No Result
View All Result
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
Reserve & National Guard

Puerto Rico reservist becomes first, only to win Expert Soldier Badge

AmeriForce Exclusive
by AmeriForce Exclusive
August 11, 2022
Puerto Rico

Staff Sgt. Edward Singh Chollet, assigned to the 475th Engineer Company, U.S. Army Reserve-Puerto Rico, becomes the first and only reservist from the island to be awarded the Expert Soldier Badge May 15. Photo by Sgt. Halayla Vega

FORT BUCHANAN, Puerto Rico – Staff Sgt. Edward Singh Chollet, assigned to the 475th Engineer Company, U.S. Army Reserve-Puerto Rico, is the first and only reservist from the island to be awarded the Expert Soldier Badge May 15.

The ESB is an equivalent of the Expert Infantry Badge and Expert Field Medical Badge; it is designed to recognize excellence in soldier combat kkills, highlight the soldier’s proficiency and expertise and increase unit/individual readiness. The events on which soldiers are tested originate mainly from the EIB and are divided into three parts: Weapons skills, medical skills and patrolling skills.

Aside from that, contestants are also graded on day and night land navigation, the Army Combat Fitness Test, and a 12-mile ruck march.

“The events are tough but doable,” Singh said. “The instructors we had with us were brought from the active-duty component, and they showed us it’s more efficient to focus on one event at a time.”

The ESB was held in Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, through a period of 10 days; it was the first time that USAR soldiers participated in the competition since it was exclusively for the active-duty component.

The competition started with 26 soldiers, each event was evaluated on a “go” or “no-go” basis, and only six were awarded the badge — three of those six belonging to the reserve component.

Singh, who also competed in the 2019 Best Warrior Competition and won second place at the USAR level, said he is always ready, constantly training and maintains his soldiering skills by supporting other Best Warrior Competitions held on the island.

“I was very anxious and stressed throughout the whole event,” Singh said. “When I finally crossed the finish line of the 12-mile ruck march, I was incredibly relieved and simultaneously so excited, physically my body was in excruciating pain, but my mind was overwhelmed with emotion.”

To qualify for the ESB, soldiers must pass an ACFT, qualify as “expert” on the M4/M16 rifle, and be recommended by their chain of command.

“As a reserve soldier, it’s our job to support the active duty component, so whenever we are called, we should already be ready to go,” Singh said. “My tip for those who would like to compete for the ESB is to take advantage of the Army’s opportunities, train hard, be curious and put your skills into practice as much as possible.”

The U.S. Army Reserve in Puerto Rico is a dedicated Federal Reserve force that is ready today and prepared to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

This article was written by Sgt. Halayla Vega and originally appeared on DVIDS.

Read comments
Tags: 1st Mission Support Command475th Engineer CompanyArmy Combat Fitness TestArmy ReserveBest Warrior CompetitionExpert Soldier BadgeFederal Reserve forceFort McCoyPuerto Ricoruck marchWisconsin
AmeriForce Exclusive

AmeriForce Exclusive

Related Posts

Guardsmen train with Coast Guard in Alaska

by Kari Williams
5 days ago
0
Coast Guard

Undulating waves pitched the 2,000-ton U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Cypress like a bath toy, which was nothing unusual for the...

Read more

Northern Strike winter iteration prepares units for emerging threats

by Allison Churchill
2 weeks ago
0
Northern Strike

Northern Strike 23-1 will be held this month, bringing together guardsmen, active-duty service members and Latvian National Armed Forces.

Read more

49-year-old guardsman builds brotherhood on junior-college gridiron

by Crystal Kupper
1 month ago
0
Football

A North Dakota Army National Guardsman is a 49-year-old freshman defensive lineman on the North Dakota State College of Science...

Read more

The Hooligans’ Way: Air National Guard’s 119th Wing receives Air Force’s ‘outstanding unit’ award 23 times

by Bianca Strzalkowski
1 month ago
0
Hooligan

North Dakota airmen have produced the outstanding unit of the year 23 times. The 119th Wing attributes success to the...

Read more

Healthcare for our Troops Act would be ‘money well spent,’ guardsmen say

by Ben Greene
2 months ago
0
Healthcare for our Troops

The Healthcare for our Troops Act could lower health care costs for 130,000 reservists and guardsmen who don’t have private...

Read more

Hawaii guardsmen participate in bilateral exercise with Royal Australian Air Force

by AmeriForce Exclusive
2 months ago
0
Hawaii

Hawaii Air National Guard service members are participating in a bilateral training exercise with the Royal Australian Air Force.

Read more

Ads

Let's get social

The RNG Drill

News delivered directly to your inbox

Let's connect!

ABOUT US

  • OUR STORY
  • OUR TEAM
  • OUR WRITERS

MAGAZINE

  • GET PRINT
  • GET DIGITAL
  • GET THE NEWSLETTER

GET RESOURCES

  • VETERANS TOOLKIT

ADVERTISE

  • GET OUR MEDIA KIT
  • PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT

SUBMISSIONS

  • PITCH US
  • SUBMIT YOUR STORY

Never miss out on the latest stories.

© 2021 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Privacy Policy | Terms | Site by Swiss Commerce

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
  • YOUR CAREER
    • UNIT TRAINING
    • DEPLOYMENT
    • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • RECRUITING & RETENTION
    • ENTREPRENEUR
    • TRANSITION
  • EDUCATION
  • MILITARY LIFE
    • MILITARY SPOUSES
    • MILITARY KIDS
    • PARENTING
  • OFF DUTY
    • ENTERTAINMENT
    • TRAVEL
  • HEALTH
    • FITNESS
    • MEDICINE
    • MENTAL HEALTH
  • OPINION
  • HISTORY
  • MONEY
    • PERSONAL FINANCE
    • BENEFITS
  • GET THE MAGAZINE
    • PRINT MAGAZINES
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINES
    • GET THE NEWSLETTER
  • RESOURCES
    • VETERANS TOOLKIT
  • ABOUT US
    • MEET OUR TEAM
    • OUR AUTHORS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • SUBMIT YOUR STORY
    • PITCH US
    • CONTACT

© 2022 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Site by SCBW