Spartans shoot for excellence in EIB

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Paratroopers from the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division tested for the Expert Infantry Badge Tuesday through Saturday last week at Camp Mad Bull, Joint Base Elmendorf -Richardson, Alaska.

The EIB is awarded to U.S. Army Soldiers who hold infantry or Special Forces military occupational specialties. To earn the EIB soldiers must complete level 1 task infantry skills.

In 1944, Chief of Staff George C. Marshall initiated the development of an award to honor the U.S. infantryman. Then, on March 29, 1944, Lt. Gen. Lesley J. McNair presented the first EIB.

Testing for the EIB is done over a five-day process, which tests Soldiers on the Army physical fitness test, day and night land navigation, weapons master skills testing stations, individual tactical test lanes, and a 12-mile foot march.

The APFT kicked off Tuesday morning with over 600 hundred candidates in attendance. The APFT is the first graded event and is not retest able. The APFT measures the candidates' physical endurance and conditioning.

"EIB usually loses about 30 percent of the candidates the first day because of the PT test," said Staff Sgt. Stuart Williams, EIB Cadre. "Then probably about half of them [candidates] to land navigation."

Land navigation tests took place Tuesday afternoon and night after the APFT. Land navigation tests the abilities of the candidates to navigate from one point to another using a map and compass while equipped with individual combat gear. This is the second graded event and is not retest able. With the unusual down-pour of rain, the candidates' morale was tested.

"Weather definitely has had a factor," said Staff Sgt. James Martell, EIB Cadre. "You can definitely see morale dropping. They're wet, they're tired, and for the most part they're hungry."

The master skills testing stations and individual tactical test lanes were split into three separate sections: blue, red and white. The MST stations evaluate an individual's proficiency in common infantry weapons systems. The ITT lanes evaluated a candidate's ability to demonstrate their tactical and technical proficiencies on infantry tasks to standard.

The lanes were conducted over the next three days ending on Friday night.

"I got my EIB in 2009. It was one of the first lane style EIBs that went through," said Staff Sgt. Benjamin Cross, EIB Cadre. "I took as many notes as I could, studied all the material they gave me. I took one task at a time. I didn't get ahead of myself thinking about the next lane for the next day. I focused on the lane ahead of me."

"I remember this day when I came through," said Martell. "Every time I went through a lane I was nervous. You just have to keep a clear head and not let it fluster you. Stay cool, calm, and collective. Make sure your hitting your performance measures, and talk yourself through the task."

On Saturday morning the candidates finished off testing with the completion of the 12-mile foot march. They were given three hours to complete the march. At the end they were given a weapons proficiency skill test in which they broke down their individual M4. Completion of this event was the end of testing and the candidates received their badges in a ceremony.

"When I was a squad leader," said Sgt. Maj. Mario Barber. "I took a squad of nine soldiers [to EIB]. Eight of the nine received their EIBs that day. It was a very proud moment for most of them and I. All 18 to 24 years old receiving their EIBs."