EIB Badge isn't just for young Soldiers

Photo By Edward Muniz | Col. Michael Stewart reading Coordinates.  

FORT SILL, OK, UNITED STATES

05.01.2024

Story by Kemar Noel 

Fort Sill Public Affairs

The Expert Infantry Badge is a badge given to soldiers after completing intensive and exhaustive training. The isn’t a badge that most soldiers, especially those of higher ranking would go for especially since it is described as one of the hardest training courses available. The rate at which people pass and obtain the badge is already low so getting the badge itself is very commendable.

Col. Michael Stewart and Command Sgt. Maj. Luis Arroyo-Avila were some of the people to receive these badges this time around, and this isn’t something that someone of such high ranks would usually go for in the military. Stewart emphasizes that one of his prime reasons for doing this aside from the training is to set an example for soldiers to go for these badges.

“Our job here is to run basic training so we spend most of our days trying to instill fundamental soldier skills in new soldiers. We reiterate every day that the cadre needs to be masters at what they do, and over time you realize that if you are trying to get someone to do something you should be willing to do it yourself ” Stewart said. “ I wanted to show an example and highlight the importance of what my soldiers should strive towards.”

Compared to other training regimens this training for the infantry badge has a very small success rate. The training itself is said to be very physically and mentally challenging and is some of the hardest training some soldiers have been put through.

“The training itself was hard, but it was harder for me because this isn’t the sort of training that senior officers would typically do,” Stewart said. It was fun overall but it was very challenging and it didn’t make it any better that I didn’t have much practice.”

There are a series of tests and events that soldiers must take part in to receive the badge, but it is mentioned that to pass or fail the goal is to increase unit proficiency and promote confidence in teams. The badge itself isn’t something that most people could just attempt to attain without a certain mental drive to back them so having a clear goal in mind for what you want to obtain from this training is recommended.

“Taking it one task at a time is key. Every time you attempt a task you should be afraid to fail and try again because you'll be ok. It takes patience but eventually, after time and effort, you will be a professional at the task before you know it,” Arroyo-Avila said.

Receiving the badge, especially with a very low success rate, must be something soldiers can be very proud of after weeks of hard training alongside completing duties they already have inside the military workplace.

“Receiving the badge wasn’t something that I had planned originally, I had planned to receive the training, but after learning so much from this phenomenal program that, may I say has been some of the best training I've had in the past 26 years I've had in the army made it even more worthwhile," Col. Stewart said.

The training usually takes several weeks to complete so even though it is tough there it is very rewarding upon its completion. The training differs from others in many ways but there are some things that soldiers found memorable about the training process.

“Every day was an exciting day and there wasn’t a day I didn’t come into work without a big smile but, it wasn’t complete until I felt complete. After testing my mental and physical toughness for weeks I had to make sure I still had it in me so when I finally finished it felt surreal,” Arroyo-Avila said.

The EIB/ESB/EFMB in essence trains soldiers to focus on the basics to a higher standard than what is usually trained and helps them build overall team cohesion. The training is hard but is worth the time being spent because of the uniqueness it holds. It was described as “Phenomenal” by both the col. the Sgt. Maj and should be something soldiers should experience.

• Date Taken: 05.01.2024
• Date Posted: 05.03.2024 11:04
• Story ID: 470055
• Location: FORT SILL, OK, US