Courtesy Photo | Three Soldiers from the 22nd Chemical Battalion recently earned the “Perfect Edge”...... read more read more
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FORT BLISS, Texas – Three Soldiers from the 22nd Chemical Battalion recently earned the “Perfect Edge” title while qualifying for the Expert Soldier Badge on Fort Bliss, Texas.
Capt. Gabriel E. Sanchez, Sgt. 1st Class Jarrett L. Fortin and Spc. Collin W. Lewis qualified for the Expert Soldier Badge with the “Perfect Edge” title by passing every training lane the first time.
The Fort Bliss, Texas-based 22nd Chemical Battalion “Guardians” are part of the 48th Chemical Brigade and 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command, the U.S. military’s premier multifunctional and deployable CBRNE formation.
From 19 bases in 16 states, Soldiers and Army civilians from the 20th CBRNE Command conduct lifesaving and mission-enabling operations while taking on the world’s most dangerous hazards in support of combat units and domestic authorities.
To earn the Expert Soldier Badge, Soldiers need to qualify “Expert” on their assigned weapons system, pass the Expert Physical Fitness Assessment (a combat-focused physical assessment conducted in the Army Combat Uniform, boots, “slick” body armor with plates and helmet), complete Day and Night Land Navigation, execute 10 weapons, 10 medical and 10 patrol lanes and then complete a 12-mile ruck march.
Lewis said the biggest challenge of earning the badge was the amount of information he had to learn in a short amount of time.
“I overcame that by dedicating my time to studying and getting hands on outside of duty hours,” said Lewis, a native of in Puxico, Missouri, who has been in the Army for almost three years. “The highlight for me was realizing I can do something I thought was not possible at the beginning of training.”
Fortin said that grit, perseverance and attention to detail were the keys to his success in the Expert Soldier Badge qualification.
“To earn the ‘Perfect Edge’ required extra attention to detail, as the smallest hiccup could cost you,” said Fortin, who is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in emergency and disaster management from the American Military University.
“It’s important to keep a calm and collected mindset and have the self-realization that you will not master every task first try and that is okay, as long as you don’t give up, keep trying and get repetitions it will become muscle memory,” said Fortin.
A native of Warren, Rhode Island, who has been in the Army for 11 years, Fortin deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Fortin said his most memorable mission has been working with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and Casualty Assistance Center on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
“I had the honor of escorting the remains of exhumed U.S. Soldiers from the Korean War to their next of kin and final resting place, seeing their families at peace finally,” said Fortin.
Sanchez said maintaining a rigorous training schedule helped him to prepare for the Expert Soldier Badge qualification.
“Consistency and dedication were the key to my success. I created a realistic training schedule, consisting of online training resources and physical conditioning,” said Sanchez, a U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer who previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps and deployed to Afghanistan in 2013. Originally from El Paso, Texas, Sanchez earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of El Paso.
Sanchez said that graduating from the challenging Naval EOD School helped him during the Expert Soldier Badge qualification.
“Having a positive attitude, mental toughness and having a key eye for attention to detail will take you a long way,” said Sanchez.
In addition to deploying to Africa for Exercise Eager Lion 2022, Sanchez has helped to protect the nation’s senior most leaders during Very Important Persons Protection Support Activity missions with the U.S. Secret Service.
Sanchez said the Expert Soldier Badge demonstrates a commitment to excellence.
“There’s no such thing as too much training,” said Sanchez. “Having the Expert Soldier Badge gives you extra qualifications and credibility.”
Lt. Col. Estan N. Davis, the commander of the 22nd Chemical Battalion, said his Soldiers demonstrated their commitment to excellence during the Expert Soldier Badge qualification.
“Each of the participants displayed a competitive drive to succeed throughout the challenging qualification,” said Davis. “Through continued focus, sheer grit and determination they have shown they truly earned their badges. Our Soldiers earning the Expert Soldier Badge show that they are committed to excellence and the high standards our battalion strives to maintain.”
The 22nd Chemical Battalion commands three chemical companies that are stationed on Fort Bliss, Texas, and Fort Carson, Colorado.
The 22nd Chemical Battalion provides mission command, planning and integration while accomplishing Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) missions across the nation and around the world.
Originally from Waterford, Vermont, Davis earned a bachelor’s degree in wildlife and fisheries biology from the University of Vermont in 2005.
Davis deployed to Iraq twice during his almost 20 years in the Army.
Davis said the success of the Soldiers who participated in the qualification has an impact on his entire battalion.
“These qualification events help prepare those who participate but also it helps influence the rest of the battalion,” said Davis. “It inspires our Soldiers to be and do more – and to be better at their craft. It inspires confidence up and down the chain of command and creates an attitude in the battalion that we can accomplish our mission in the face of adversity.”
| Date Taken: | 04.21.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.21.2025 10:42 |
| Story ID: | 495749 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | EL PASO, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | PUXICO, MISSOURI, US |
| Hometown: | WARREN, RHODE ISLAND, US |
| Hometown: | WATERFORD, VERMONT, US |
| Web Views: | 116 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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