Posted on Apr 3, 2017
Inside the Army's plan for the new Expert Action Badge
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What do you all think of the Impending "Expert Action Badge" (EAB)?
I think this is silly idea, but I am sure many others think it makes sense. I, do think, if we go with this, we should call it the Expert Solider Badge. I know we have the Expert Infantry Badge, the Expert Field Medical Badge, and their combat counterparts. I think those two make sense, as the are specialized and specific skills. This badge is for all others...
Yes, I know we have senior and master qualification badges too. I believe the USAF has proficiency badges as well.
But, do we really need this? Again, if so, lets call it the the ESB.
https://www.armytimes.com/articles/inside-the-armys-plan-for-the-new-expert-action-badge?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EBB%2004.03.2017&utm_term=Editorial%20-%20Military%20-%20Early%20Bird%20Brief
I think this is silly idea, but I am sure many others think it makes sense. I, do think, if we go with this, we should call it the Expert Solider Badge. I know we have the Expert Infantry Badge, the Expert Field Medical Badge, and their combat counterparts. I think those two make sense, as the are specialized and specific skills. This badge is for all others...
Yes, I know we have senior and master qualification badges too. I believe the USAF has proficiency badges as well.
But, do we really need this? Again, if so, lets call it the the ESB.
https://www.armytimes.com/articles/inside-the-armys-plan-for-the-new-expert-action-badge?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EBB%2004.03.2017&utm_term=Editorial%20-%20Military%20-%20Early%20Bird%20Brief
Posted in these groups: 
Awards
Badges
Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB)
Expert Field Medical Badge EFMB
Awards Badges Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB) Expert Field Medical Badge EFMB
Edited 7 y ago
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 144
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CSM Jim Corrin
I have not seen the criteria, but this appears to be a participation badge. The EIB, CFMB, Master and Senior Parachutists, Wheeled and Tracked operators badges, Masterr and Senior Divers badge, etc. are all earned for expertise and proficiency in specific fields of endeavor. This considered badge should be MOS specific and include expertise in soldier skills if it is not then it will mean little and will be just a "love me" decoration...
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SPC Gary Hunt
SGT Mike Moschkin - "Snowflake"describes extremely sensative people. You have proven that point.
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1SG Uwe Mueller
SGT Mike Moschkin - You sound like every "stolen valor" poseur I have listened to in 20 years of service and 20+ years as a registered nurse after retirement. Angry, abusive, and fabricating extraordinary feats with a few acronyms and numbers tossed in. Time to get the Script refilled.
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SGT Mike Moschkin
Those are some heavy accusations please clarify where the stolen valor came from. In my time being with other Vietnam Vets we called you so called poser a wannabe. Some one who never served in the zone ! As far as meds I stopped those 16 years ago. Apparently you have an ulterior motive for this broad statement. I never met you and never met you fortunately for me !
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I like the idea, but I'm not liking it being mandatory.... once it's mandatory, it's a reportable statistic, which means commanders will be incentivized to "get their stats up"... Basically it'll become watered down quickly, or standards will unofficially lower..
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SPC Erich Guenther
SPC (Join to see) - The EIB is Mandatory if your in a Infantry unit. And yes Company Commanders want the GUIDON Streamer that says a specific % have the badge. So yes there will be that pressure but on the Infantry side of the fence..........nobody really cares if you have an EIB or not if you can do your job proficiently in an Infantry unit. Truth is the support units probably hold it in higher esteem than the Infantry units. If you want to bring back proficiency in MOS tasks bring back the SQT Tests annually, counseling statement first time you fail, Chapter paperwork the second time you fail.......that was some real pressure for some. I am at a loss to explain why they abandoned a wriiten test in favor of medals.
