Expert Soldier Badge

Badger52 · 11-22-2019, 14:38

This caught my eye in the military.com feed to my inbox.

Quote:

Out of 95 soldiers who began Expert Soldier Badge, or ESB, testing here on Sunday, only three remain in the running to earn the Army's newest skill badge.

The Army Physical Fitness Test and the day and night land navigation events weeded out 59 candidates on the first day of testing. Of the 35 soldiers that started the skill lanes Monday, 27 no-goed out of testing.

I'd love to see a breakdown in a non-PC-manipulated spreadsheet form.

twistedsquid · 11-22-2019, 15:04

Non-infantry and no Combat medics.

**Razor** · 11-22-2019, 17:25

2-2 SBCT at JBLM finished running a combined EIB and ESB test a couple weeks ago. The only difference between the two was that the ESB candidates had to score higher on the APFT (the EIB PT standard was dropped to simply earning the minimum scores in each event back in 2016), and ESB had a vehicle ID lane that EIB didn't. So yes, sadly, ESB was technically harder to earn than an EIB. Regardless, 37% of those testing earned either their EIB or ESB, and 34% of those earning an ESB did so without any no-go/retests on any lanes. That's far higher than the 3% listed for Ft Eustis' testing.

Can you have lane graders that are badge-protectors if they don't actually have the badge?

Badger52 · 11-22-2019, 19:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razor

2-2 SBCT at JBLM finished running a combined EIB and ESB test a couple weeks ago. The only difference between the two was that the ESB candidates had to score higher on the APFT (the EIB PT standard was dropped to simply earning the minimum scores in each event back in 2016), and ESB had a vehicle ID lane that EIB didn't. So yes, sadly, ESB was technically harder to earn than an EIB. Regardless, 37% of those testing earned either their EIB or ESB, and 34% of those earning an ESB did so without any no-go/retests on any lanes. That's far higher than the 3% listed for Ft Eustis' testing.

Can you have lane graders that are badge-protectors if they don't actually have the badge?

Heresy.

But yessir, I'd file that under 'D' for disparity. Things that make you say "hmm."

**Box** · 11-22-2019, 22:08

Everyone gets a trophy.

JJ_BPK · 11-23-2019, 07:11

ESB is TRADOC's puppy.. Could someone at TRADOC, ask for volunteers for the new ESM test and not get what they wanted?

Quote:

Fort Eustis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fort Eustis is a United States Army installation in Newport News, Virginia. In 2010, it was combined with nearby Langley Air Force Base to form Joint Base Langley–Eustis.

The post is the home to the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command, and also home to the U.S. Army Aviation Logistics School.

Quote:

THE TRADOC STORY

U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command was created on July 1st, 1973, under General William E. DePuy, who commanded a battalion in the 90th Infantry Division in World War II and led the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam.

Under General DePuy, TRADOC fundamentally transformed the Army into the best trained, equipped, led, and organized modern land power in the world. Today, TRADOC sustains its proud legacy of shaping the Army through four primary functions:

We recruit and train Soldiers, and support unit training
We develop adaptive leaders - both Soldier and Civilian
We guide the Army through doctrine
We shape the Army by building and integrating formations, capabilities, and materiel

Quote:

The concept of the Expert Soldier Badge (initially referred to as the Expert Action Badge) was initially proposed in 2015 as part of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command's NCO 2020 Strategy, as one way to improve combat readiness in the Army.[5] The ESB was first openly discussed on March 30, 2017, at an NCO Development Town Hall hosted by CSM David Davenport.[6] Discussion mainly focused on the intent of the badge, as well as the possible criteria for award. The feasibility of the ESB was tested at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in April of the same year, with 53 soldiers taking part in the event. The results of the test at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, as well as future testing, will be used to determine if the criteria for the badge appropriately conveys the badge's intent.[7] The NCO 2020 Strategy, including the ESB, was further discussed in 2018 at a conference held at Fort Knox.[8]

WarriorDiplomat · 11-23-2019, 10:02

Well this idea is much better than the Harvard business school inspired new NCOER idea, the berets for all the 3 new combat uniforms fielded or the 2nd iteration of the class A dress uniform and all the other patchwork to keep Army leadership issues insulated.

At least this idea inspires your average soldier to master basic soldiering skills to earn the "coveted" badge. Of course we all know they should have mastered these anyways with competent leaders but now their is a reason. The pressure is on for all to really know the basics again.

As far as bad ideas from some of the worst leadership in Army recent history this is a good one....Now they need to come up with a good idea to get leaders to pull their heads out of their superiors asses and pay attention to those under them that does not include cronyism, showing off, abusing their power etc......

cbtengr · 11-23-2019, 18:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Box

Everyone gets a trophy.

That is in today's Army. Back when I was in we did not qualify for the National Defense Medal. For austerity reasons no doubt.

PSM · 11-23-2019, 20:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbtengr

That is in today's Army. Back when I was in we did not qualify for the National Defense Medal. For austerity reasons no doubt.

It was not awarded between 1974 and 1990.

There are also American Legion blackout periods between '75 and '82, '84 and '89, and Feb. '90 to Aug. '90. So it depends on when you were actually serving.