by Joseph F. Adams
I am an expert and I am a professional.
– The Soldier’s Creed
Cold mud and rain dripped down my forearms as I lay in the prone position and aimed my M80 Claymore. The icy voice of the grader standing over me announced, “You are a no-go at this time, candidate.”
My heart stopped, and I wondered what to do next. Should I protest? Or just head to the practice line and retest?
I stood and asked the sergeant to show me, in the handbook, precisely which step I missed while trying my best to conceal my anger and embarrassment. But there it was: I failed to emplace the training aide far enough from the stake. No “Perfect Edge” for me.
I was in the throes of earning my Expert Soldier Badge (ESB) – a challenge to all who have completed the grueling, three-week train-up and testing required to compete for an Expert Badge. For me, ESB was particularly challenging because I was also serving as a Battalion Executive Officer (XO) in a Brigade Combat Team. I was a senior leader in the organization and took a three-week hiatus to train and test myself on basic Soldier skills. I wasn’t the only one, either. Our Battalion Commander, three Company Commanders, a Company First Sergeant, and I were candidates. Was this the right thing to do – remove so many of the senior leaders from running the Battalion so that we could train on Skill Level 1 tasks? Without question, the answer was yes.
Opportunity Abounds
The Expert Soldier Badge (ESB) is awarded to Soldiers who have demonstrated a high level of proficiency in physical fitness, combat skills, and military knowledge. The ESB is a prestigious award given only to Soldiers who have shown exceptional skill through a series of 30 individual tasks – from operating weapons to combat casualty care to fieldcraft – as well as a physical fitness test, day and night land navigation, and a 12-mile ruck march, all in a one-week testing period. A two-week train-up precedes the testing week, and some units require more.
Unlike the Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB) and Expert Field Medic Badge (EFMB), the ESB is a relatively new skill badge, entering service in 2019. For this reason, many non-Infantry and non-Medical senior leaders are not “badge-holders.” They did not have the chance to compete for the badge as junior leaders because it didn’t exist. Now, the current generation of senior leaders has an outstanding opportunity to set the example and compete for the badge. They can show their subordinates that expertise, especially in basic Soldiering skills, is a part of Army culture.
I left Company Command in 2018, before the ESB existed. The timing and path of my career meant I would not get a chance to try for the badge until I rotated back to an operational assignment as a Major. My initial feeling was excitement mixed with dread. What if my Battalion suffered because I was gone? What if I failed? But I decided that the most important thing was for junior Soldiers and leaders to see their senior leadership step into the ring. So that’s exactly what I did.
Lead From the Front
When junior Soldiers see their leadership competing for an Expert Badge, they see a leader who is committed to maintaining their own physical and tactical proficiency. It sets a positive example for those they lead. Most importantly, it shows that the leader cares enough to put themselves through the same physical and mental hardships we demand of our Soldiers.
We tell our troops that they must master the basics: Don’t just talk about it, be about it! I can’t count the number of times I overheard or was told directly how motivating it was for people to see a Battalion Commander and XO tackling ESB. I also couldn’t bring myself to counsel my subordinates to compete for the badge if I didn’t do so myself. Could you imagine if the Battalion Commander stood in front of the formation and told the troops how important it was to try for their ESB if he had not done so already?
Get Your Badge
If you are a senior leader and contemplating whether it’s worth it, I’m here to tell you it absolutely is. Go get your Expert Badge! If you missed the opportunity because your career field doesn’t qualify for the EIB or EFMB, don’t wallow in your sorrow. And certainly don’t make up cheap excuses. If you failed at one of the expert badges earlier in your career, so what!? Don’t be a quitter. And don’t let the fear of failure keep you from trying. Soldiers want to see their leaders take on tough challenges. They want to know you are willing to endure the same cold, muddy, uncomfortable environment that they must endure. Take advantage of this amazing opportunity to show your formation what kind of leader you are!
Joe Adams is a Major in the U.S. Army and currently serves as the XO of the 6th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2/11th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. He earned his Expert Soldier Badge in 2024.
