An old retired grunt once told me that the infantry isn't just a job, it's a culture. What do you think?

2016-05-17T17:17:13-04:00

Response by Maj John Bell made May 17 at 2016 5:23 PM

2016-05-17T17:23:49-04:00

The same can be said for the military. But yes I think the combat arms all have their own sub-cultures. I don't know about fighter pilots because they always have to use their hands to explain everything. I am not fluent in hand.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2016 5:25 PM

2016-05-17T17:25:44-04:00

It's a lifestyle, suck the suck, love the suck. Make fun of POG's

Response by SPC Andrew Griffin made May 17 at 2016 5:27 PM

2016-05-17T17:27:18-04:00

I believe that! Its a Walk on the Dark Side!

Response by SFC Matt Granahan made May 17 at 2016 5:31 PM

2016-05-17T17:31:30-04:00

Not so much a culture but Definately a way of life. When you look to your left or right, know that each you see will lay down their life for you and you for them. Become a brotherhood unmatched by any fraternal organization, arriving from different cultures, religions and homes, jelling to form such a close knit organization with unseen but unbreakable bonds. I guess you would need to define it

Response by Cpl Mark A. Morris made May 17 at 2016 5:36 PM

2016-05-17T17:36:27-04:00

On this website, I have refrained from using the language of said culture. But, a few times it has been very difficult for me.
If anyone is living in a false reality a Victor unit will iron it out.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2016 5:44 PM

2016-05-17T17:44:51-04:00

Yeah but we come off more as a club of elitests

Response by SFC Adam Potter made May 17 at 2016 5:56 PM

2016-05-17T17:56:03-04:00

You can even break the Infantry culture into "Sub-Cultures" such as Airborne, Ranger Regiment, Tabbed Ranger's etc.

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made May 17 at 2016 5:59 PM

2016-05-17T17:59:30-04:00

Big time culture/ a private club almost.....same as the Field Artillery in my book.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2016 6:08 PM

2016-05-17T18:08:57-04:00

It's a lifestyle. You will work more than most other MOS's, be treated harsher, and usually get worst standard of living with the same amount of pay. But you will have pride in yourself, your blue chord, and if you get the chance your CIB as well unless you are one of these new age shitbags who feel the Army and America as a whole owes them something.

Response by Cpl James O'Rawe made May 17 at 2016 6:10 PM

2016-05-17T18:10:24-04:00

That it is, a grunt is a grunt no matter the service. Then you break it down within the different branches and we all do the same thing. Like posted before a walk
On the dark side. (0311) Semper Fi

Response by SSG Steven Mangus made May 17 at 2016 6:15 PM

2016-05-17T18:15:08-04:00

I spent my first three years as an 11B and yes I have ever to say it is more aptly said as "a way of life." I did go on to aviation when it was time to reenlist, but those years I would never change..embrace the such..

Response by SFC Robert Bower made May 17 at 2016 6:15 PM

2016-05-17T18:15:58-04:00

Infantry has definitely always been "separate" from the rest of the Army. Definitely have a different mentality than all other mos's. So, I'd say very true.

Response by SPC Dave Elzinga made May 17 at 2016 6:17 PM

2016-05-17T18:17:49-04:00

Could not be more right

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2016 6:28 PM

2016-05-17T18:28:33-04:00

The infantry is a love hate. But it sucks because we do so much BS. But in the end it's awesome because there's no other MOS where you get to go to work and do area beautification then a day later do a mass tactical jump and move into a mission that rolls into another 3 missions that roll into a live fire. It sucks at the time but once you're done you think. Hell yeah. That was bad ass!
The infantry is awesome. It is its own world. No war can be won with the infantry.

Response by LCpl Chad Parson made May 17 at 2016 7:32 PM

2016-05-17T19:32:29-04:00

Wait...isn't that the Navy that says "It's not just a job..."? ;)

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made May 18 at 2016 1:07 AM

2016-05-18T01:07:06-04:00

He is right. The guys I served with mean more to me than most of my own worthless blood kin. My son decided at a young age to set his goal for Third Ranger Battalion. He saw me with my Long Range Surveillance Company brothers and wants that brotherhood BUT more intense, so he is shooting for the Rangers.
It is a way of life, a way of looking at life. A "Quit Yer Bitchin' Ruck the F up and move out attitude" toward EVERYTHING.
I am a career 11B. The Army only has two Career fields...INFANTRY, and INFANTRY Support..ROCK ON!

