$\DeclareMathOperator\End{End}\newcommand{\Id}{\mathrm{Id}}$Let $E=\End(I)$ be the endomorphism ring of the abelian group $I$.
We have the following statement for $B\in E$, $p$ a prime number and $r$ a positive integer.
Statement $\mathcal{S}(p^r)$: $(\Id+B)^{p^r}=\Id\quad \Leftrightarrow \quad p^r B=0$.
One can prove that the statement $\mathcal{S}(p^r)$ is true if $I$ is a finite cyclic $p$-group or if $I=(\Bbb{Z}/p^{t}\Bbb{Z})^{\oplus k}$ for some $t>r$.
QUESTIONS:
- Is this true in general?
- If it is not true in general, for which abelian groups is it true?
Update:
In view of Achim Krauses answer we have to require that $p>2$. Then it is true for the given examples (for the same $p$).
Second update:
I´m leaving the original question, because otherwise the answer of Achim Krause would loose its meaning.
The modified question reads: Assume $I$ is a finite $p$-group and let $E$ be its endomorpism ring. Assume furthermore that $p\mid B^k$ for some positive integer $k$.
Under which additional conditions the following equivalence is true: $(\Id+B)^{p^r}=\Id\quad \Leftrightarrow \quad p^r B=0$
If $I=(\Bbb{Z}/p^{t}\Bbb{Z})^k$ then the statement holds for $p\ge 2k$. Note that in this case $p\mid B^n$ for some $n\ge 1$ implies that $p\mid B^k$.