FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- The infantryman lobbed a hand grenade toward the target and dropped behind the log wall. He held his breath until he heard the sound of the detonation, followed by the words "you are a 'go' at this station." Standing, he dusted off his uniform, wiped the sweat from his brow and -- with a smile on his face -- began walking toward the next lane.
This scene played out over and over again as Soldiers from across the 10th Mountain Division (LI) and National Guard navigated their way through more than 30 medical, weapons and patrol lanes last week at Fort Drum, as 2nd Brigade Combat Team facilitated an Expert Infantryman Badge test.
To earn the coveted EIB, Soldiers were required to complete a series of tasks designed to test their physical and mental resiliency and assess their proficiency in performing basic infantry skills.
Candidates who fail a specific task more than once, or fail any three tasks, are eliminated from the cycle. The Soldiers who began the testing cycle on Aug. 21 had already spent weeks studying and practicing to perfect their skills before the assessment began.
A unique aspect of this particular course was the fact that Soldiers of all ranks were training and testing side-by-side, said Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Fortenberry, Commando Brigade's senior enlisted adviser.
"We had senior NCOs and officers -- some of them company commanders -- going through this with Soldiers fresh out of basic training," he said. "They experienced the same journey and the same challenges together. It really helps to build that bond of trust between leader and subordinate."
Of the 915 candidates who began the rigorous testing cycle, 338 stood on the field Friday morning, having successfully completed the course and distinguishing themselves as professionals in their field.
The overall pass rate for the testing cycle was 37 percent -- more than twice the Army average for an EIB testing iteration. Of the 338 Soldiers who successfully completed the testing, 118 were "true blue," meaning that they completed every task without receiving a single "no-go."
Col. Scott Himes, 2nd Brigade Combat Team commander, said that the candidates who successfully completed the testing had truly earned the title of "expert."
"The Expert Infantryman Badge is a tremendous mark of distinction among an already courageous few who have volunteered to be infantry," he said. "These Soldiers fought their way through incredibly tough and realistic training lanes, requiring attention to detail and mastery of 36 different tasks."
After completing these 36 tasks, Soldiers then underwent a 12-mile ruck march and a multiple-component first medical test known as "Objective Bull."
Capt. Ross Boston of 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, said that this was the most challenging -- and rewarding -- portion of the testing for him. He recalled marching through the dark in the early morning when another candidate approached him to ask how far they had gone.
"I told him we were past mile five, and we ended up pacing each other for the rest of the march," he said. "At the end, I looked over and realized it was a private first class from another company. We shook hands and congratulated each other -- it was an amazing experience."
Himes attributed the high success rate of the Commando EIB to the "battle buddy" mentality that the Soldiers had adopted, as well as the excellent leadership that cadre members provided throughout the training and testing.
"When you're talking about skill-level one assessment -- that is an individual achievement, but these Soldiers really had the mentality that they were going through this together," he said. "Then we had the added benefit of having top-notch NCOs who were dedicated to ensuring that these Soldiers were provided with the best support possible. When you have that kind of leadership, it trickles down through the ranks and translates to a professional, highly capable force."
From setting up and building the course, to passing a rigorous validation process performed by an official from the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Ga., to training and facilitating the testing, Fortenberry said that the success of the EIB was a result of the dedicated efforts of many people.
"It took a lot of work, but we accomplished so many different objectives -- and that is what this is all about," he said. "It's about individual accomplishment and the pride that comes with that, but it is also about the opportunities for teaching and mentoring to take place."
Before inviting Family Members and battle buddies to enter the field and pin the awardees with their badges, Himes charged each of the infantrymen with one final task.
"Go forth and teach others the skills that you have demonstrated this week. You are absolutely prepared to continue the mission -- you are experts."
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