Response by SGT Timothy Summers made May 18 at 2016 1:29 AM

2016-05-18T01:29:06-04:00

It is a lifestyle that not everyone can hack. I served from 1993-1998 as 11M (Mechanized Infantryman) and then from 2006-2009 as a 56M (Chaplain Asst.), then 2009-2013 as 11B. I was out for 8 years and then re-enlisted for Active Duty in2006. However, I could not get 11B as prior service so I had to take something.
The Infantry itself, is its' own culture and lifestyle. There are very few MOSs in the Army that are a lifestyle, although 19Ds seem to think and feel that they are the same as Infantry just like MPs feel they are the same as Infantry. I have news for them, unless you have been awarded a Blue Shoulder cord or are currently 11B/C, then you are not anywhere near being Infantry. I am now Medically Retired/ Permanently Disabled from PTSD and I still love having been 11B w/ CIB from Afghanistan

Response by SFC Pete Kain made May 18 at 2016 1:42 AM

2016-05-18T01:42:22-04:00

He was right, every other M.O.S is there to support the Infantry. I started out as a 11B, then switched to 13F, Grunts are in a class of their own.

Response by SPC Kenneth Koerperich made May 18 at 2016 5:40 AM

2016-05-18T05:40:10-04:00

It's own culture.
Higher APFT Standards than most Units
Custom gear to wear (Manchu Buckle AFTER Indoc 25 miler, which ended up a 100miler/4days...)
Deployed non stop(6 months on base out of a 2 yr contract)
Blue Cord
First dibs, when not deployed @ Schools
Deeper appreciation of the men around you...You'd die for them, & them for you.
Shoot weapon systems more than other Units.
Government equipment testing-- My time, we tested Gortex/Danner Boots/Molle Systems/Remington 700 Sniper Rifle/Mark19 Grenade Launcher/Burp Gun, & many others all before the Services Adopted them.

This is just some of the differences in Infantry. The culture is so much different. When I went Reserves, I couldn't help laugh. They were so laid back, & seeing women so much was a change. Let alone, dealing w/ all the sleeping around out in the field, the mixing of Ranks, the poor APFT's, & the piss poor weapons training. The unit was more prepared to work in the Hospital first, & being SM's second. Your a SM first, then a Hospital Tech/Nurse/Surg Tech/Dr second. Never could get used to it.

So I agree w/ your old Sgt.

Hoorah! Keep up the Fire! 1st Manchu's!!

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made May 18 at 2016 9:24 AM

2016-05-18T09:24:12-04:00

Having been a fulltime Grunt, and am now a part-time POG, I'd agree with that assessment.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made May 18 at 2016 10:50 AM

2016-05-18T10:50:20-04:00

I couldn't agree more. It takes time to become emotionally, mentally, physically, and instinctively cohesive in combat or special ops units. When that total immersion occurs, it becomes a bond that is impenetrable. This singularly irrefutable concept is something that the politically correct completely fails to recognize.

Response by SGT Patrick Reno made May 18 at 2016 3:52 PM

2016-05-18T15:52:05-04:00

Infantry is what the Army is all about, everything else is just support. Boots on the ground.

Response by CPL Byron Williams made May 18 at 2016 5:47 PM

2016-05-18T17:47:54-04:00

Yes it is or it was. I guess in some units it might still be. Sometimes change is not a good thing.

Response by SFC Charles Temm made May 19 at 2016 12:26 PM

2016-05-19T12:26:16-04:00

yep

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made May 19 at 2016 10:54 PM

2016-05-19T22:54:41-04:00

I think this is best answered by the quote I just read in "RED PLATOON"- "The mission is an eighteen year old with a rifle every thing else is support" great book by the way - also a favorite saying of my SFC in Vietnam "your Infantry now and you'll be Infantry till the day you die"

Response by SFC Terrence Griffin made May 25 at 2016 9:23 PM

2016-05-25T21:23:38-04:00

Don't matter what kind of Infantry as long as you been through Harmony Church or Sand Hill and got that blue Cord.

