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. Generally there are multiple stations in all the following areas (less common/defunct tasks in italics): First Aid Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) procedures Call for Fire (indirect fire), CAS (close air support), and Close Combat Attack Techniques for movement under fire, camouflage, hand-signaling, range estimation, and reporting contact to higher headquarters Communications: competency with ASIP, SINCGARS, MBITR or PRC-152 field radios and procedures Map reading: terrain identification, topography, use of military GPS Weapons proficiency: load, unload, perform function checks, clear, correct malfunctions, etc. for M9, M16/M4, M203, M249, M240B, M60, M2, Mk 19, AT4, Javelin; employ hand grenades, Claymore, and anti-tank mines Proficiency with night vision devices Boresighting proficiency Foreign militaries are often invited to participate in the EIB when units are overseas or in host nation countries. Such countries to participate in the EIB are Bosnia, Korea, Poland and more. 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. This test comes around about once every 2 years to most Infantry units. Those who fail could wait over a year before they have the opportunity to try again. Most likely they will transfer or PCS to another Infantry unit that may or may not be testing that year. Thus, the wait to retest could be longer. 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