United States Army 1LT Connor Thomas, founder of the My GI Foundation, earned his Expert Soldier Badge in 2023. The criteria for award of the ESB is that a soldier must perform in 30 Warrior Tasks and battle drills, and five unit–level mission essential tasks, chosen by a commander, in addition to completion of a 12-mile foot march, a land navigation test and the Army Combat Fitness Test. Testing is conducted at the brigade-level, with units being given a week to set up the test course, a few days of training, and then a few days of testing. Only 19% of participants will earn the ESB.

The concept of the ESB (initially referred to as the Expert Action Badge) was initially proposed in 2015 as part of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command's Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) 2020 Strategy, as one way to improve combat readiness in the Army. The ESB was first openly discussed on March 30, 2017, at an NCO Development Town Hall hosted by Command Sergeant Major David Davenport. Discussion mainly focused on the intent of the badge, as well as the possible criteria for award. The feasibility of the ESB was tested at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in April of the same year, with 53 soldiers taking part in the event. The results of the test at McChord, as well as future testing, will be used to determine if the criteria for the badge appropriately conveys the badge's intent.