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SFC Michael Hasbun
SPC Erich Guenther - Sorry, but we in the support units don't care about your badges either ;)
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SPC Erich Guenther
SFC Michael Hasbun - Yeah, right. Every thread like this, there is a comparison to what the Infantry earns or what the Infantry does. Trully, nobody cared in peacetime but in wartime..........everyone wants to say they are like the Infantry, the trend started with GWOT. Even with this new medal, one of the NCO's on the committee is openly comparing it to what the Infantry has and does with the EIB...........as a justification for creating the medal in the first place.
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Team,
I happen to be directly involved with the current pilot for the EAB here at JBLM. I will tell you that this badge will be very challenging to earn, and not a handout as many think it will be. When you look at the logic of things, this does make sense whether you agree with it or not.
Although our medics and infantryman have their own respective competitions, the attrition rate to earn those badges remain high. EAB will be no different. Respectfully, many of the 53 candidates from the various job fields have never trained on the vast majority of EAB tasks. Although these are common tasks that all Soldiers are suppose to train on, we know that it doesn't happen. Easier said than done right?
Perhaps, many would have the same responses if EFMB, or EIB never existed. Much has changed in the past ten years, from uniforms to evaluations. EAB is no different...
MSG Collins
CMB/EFMB Badge holder
I happen to be directly involved with the current pilot for the EAB here at JBLM. I will tell you that this badge will be very challenging to earn, and not a handout as many think it will be. When you look at the logic of things, this does make sense whether you agree with it or not.
Although our medics and infantryman have their own respective competitions, the attrition rate to earn those badges remain high. EAB will be no different. Respectfully, many of the 53 candidates from the various job fields have never trained on the vast majority of EAB tasks. Although these are common tasks that all Soldiers are suppose to train on, we know that it doesn't happen. Easier said than done right?
Perhaps, many would have the same responses if EFMB, or EIB never existed. Much has changed in the past ten years, from uniforms to evaluations. EAB is no different...
MSG Collins
CMB/EFMB Badge holder
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SGT Eric Knutson
I am not minding letting the support troops have a badge if it means that I can see they earned it and proved they know their tasks to standards. one think I always wondered when I was in, why the Armor, Arty and Engineers did not have something similar, I actually saw some badges (not on any uniforms). As an Infantryman, I have no problems with others having something denoting proof of proficiency in their field (Combat) and having a test level (EIB) as well as a Combat proof (CIB). With that thought in my head, why not have one for the support people, but held at the same HIGH level of standards as the EIB / EFMB awards.
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SFC Alfred Galloway
I would agree on a limited basis, for Armor, Arty and Combat Engineering. Beyond that bring back the SQT tests, and give a ribbon or badge denoting a skill level or even a simple plate for the marksmanship badges that says Expert SQT for anyone in the MOS who has qualified at the top 1% of their CMF
As a retired Intelligence professional getting above a 90% mark on our SQT's had only about 1% of my MOS's personnel. That was an accomplishment, if say Admins get 80% above 90% then the rule should be only the top 1% get the tab. This would truly denote the outstanding people vs someone who was not in the top 1% of soldiers in their CMF.
But then again, I am biased and have no skin in the game anymore.
As a retired Intelligence professional getting above a 90% mark on our SQT's had only about 1% of my MOS's personnel. That was an accomplishment, if say Admins get 80% above 90% then the rule should be only the top 1% get the tab. This would truly denote the outstanding people vs someone who was not in the top 1% of soldiers in their CMF.
But then again, I am biased and have no skin in the game anymore.
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SP5 Peter Harrington
You know, never thought much about this. I was a platoon mechanic with a armored Calvary unit.in VN 68. Funny you were on a m60 right next to an 11 delta fighting same fight, wounded July 68, dusted along with my brothers. Each platoon carried a medic and a mechanic. I guess now don't mean shit. Pete
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SGT Kyle Bickley
Comes under the same thing as the basic training ribbon. This isn't boy scouts. You don't need a badge for everything training wise. There won't be enough room on the uniform after while. You'll have E-5 looking like commanding Generals who have been in only 4 years with all the brownie badges they are now coming up with.
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