NY Army National Guard Sgt. Troy Perez, a Queens resident, earns the Army's prestigious Expert Infantryman Badge
Latham, NY (05/26/2021) — New York Army National Guard Sgt. Troy Perez, a Queens's resident, has been awarded the Army's prestigious Expert Infantryman Badge following a week of intensive testing at Fort Drum in Jefferson County.
Perez serves as a fire team leader in Alpha Company of the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment which his based as the Lexington Avenue Armory in Manhattan.
The Expert Infantryman Badge, or EIB for short, is awarded to infantry Soldiers who demonstrate exceptional aptitude in physical, mental and marksmanship skills an infantryman must possess.
In order to qualify for the badge Soldiers must complete a timed day and night land navigation course, they must get a pass on from 30 to 35 individual infantry skills involving first aid, communications, map reading, night vision devices, weapons proficiency, calling for artillery fire, tactical movement, and chemical warfare.
They are required to score expert on their assigned weapon, in most cases the M-4 carbine, and complete a 12 mile march, carrying an M-4 and a 70 pounds load in no more than three hours.
The EIB is a silver and enamel badge with the image of a 1795 Springfield musket on it.
Perez was awarded the badge on May 21, following a week of testing which began on May 17.
Perez enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in 2018 His assignments have included assistant gunner and fire team leader.
He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Herbert H. Lehman College. In civilian life he is a certified emergency medical technician with the Fire Department of New York.
He is a graduate of the Army Ranger Training Assessment Course, the Ranger Team Leader Initiative Program, and Ranger School. Airborne School, the Combat Lifesaver Course, and the Basic Leader Course.
Perez won the Best Warrior Competition for the state of New York and the northeast region in 2020.
His military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal, the New York State Outstanding Enlisted leader of the Year Ribbon, the Ranger Tab, and the Parachutist Badge.
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FORT DRUM, N.Y. – U.S. Army Sgt. Troy Perez, an infantryman with the New York National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, conducts an equipment check of his AN/PVS-14 night vision device during the 10th Mountain Division Expert Infantryman Badge assessment at Fort Drum, N.Y., May 17, 2021. Ten infantry Soldiers and one medic from across the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team participated in the five-day assessment to earn the coveted Expert Infantryman and Expert Field Medical Badges. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Warren Wright Jr.)