Response by CPT Tom Monahan made Aug 23 at 2016 8:16 AM

2016-08-23T08:16:10-04:00

IN may be a stud club. Qestions is: when someone is able to complete the training at or above one set standard, does it matter if they are male or female. I was initially FA and did not see one job that a female could not do, provide she was held to the same physical standard. This point was driven home when our support Maintenance Company brought our Corps float gun to shoot at Graf. The section Cheif was female and had females on the crew. They preformed just as well as our 13Bs.

Response by SGT Bruce Miller made Aug 23 at 2016 10:01 AM

2016-08-23T10:01:26-04:00

HOO-AH!!!

Response by PFC Francis Ramseyer made Aug 23 at 2016 10:49 AM

2016-08-23T10:49:26-04:00

Infantry is the king of battle. Without it, the Army is nothing. I would not say it's a culture, but it's a way of living, yes !

Response by SGT Alexander Wallgren made Aug 23 at 2016 4:20 PM

2016-08-23T16:20:00-04:00

Agreed. 100%.

Response by SPC Benjamin Hartog made Aug 23 at 2016 9:07 PM

2016-08-23T21:07:41-04:00

I agree. Read "With the Old Breed" by Eugene Sledge. This memoir provides a detailed description of an infantryman's world. The brutality, savagery and sheer grimness of infantry combat is the preserve of MEN. As Patton wrote: "Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by MEN. It is the spirit of the MEN who follow and of the MAN who leads that gains the victory."

Response by SGT Eric Knutson made Aug 24 at 2016 12:40 AM

2016-08-24T00:40:30-04:00

I get told that we (the Airborne arm) are all arrogant, and I say that YES we are, because we can back it up every time. I have researched, and I have yet to find a single mission that the AIRBORNE has failed in its job or mission. Missions have failed, but not because the Paratroopers failed, always because the support never shows up. Arnhem was not the fault of British 1st Abn or the Poles, XXX Corps couldnt get off the dime, Dien Bin Phu, the Leigion 3rd Regt never left, they died in place. and who can forget Bastogne, enough said.
For myself, but I believe my Airborne brothers and sisters will agree with me on this, this is MY heritage and I for one do (did) not want to bring shame to those who set the standards so high, so it pushed me harder than I thought I could go (with a good boot to my backside from good NCO's along the way)

Response by MSG Larry Caldwell made Aug 24 at 2016 8:02 AM

2016-08-24T08:02:12-04:00

It was where strangers came together and became brothers forever. 11B-11D-19D 25 plus yes.

Response by SFC Daniel McIntire made Sep 17 at 2016 7:12 AM

2016-09-17T07:12:58-04:00

Definitely a culture within the Army and itself. You'll never experience greater brotherhood in you life. HOOAH!

Response by Sgt David Urick made Sep 20 at 2016 12:37 PM

2016-09-20T12:37:30-04:00

Only those who slept in mud . Rain , bad canned food for weeks . All you have fits in ALICE pack . Can understand the bonds misery makes . Can I please do it again ??

Response by Cpl Shayne Cocchi made Mar 21 at 2017 5:11 PM

2017-03-21T17:11:00-04:00

The brotherhood between grunts is much stronger.

Response by SGT Mark Halmrast made Jan 10 at 2018 2:56 PM

2018-01-10T14:56:55-05:00

He's right.
Grunt.
Airborne!

Response by SPC David Willis made Jan 10 at 2018 3:28 PM

2018-01-10T15:28:03-05:00

Oh it for sure is, we're arrogant, cocky, brash assholes who give no fucks about anything or anyone other than infantry guys and our medics. In the back of our minds we may know that we need supply and food services as well as other POGs but we will never admit it. Probably one of the most annoying groups of people alive as well. Imagine how WWII would have turned out if the infantry had been like "uhh you want me to jump out of this plane/land on this beach and do what? I don't know sir that seems dangerous..."

