Photo By Sgt. 1st Class David Edge | Command Sgt. Maj. Jovito Casanova, senior enlisted leader, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry...... read more read more
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FORT POLK, La. – During a rain-filled week of testing, more than 275 Soldiers from across Fort Polk attempted to show they were exemplary Infantrymen. These Soldiers sought to earn the highly coveted Expert Infantry Badge on Oct. 26-30. The 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, hosted the EIB at Fort Polk’s Rosepine Training area.
The purpose of the EIB is to recognize Infantrymen who have demonstrated a mastery of critical tasks that build the core foundation of individual proficiency that allow them to locate, close with, and destroy the enemy through fire and maneuver and repel an enemy assault through fire and close combat.
Following a week of training, the first morning of EIB testing had to be postponed due to torrential rainfall, but the wet weather didn’t deter the determined Infantrymen.
“We as Infantrymen have an opportunity to be able to do something that not everyone gets to do. As Infantrymen, we should strive to earn the EIB, not just for promotion but for the morale and comradery that the EIB brings to the men that earn it and to their units,” said Staff Sgt. Justin Lewis, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.
Less than 10 percent of the Infantryman that strive for the prestigious badge actually earn it, making the EIB a badge of excellence for Soldiers and leaders to obtain.
“Having an EIB as an officer sets a good example for my Soldiers. It lets them know that everyone can get the EIB if they work hard enough,” said 1st Lt. Justin Hartmann, Home Station Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. “The EIB gives Infantrymen something to strive for. If the Soldier’s leaders do not have an EIB then the Soldiers might think that they don’t need one. Obtaining an EIB is a definite career booster for the Infantryman that earns it.”
Most Infantrymen will agree that earning an EIB is hard but if a Soldier completes the more than 40 tasks with all first time goes and earns a “True Blue” EIB, that earns the respect of their peers and superiors alike.
“Completing the last task as true blue meant everything to me,” said Lewis. The fact that I could push through all the mental blocks when I got up to each station proves that we trained hard to achieve our goal.”
Fort Polk sent close to 300 of its finest Soldiers to the first iteration of the Patriot EIB. When the dust settled after the final event, only 24 weary Soldiers remained. Seven of those tired but happy Soldiers finished true blue. The Patriot Brigade will be running a second iteration of EIB testing on Nov. 9-13, 2015. Proud Soldiers from across Fort Polk will once again strive to gain the ever elusive EIB.
| Date Taken: | 10.30.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 11.05.2015 11:47 |
| Story ID: | 180994 |
| Location: | FORT POLK, LA, US |
| Web Views: | 65 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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