Story submitted by Sgt. Kadina Baldwin,

1st Brigade Combat Team

The Fort Campbell Courier

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – Two hundred and fifty seven Soldiers started out testing for the Expert Infantryman Badge hosted by 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Monday, which is almost a quarter of the number Soldiers who would normally test for this badge.


The unusual nature of this testing is that just less than half of the 1st BCT is deployed to Afghanistan at this time. It is rare to have this type of testing while the unit is gone.

The Bastogne Soldiers testing were joined by a few Soldiers from other units throughout the Division.

“Typically you don’t see a rear detachment execute an EIB because we are usually too undermanned,” said Master Sgt. Johnson Jeffery, brigade operations sergeant major for 1st BCT rear detachment.

“Also testing with us we have a company from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1-61 CAV, three Soldiers from the NCO Academy, three from Division G3, 19 from 101st Combat Aviation Brigade.”

EIB tests Soldiers based on individual skills through rigorous training exercises and events that give them the opportunity to improve their proficiencies in leadership and mission accomplishment.

Before the Soldiers actually start the testing they participate in a practice session known as Round Robin the previous week where they practice the various stations that they will be tested on.

Once EIB starts, the elimination process begins and if you do not pass an event, you do not go on to the next.

Each event has particular time qualifications to be met as well as higher standards than what would normally be expected if not qualifying for this badge.

The EIB test starts with the Army Physical Fitness test that consists of your regular events of push-ups, sit-ups and the two-mile run, but each Soldier was required to get at least 75 percent in each event per rather than the normal 60 percent required to pass an APFT.

Following the APFT, Soldiers attempted the day and night land navigation courses where they were given two hours each to plot three of four points for both segments.

The next tasks at hand were the lanes that tested the Soldiers on hand grenades, first aid, requesting medical evacuation, M249 and movement under direct fire.

The Soldiers that make it through these tasks have to complete the 12-mile foot march, and are rewarded with a breakfast of steak and eggs, following the ceremony and presentation of the Expert Infantryman Badge.

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