Advice For joining 11B?

Volunteer for everything. There's this old saying of don't volunteer for anything in the military, but that's wrong. Volunteer for everything, that's how you learn a lot quickly. It's also how you'll find yourself getting promoted ahead of your peers and getting opportunities they won't.

So - your going Infantry, great choice, good promotion rate, and a lot of fun when you are actually training. Basic is basic - they teach how to shoot, move, and communicate. AIT they dive a little bit deeper into the 7-8 ( familairize yourself with this manual - it is your bible). There is a lot of rules that are enforced during both Basic and AIT, but once you get to your unit, things relax and you will have personal freedoms (like tabbaco and alcohol, wearing civies when you are off, and leaving post). Depending upon where and what unit you go to, you might have different experiences. there is ahuge difference between light and mechanized Infantry units, mostly due to maintenance, that can be a real PITA.

My advice to you 1. Physical training - excel at it if you can - it gets you noticed in the right way. 2. Shoot. take the time to learn how to shoot, strive for expert marksman - that and PT gets you noticed in the right way. 3. read FM-7-8 and then learn how your NCO's adapt it to whatever training environments the unit goes through. 4. Do NOT be "That Guy", do not smart mouth your NCO's, stay away from potential pitfalls, if you go out to drink, have a plan to get back safely and legally. Peer pressure is a bitch, learn to say no if you are being pressured into doing something that is questionable, it usually turns out bad.

Earn your Expert Infantry Badge as soon as possible - I cannot tell you how many of my peers got fast tracked if they earned theirs as a PV2 or PFC. Never, ever turn down a school, or added responsibility, schools are rewards, and added responsibility are sounding boards to your CoC to determine your leadership potential.

Congratulations on your choice to become an Infantryman - I never once regretted it, even when shit hit the fan.

Start running and walking A LOT now. You will be on your feet most of the day in BASIC/OSUT/SOI or whatever its called these days.
Learn to work as a team, even with the people you dont like.
We are a family, treat everyone else this way.
There is a friendly rivalry within the branches (esp with Marines), but the key word here is FRIENDLY!
Dont Drink and Drive.
Focus in the front sight post.
dont cover yourself in clothing that says ARMY INFANTRY as a new boot, its not a good look.