maj. Andrew Spano, command sergeant major of the 2nd Inf. Div. said he was pleased to see a favorable outcome this year.
"The EIB testing this year far exceeded our [2nd Inf. Div.'s] expectations," said Spano.
Last year, 20 infantrymen earned the EIB out of approximately 440 where as this year 94 out of 527 Soldiers received it.
"We came out of the testing with 18 percent passing where as the Army standard is at roughly a 10 percent success rate for the EIB," added Spano, a Northborough, Massachusetts, native.
He attributes the success rate to the training and preparation of the Soldiers during the first week of testing -- a week of question and answer time, station familiarization and study groups.
"The role of every cadre member and instructor was to give the candidates every opportunity to be successful," said Spano.
Veteran infantryman, Staff Sgt. Ryan Clark, with the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, Greywolf, said the instructors were very knowledgeable on infantry skills and consistent in their training.
"Trainers were proficient in their infantry skills, helping participants understand the proper sequence for performing each task and how to complete them in the allotted time period," said Clark from Corona, California, and a grader for the EIB.
In addition to the cadre of knowledgeable instructors, each participant had each other to rely upon for training, said Staff Sgt. Victor Tran, an infantryman with the 3rd Bn., 8th Cav. Regt.
"We are teammates and continuously helped each other to get to the qualifying week," said Tran. "We accepted advice from veteran infantrymen in the group and went to study hall each night to have discussions on subjects each person was less skilled on."
Teamwork was no escape for the arduous environment in which EIB participants conducted the test.
"The terrain was miserable," said Tran. "Nothing but steep hills and constant rain during most of the grading week."
It proved most difficult during the land navigation and ruck march portions of testing, which became a mind game for most, added Tran, who hails from Columbia, Maryland.
"You definitely had to keep your mindset right and focused to get through the testing successfully," he said.
International relations
U.S. infantrymen were not the only ones who had to keep a clear head for the event as soldiers with the South Korean army's 21st Infantry Division trained and tested the same as any American infantryman would.
"The ROK soldiers did very well," said Clark. "They trained hard, asked questions and took lots of notes."
Questions asked led to conversation and building on relationships between the two countries, said Tran. Greywolf and ROK soldiers got to know each other outside of the testing environment as well.
"It was great to include our allies in and outside of the event, and show our support for their nation," added Clark.
A large support came from the excitement of the first two female, Korean or American, soldiers to compete in and be awarded the EIB.
"I was totally impressed by what [the female soldiers] were taking on, because this was monumental," said Spano. "These were the first female infantry soldiers to ever test and earn the EIB."
Spano said, despite the language barrier all testing was gender neutral. He also looks forward to the changing progress in the U.S. Army.
"I hope I get to see in the coming year or two [the Army] integrates females into all combat arms and afforded the opportunity to test for the EIB," he added. "Given the opportunity, there will be successful females in the infantry."
A well deserved badge
Given an almost 18 percent successful passing rate in this year's testing, Greywolf brigade saw 24 out of their 111 participants earn their EIB, which was the highest number of EIBs earned throughout the entire competition, according to 2nd Inf. Div. reports. Three Greywolf Soldiers also earned a "True Blue" status -- a title for EIB participants who complete the test with no non-passing events.
Staff Sgt. Bruce Avila, an infantryman with the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, Greywolf, said he wasn't planning on doing so well, but things just fell into place.
"I wasn't planning on 'True Bluing' it," said Avila. "I kept focus, stayed humble and just went after it."
Earning the EIB is more than a reflection of ones infantry skills and tactical know how, it can help an infantryman stand out and focus on his future, said Clark.
"This badge puts you into a different aspect of your career," said Clark. "It helps put an infantryman above his peers when being looked at for the next rank."
Avila, who hails from Herington, Kansas, said his accomplishment was something he as wanted for a long time, and would be a tool to help his Soldiers grow in their tactics.
"My family knows the EIB is something I have wanted since I have been in the military," said Avila, "For my Soldiers … they know that I am an expert in my job."
Additionally, Avila said he was happy to be leaving Korea with his unit on a positive experience.
"I am excited to go home, and for me, the EIB top off the Korea rotation," said Avila.
"The EIB is always held at a higher regard, because it tells everyone who knows you wear it that you're an expert in your field," Spano said.
Experts they are, said Spano. Times may have changed and the task with it, but earning the EIB is still based one simple truth "demonstrating proficiency against the standard."
| Date Taken: | 11.07.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 11.07.2014 16:21 |
| Story ID: | 147396 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TX, US |
| Hometown: | COLUMBIA, MD, US |
| Hometown: | CORONA, CA, US |
| Hometown: | HERINGTON, KS, US |
| Hometown: | NORTHBOROUGH, MA, US |
| Web Views: | 81 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Cavalry infantrymen seek desired badge, build international relations, by SGT Quentin Johnson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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