Infantrymen display skills during EIB test

By Wallace McBride, Fort Jackson LeaderApril 9, 2015

Infantrymen display skills during EIB testing
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Infantrymen display skills during EIB testing
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Infantrymen display skills during EIB testing
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Infantrymen display skills during EIB testing
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Infantrymen display skills during EIB testing
5 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Brian Lambert, 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, takes off his gear after completing the 12-mile foot march April 3, 2015, on Fort Jackson, S.C. Lambert was one of seven Fort Jackson Soldiers who earned the Expert Infantryman Badge. T... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Infantrymen display skills during EIB testing
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FORT JACKSON, S.C. (April 9, 2015) -- At the beginning of Expert Infantryman Badge qualifications last week, 79 Soldiers had qualified to put their skills to the test. Of those, just seven Soldiers were left standing when the event came to an end five days later.

The 3-inch-wide metal badge depicts a 1795 model Springfield Arsenal musket on a light blue background, and for the Army's infantrymen it symbolizes that a Soldier is among the best of the best. This year's five-day series of challenges ended Friday morning with a 12-mile foot march in full "battle rattle," followed by a presentation ceremony for those who completed the final challenge.

The Expert Infantryman Badge exists to showcase the commitments of professional infantrymen, said Post Command Sgt. Maj. William Hain.

"This is not to diminish other jobs in the Army, but this ceremony is not just about the Infantry -- it's about a group of infantrymen who are at the top of their profession," Hain said. "After three decades of watching the Army in action, I'm completely convinced that it takes a special breed to excel in this chosen profession."

The Expert Infantryman Badge was established in 1944 as an award to honor the infantrymen. The first round of tests took place at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, with 100 Soldiers from the 100th Infantry Division participating. The original tasks required Soldiers to qualify with a variety of weapons, complete a 25-mile foot march with field equipment in fewer than eight hours, and complete infiltration, close combat, and combat-in-cities courses.

Of those 100 Soldiers, Hain said only 10 earned the badge. The test has evolved over the years to meet whatever demands were being placed on the Infantry, all with the goal of identifying the best Soldiers the Army had to offer.

For Staff Sgt. Christopher George of the 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, last week was his third attempt at earning the Expert Infantryman Badge. When he finished Friday morning's march, his father -- a retired non-commissioned officer -- was waiting for him at the finish line.

"We were in the services at the same time, during the last two years of my career," said John George, who retired as a sergeant first class in 2006. "It was nice to be able to pin a prestigious award like this on him. He's tried for three years, and I'm very proud of him."

The criteria for qualifying for the Expert Infantryman Badge have changed since 1944, but have always stressed physical fitness, weapons proficiency, and common Soldier skills such as land navigation and foot marching.

"It's an incredibly difficult test to prepare for," said Staff Sgt. Jacob Trovato, 2nd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment, who was among last week's Soldiers to earn the badge. "We don't usually get to ruck march like this."

As a drill sergeant, he said there's little time in his schedule to prepare for EIB challenges.

"I'm always with the troops," he said. "I don't even have time for myself, really. I go home, go to bed, wake up and see the troops again. We get to walk with them, but it's at a slower pace. It's hard to train for a 12-mile march like this."

Related Links:

Fort Jackson, S.C.

Expert Infantryman Badge

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