CAMP CASEY, South Korea (Oct. 29, 2014) -- For five days, troops tested their infantry skills by sprinting through lanes, reacting to direct fire, performing first aid, donning their protective masks, performing functions checks on numerous weapons and a host of other Soldiering skills.
Out of the 527 Soldiers who tested for their EIB at Camp Casey, South Korea Oct. 19 through Oct. 23, only 94 earned the badge, ten of which received the right to be called True Blue, meaning the Soldier received zero no goes through the testing. The new EIB recipients included U.S., Korean Augmentation to the United States Army, and Republic of Korea Soldiers.
"These Soldiers, they trained for hours, days and weeks," said Command Sgt. Maj. Andrew Spano, 2nd Infantry Division command sergeant major. "The training they received prepared them to be more lethal warriors in the field."
The Soldiers began by taking the Army Physical Fitness Test and completing a land navigation course and finished their testing with a 12-mile foot march and a weapon's proficiency test. In between Soldiers had to prove they were proficient in 30 Soldier tasks and nine master skills tasks.
The preparation leading up to EIB was vigorous and intense, and it's high intensity gave Soldiers the opportunity to excel in working toward the badge, said Staff Sgt. Anthony Maynard, squad leader in Company A, 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment , 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, and EIB cadre.
"Everyone performed outstanding, especially our ROK counterparts," Maynard said.
One ROK staff sergeant believes her experience can be motivational for all. ROK Staff Sgt. Kwon Min, infantry in the 21st Infantry Division and one of two females to earn the badge, said after hearing female U.S. Soldiers will soon be allowed in the infantry, she thinks her success at earning the badge will be motivating for female U.S. Soldiers who may want to be infantry.
"If they see I can do it, they will believe they can do it," Kwon said.
Staying motivated and not giving up was a theme for the Soldiers as they completed the testing.
KATUSA Cpl. Lee Eunhyeok, team leader in Company A, 2-9 Inf., earned his EIB after not succeeding last year. He said the challenge of earning the badge was one of the things that made him want to be in the infantry, and he never doubted he would try again this year.
"I volunteered to be infantry after reading the text from a KATUSA sergeant who (ended of term of service," he said. "After reading about events like the EIB I know this is what I wanted to do."
Having a high level of intensity in the testing allowed Soldiers to learn how to react under pressure.
"The hands-on training gives you the ability to do deal with all the stress," said Pfc. Anthony Torres, infantryman in Company B, 1st Battalion, 72nd Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division and new expert infantryman. "The high-stress environment gives you an idea of the kind of thing you might deal with downrange."
For Soldiers it was a great achievement, but for leaders, seeing their Soldiers succeed made all the difference.
"Personally for me, the best part was seeing guys that just joined the Army and might be coming straight out of AIT do well," said 2nd Lt. Vincent Delany, platoon leader in Company B, 1st Bn., 72nd Armor Regt. Delany earned his EIB and was True Blue.
Earning the badge is a testament to a Soldier's commitment to the Army profession, Spano said.
"They are now the newest experts in the infantry, and they will be recognized as experts for all eternity," said Spano. "From now on they will be known as expert infantrymen."
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