[Washington Examiner] The Army on Friday announced its new Expert Soldier Badge to commemorate its 244th birthday, the latest in a series of efforts to improve the combat effectiveness of its troops. The new badge, which features a frag grenade and combat knife inlaid on a silver bar, will be awarded to soldiers who pass a rigorous test that examines their physical fitness, marksmanship, and other soldier-related tasks. The Army has aimed to improve the readiness of its soldiers in recent years, after nearly two decades of constant deployments across two wars took a toll on the force.
"The ESB will be an important component of increasing Soldier lethality and overall readiness to help achieve the vision for the Army of 2028," said Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey in a statement.
The Army's vision for 2028 involves preparing the force to take on near-peer threats like China and Russia, in addition to the unconventional threats it has faced for nearly 20 years. The new badge will be the equivalent of the Expert Infantry Badge and Expert Field Medical Badge, which are awarded only to infantry and medical personnel. The Expert Soldier Badge will be open to soldiers outside the infantry, special forces, and medical career fields. Most Army soldiers do not serve in these fields, and were therefore previously ineligible for an expert badge.
"The EIB and EFMB have supported the Infantry and medical fields with distinction, ensuring Soldiers maintain critical skills, while recognizing the very best among them," said Dailey. "The ESB will achieve the same for the rest of the Army."