Expert Infantryman Badge The Expert Infantryman Badge , or EIB , is a special skills badge of the United States Army . Although similar in name and appearance to the Combat Infantryman Badge ( CIB ) , it is a completely different award : while the CIB is awarded to infantrymen for participation in ground combat , the EIB is presented for completion of a course of testing designed to demonstrate proficiency in infantry skills . The EIB was first created in October 1943 . Currently , it is awarded to U . S . Army personnel who hold infantry or special forces military occupational specialties . To be awarded the EIB , the soldier must complete a number of prerequisites and pass a battery of graded tests on basic infantry skills . Personnel who have been awarded both the EIB and the CIB are not authorized to wear both badges simultaneously . In such cases , the CIB has precedence according to Army Regulation 670 - 1 . However , while the CIB may have precedence , holders of both may choose to wear the EIB instead of the CIB . A similar badge exists for medical personnel , known as the Expert Field Medical Badge ( EFMB ) . Modern requirements ( 2000s ) . A primary MOS in CMF 11 or 18 ( except 18D ) series position or be a commissioned officer in the infantry or in a Special Forces branch . Army Physical Fitness Test : score at least 70 points in all events according to the candidate ' s age group ; Land navigation : complete a day and a night land navigation course ; Weapon qualification : earn an " expert " qualification on their assigned weapon , typically an M16 / M4 ; in the case of mortarmen ( MOS 11C ) expert qualification on the mortar is an additional requirement . Forced foot march : complete a 12 - mile foot march , carrying M4 and 35 lb . load + extra gear for a total of up to 70 lbs , within three hours Lane or station testing in individual tasks , graded as pass / fail ( " GO " / " NO GO " ) . There are approximately 30 – 35 stations in this phase . Candidates must pass every station ; if they receive a " NO GO " on their first attempt , they have one chance to retest . A second " NO GO " at any station results in a failure for the entire testing phase . In addition , if a candidate receives three " NO GO " s ( even if distributed over three stations ) they have similarly failed the phase . Generally there are multiple stations in all the following areas ( " less common / defunct tasks in italics " ) : Terminology and ritual . While training in basic skills is a major goal of the EIB program , the EIB institution additionally provides an area of common experience and vocabulary across the infantry in the US Army . Sociologically , the testing phase especially acts as a rite of passage for many infantrymen . The period of testing usually stretches over several days , with the number of candidates remaining steadily dwindling and pressure similarly increasing . Traditionally , hand grenades ( where the candidate has five grenades to hit three different targets ) and call for fire are considered the most difficult tests . There is a specific slang vocabulary associated with EIB testing . Graders at each station usually have EIBs themselves a " badge protector " is therefore a particularly difficult grader , perceived to be protecting the status of the award which he holds . Graders typically carry a blue pen to mark " GO " s and a red pen to mark " NO GO " s ; to complete the entire phase without a single NO GO is therefore to go " true blue " . Similarly , if a candidate has two " NO GO " s he is said to be " blade running " ; any mistake will eliminate him . Usually if the candidate makes a mistake and time has not run out , the grader will tell the candidate " you still have time remaining " , which is a clue that the candidate may have done something wrong . On occasion the grader will do this to taunt the candidate even though everything is correct , which completes the rite of passage .