Response by 1SG Ernest Stull made Jan 14 at 2018 12:23 PM

2018-01-14T12:23:11-05:00

The Infantry is a way of Life. you live day in and out.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Jan 17 at 2018 8:35 AM

2018-01-17T08:35:27-05:00

He's right about the culture thing for sure, but even just looking at the job tasks it's much more than just a job. What you learn at OSUT doesn't even scratch the surface of the skills you will become proficient at or at least familiar with, many of which have nothing whatsoever to do with Infantry operations, but most are inextricably entwined.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Jan 17 at 2018 10:01 AM

2018-01-17T10:01:14-05:00

Pretty much

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Apr 30 at 2018 10:06 AM

2018-04-30T10:06:38-04:00

Hmm- Carry 2/3, 3/4 you own body weight, go to 2-4 hrs sleep for weeks, eat maybe once a or twice a day- mostly MRE's. Hump all day and or all night- love the swamps, kill and eat anything that doesn't eat you, Arthritis in your 30's- train in all conditions, terrain and temperatures. And then you boast about "Embrace the Suck!, This ain't shit!" Yep definitely a cultural thing! Hooah!

Response by CPT George Walruff made Jun 6 at 2019 9:57 AM

2019-06-06T09:57:31-04:00

As a medic I was lucky enough to have served with an Infantry unit in the Army. Definitely more rewarding than being in a medical unit. Time to make purple suits real and have any Military Medical folks serving in real Combat Arms units as part of their medical team with rotations in hospitals as needed for skills. All other medical folks can serve in hospitals and not get into the power politics of having Rank.

Response by MSG Bennie Davis made Aug 24 at 2019 7:50 PM

2019-08-24T19:50:32-04:00

Amen brother!!

Response by 1SG Ernest Stull made Aug 24 at 2019 8:01 PM

2019-08-24T20:01:06-04:00

The Infantry is a way of life.

Response by SGT Bruce Miller made Aug 24 at 2019 8:57 PM

2019-08-24T20:57:04-04:00

We are a cult

Response by SSG Steven Chirco made Aug 24 at 2019 9:10 PM

2019-08-24T21:10:05-04:00

Agree, it’s very all encompassing career choice. Generally you go to the field and train more, stay out longer, train more, you must be a jack of all trades and master them all. It takes a much greater toll on families. And I say this after changing MOS’s out of combat arms. 11B.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 24 at 2019 9:49 PM

2019-08-24T21:49:33-04:00

Every army branch have unique cultures. To imply otherwise is false.

Response by CPL Douglas Chrysler made Aug 24 at 2019 10:13 PM

2019-08-24T22:13:32-04:00

Well yeah.

Response by SGT Lou Meza made Aug 24 at 2019 10:26 PM

2019-08-24T22:26:16-04:00

11 Bravos are like a brotherhood , you have to be in it to understand what it means . Then there is the subcultures within it . Once you’ve earned that coveted blue cord you are now part of the ten percent . I was fortunate to have earned my blue cord and then my jump wings and then later to have been awarded the CIB . And then also awarded the Air Medal . All that before I turned 20 years old . I would do it all over again .

Response by MSG Dan Castaneda made Aug 24 at 2019 11:24 PM

2019-08-24T23:24:13-04:00

It’s not what it once was.

Response by SSG Ray Fox made Feb 1 at 2020 12:34 PM

2020-02-01T12:34:44-05:00

I agree 110%. It takes a special person to become a Light Infantryman. Not everyone can do this job for it demands alot from a person than most are willing to give. Blood makes the green grass grow and god loves the Infantry.

Response by PFC Shaun Sites made Mar 5 at 2021 12:49 AM

2021-03-05T00:49:26-05:00

I would have to agree with that statement.Just like not everyone can be a Marine,not everyone is the right fit for the Infantry.Ive noticed a true groundpounder does not play nice or by the enemies logic,close and destroy was what we lived for in service to our country and brothers in arms.The Marines who were stationed with us were a special bunch.Extra angry and ready to hand anyones ass to whoever wanted it,but we were always ready to step in and assist with said asshanding.Make friends with both the Infantrymen and Marines.Youll never regret the bonds you make.

Response by COL Gil Richardson made Apr 24 at 2021 12:38 PM

2021-04-24T12:38:42-04:00

Lifestyle and culture. My first seven years were Infantry; break in service, new calling, back in for 23 years as a Chaplain. The Infantry is still in me...