MTARNG hosts EIB/ESB competition 2023
108 soldiers competed for the Expert Infantry Badge (EIB) and the Expert Soldier Badge (ESB) on Fort Harrison, Montana, August 14-18, 2023. Of those 108, 80 soldiers come from the Montana National Guard 1-163rd Combined Arms Battalion (CAB).
The EIB was created during World War II and is awarded to soldiers in the infantry or special forces who have demonstrated the discipline and mastery of skills critical to being an infantry soldier. The EIB was instituted to build and maintain esprit de corps within infantry units.
The ESB came about in 2019 and is awarded to soldiers who are not infantrymen. The ESB demonstrates individual Soldier competencies and abilities to perform Skill Level 1 Warrior Tasks and brigade commander-selected tasks. All Soldiers, NCOs, Officers, and Warrant Officers are eligible to compete for the EIB and ESB.
The graded events included the Expert Physical Fitness Assessment, day and night land navigation, weapons qualification, medical knowledge, patrolling procedures, and finally a timed 12 mile ruck march.
At the conclusion of the competition, 13 soldiers received the EIB, all from the 1-163rd CAB.
Master Sgt. Tyler Egosque - Headquarters Headquarters Company 1-163rd CAB
Sgt. Ty Bascom, Spc. Cole Bechtold, Sgt. Dawson Becker, Spc. Lucas Bridge, Staff Sgt. Robert Jones, Staff Sgt. Benjamin Robbins, and Spc. Jackson Wichman - Alpha Company 1-163rd CAB
Spc. Holden Fishburn, Sgt. Jared Hunter, Sgt. Dylan Johnson, 1st Lt. Nicholas Steiner, and Sgt. 1st Class Tait Strom - Bravo Company 1-163rd CAB
Two soldiers received the ESB, 1st Lt. Kyle Krestan and Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Rice, both from 504 Military Police Battalion in Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.
Competition graders must have previously received either the EIB or ESB. As Montana currently holds 11 EIBs and one ESB, graders from all over the country, both guardsmen and active duty, came to help grade the competition.
In order to compete, soldiers must first achieve an expert qualification on their weapons and earn a qualifying score on the Army Combat Fitness Test.
