Bulldog hosts Expert Infantryman Badge qualification in the ROK

By Maj. Anthony ClasMay 14, 2019

Bulldog Brigade Expert Infantryman Badge
1 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CAMP HOVEY, Republic of Korea - Staff Sgt. David Mackie, a Salt River, Arizona native, with Bravo Company, 4th Battalion 6th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team "Bulldogs," 1st Armored Division stands in formation as he prepares to tes... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bulldog Brigade Expert Infantryman Badge
2 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CAMP HOVEY, Republic of Korea - 1st Lt. Patrick Boisson, Leavenworth, Kansas native, Headquarter Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion 6th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team "Bulldogs," 1st Armored Division performs the eighth steps in ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bulldog Brigade Conducts Expert Infantryman Badge on the ROK
3 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CAMP HOVEY, Republic of Korea - Infantrymen across the Korean Peninsula participated in the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team "Bulldog," 1st Armored Division Expert Infantryman Badge certification at Camp Hovey, Republic of Korea, April 1-27. The conc... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bulldog Brigade Conducts Expert Infantryman Badge on the ROK
4 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CAMP HOVEY, Republic of Korea - Cpl. Yunil Jeon, Tango Security Force, native of Seoul, South Korea receives the Army Achievement Medal for passing the Expert Infantryman Badge Testing phase "True Blue," meaning he passed each phase of EIB as a first... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Regulars lead train-up for the Expert Infantryman Badge trials
5 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CAMP CASEY, Republic of Korea -- Spc. Seth Lachance, native of Ratlin, Vermont, infantryman with 4th Battalion, 6th Infantry Regt. "Regulars," 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division applies camouflage to his face during the Expert Infa... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Regulars lead train-up for the Expert Infantryman Badge trials
6 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CAMP CASEY, Republic of Korea -- Pfc. Jorden Day, native of Houston, Texas, infantryman, 4th Battalion, 6th Infantry Regt. "Regulars," 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, tests the Javelin and performs a functions check during the ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Regulars lead train-up for the Expert Infantryman Badge trials
7 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CAMP CASEY, Republic of Korea -- Msgt. Hyo-min, Choi, native of Seoul, Republic of Korea, with Capital Corps, 700 Rangers, constructs and removes a training-Claymore mine during the Expert Infantryman Badge training lanes led by 4th Battalion, 6th In... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

CAMP HOVEY, Republic of Korea - Follow me! I am the Infantry. Sixty-one infantrymen with 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team "Bulldogs", 1st Armored Division (Rotational) and other tenant units competed against themselves to earn the Expert Infantryman Badge.

The 4th Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 3rd ABCT, 1st AD (Rotational) led Expert Infantryman Badge train-up and certification from April 1-27.

Sgt. William Powell, Houston, Texas native, 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment, 3rd ABCT, 1st AD (Rotational), expounded on his experience as an EIB candidate.

"It's challenging, constant attention to detail is an absolute necessity," said Powell. "Every day I stayed late (during train-up) to go over all of the details and it really paid off on testing day."

The Bulldog Brigade EIB certification was a combined effort, testing both U.S. Soldiers and Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army Soldiers. Cpl. Yunil, Jeon, Seoul, Republic of Korea native, KATUSA, Tango Security Force, 8th Army, was the only KATUSA to earn the badge this year and described his crucible.

"There was a lot of pressure as the rounds (phases) went by," said Yunil. "Other KATUSAs dropped out, some who I thought were better than me, and when they left they would leave pressure on my back by saying - 'Hey, you're the only KATUSA left,' but I think the pressure actually forced me to try harder."

Approximately 410 ROK and U.S. Army infantrymen began the journey toward earning the highly-coveted EIB. Only 14 percent achieved their goal. Small-unit leadership at the platoon and squad level proved critical in preparing junior Soldiers for EIB testing.

"I'm a brand new private and didn't know a whole lot about weapons or medical, I learned a lot during this time," said Pvt. Robert Dryden, infantryman and Baltimore, Maryland native, 4th Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment. "I was taught everything hands-on from my team leader and squad leader going into EIB."

Senior leadership from U.S. Forces Korea, 8th Army, 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division, and 3rd ABCT, 1st AD presented Army Achievement Medals and Challenge Coins to the twelve infantrymen that "True Blued" EIB testing, meaning they passed each phase of testing on the first try.

Bulldog Brigade Expert Infantryman Badge on the ROK