Photo By Sgt. Summer Keiser | A Soldier assigned to 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, performs...... read more read more
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FORT STEWART, Ga.- Six hundred and ninety Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division put their skills to the test to earn the Expert Infantryman Badge or Expert Soldier Badge, Oct. 25, 2021-Nov. 10, 2021, on Fort Stewart.
Soldiers assigned to 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd ID, planned and graded the qualification. Soldiers earn their EIB or ESB by proving their mastery of fundamental skills on physical fitness, land navigation skills, patrol knowledge, tactical medical skills and weapons proficiency.
“It just shows to the other teammates that you’re an expert in your craft,” said Sgt. 1st Class Miguel Zarate, an ESB holder and grader assigned to 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 1st ABCT. “For EIB, it’s a rite of passage and introduction to the infantry. For ESB, it’s kind of a new concept, but 1st Brigade [1st ABCT] and 3rd ID have been giving more fuel to that fire to make it known that expert Soldiers can also compete at the same level as expert infantrymen.”
Candidates completed two weeks of training to prepare themselves for testing week. The graders explained the tasks, conditions and standards of each event, then they identified any mistakes and retrained the candidates if necessary during the training weeks. This training is essential because a lot of the tasks test skills that most Soldiers don’t use on a regular basis.
“It was really difficult for me because a lot of the tasks that were introduced to me, we don’t do on a regular basis,” said Zarate about his experience earning his ESB during 1st ABCT’s rotation to the Republic of Korea. “For 91Ms [Bradley Fighting Vehicle System Maintainers], we don’t throw grenades and handle MK-19s and we don’t use camouflage or IMTs, so it was a learning experience.”
“Soldiers should prepare by going through the reps and putting in the time and effort it takes to learn all the stations,” said Pfc. Nicholas Wise, an EIB holder and grader assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st ABCT.
On the first day of testing, ESB candidates took the ESB Physical Fitness Test and the EIB candidates took the EIB Physical Fitness Assessment. Candidates who passed proceeded to the day and night land navigation course. The following three days consisted of 30 weapons, patrol and medical lanes.
On the final day, the remaining candidates completed a 12-mile ruck march in under three hours, then disassembled and reassembled their weapon and performed a functions check on it in under five minutes. Seventy-six EIB candidates and seventy-nine ESB candidates succeeded.
Spc. Serena Thorman, a new EIB holder assigned to 2nd Bn., 7th IR, said she is excited and accomplished by her triumph because it was the most challenging task she has ever had to do in the Army.
“It was nerve racking and I was constantly on edge,” said Thorman. “I honestly got through it because of my team, my platoon and overall, anyone who told me good luck and that I could do it. I am proud and honored to say I have the best people and team backing me.”
| Date Taken: | 11.10.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 11.13.2021 10:42 |
| Story ID: | 409269 |
| Location: | FORT STEWART, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 302 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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