What do we think about an Expert Soldier Badge?

The uniform and the rank displayed on it are that badge.

Here’s an idea: re-enlist infantry and go earn an EIB. Or if you’re feeling extra hardcore go medic and earn an EFMB. These badges aren’t handed out for participation they are earned by soldiers who live the life every day and are the best of the best in their fields.

Great call it ended up happening!

Its an excellent idea. It’s decades overdue. It will improve both esprit de corps and professionalism. It’s no more a participation trophy than the EIB and EFMB. If a non medic and non infantry soldier displays the commitment and energy necessary to successfully complete the tasks the army selects to qualify for this badge why shouldn’t that soldier get visible recognition?

Sounds to me that some REMF decided he/she wanted a participation badge not knowing that you must pass Basic Training and are already awarded a participation badge in the form of “US Army” right there above the left breast pocket!! Wear it proudly as we all have achieved these basic skills!! I might add, I had a Squad Leader when I was a young buck E2 that was Voluntold he must do the EIB course because his CIB wasn’t enough. After the testing I had learned of the Dog and Pony show for the EIB and that he was a Double No Go at the same station with the same Grader, I was disgusted. Here’s what I learned after I had earned my EIB and I truly wished I had never earned it I might add. Year after year, it was a huge build up for it, when I talked to my fellow EIB Graders, I learned how some felt that no matter what, they were going to be responsible for a “NO GO AT THIS STATION” remark, it was extremely disheartening to see soldiers go through a station and were told they were a no go for a made up failure!! That’s all this badge will be, doesn’t really mean anything except you were well liked or lucky enough to have the guy that wasn’t going to fail you because he can, like I was my first outing, lucky. After I earned my CIB I understood my old Squad Leaders frustration, the CIB meant more to me, as it did him, then the EIB. Because I feel I honestly did something for it. But why this badge? Especially with the Wreath? Isn’t that what the patch I wore on my right shoulder is for? So many things about this is wrong. I’d like to give a shout out to the SAPPERS that went through their version of the EIB and hide the SAPPER scroll under their top left pocket flap because it wasn’t authorized, y’all earned it and couldn’t wear it either, glad that changed. Well I’m off my soap box.

Might be difficult determining what the test criteria would be with all the specialities the Army has today.

Agree with those that say we have enough badges.

I think your rank would show your proficiency in your field of work, and yes, I know that some are not, but some how they hold the rank.
There was a squad leader E-6 in the jungles of Panama, that always got us lost, didn't know the campus well, scared of eating the food that the jungle provided, scared of the jungle bugs and creatures. The SF nicked named him "Sweetheart", but by the end of the day, he was still the squad leader.

Again, here’s a basic concept for you, if you are holding a pay grade above E-1, presumably you display appropriate proficiency at being a soldier. If not, it is a leadership and training problem or challenge/ responsibility for the chain of command, not to be solved by another badge. It seems the three most gaudy uniforms are worn by former Soviet Marshals, NOKO Generals and almost anyone in the US Army.

Yeah....

The greatest thing I ever heard