Posted on Oct 3, 2018
Cadet PVT Cadet
8
8
0
I am currently a freshman cadet enrolled at Penn state and was wondering about some of the benefits and cons of becoming an infantry officer. Is the position itself competitive to branch into?
Posted in these groups: Thcapm08l9 ROTC874b922 Infantry
Avatar feed
Responses: 4
Votes
  • Newest
  • Oldest
  • Votes
MSG Student
3
3
0
Here's some thoughts and observations from a angry and broken 11B platoon sergeant.
Pro- nothing will ever compare to being in charge of 35-45 hounds of hell as they do the Lords work across an objective.
Pro- everyday has different challenges, rarely the same shit, different day
Pro- hopefully you have a good senior enlisted advisor to drop knowledge bombs that will make you realize your lt education system is garbage.
Con- you will only have a plt for a little over a year, then staff time, maybe a second plt if you were shit hot. Somewhere around the 5-6 year mark you will have a company for around 2 years, then more staff time.
Con- you are the fall guy for the plt, if something is wrong it's going to be your and your plt sgt fault.
Con- property, there are no friends when it comes to property. You will be responsible for anywhere from 2-8 million dollars depending on the type of unit and if you're deployed.
Being branched Infantry is a competition, being a good Infantry officer is an ongoing competition, and it pays to be a winner.
(3)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SGT Christopher Combs
3
3
0
I was an NCO in the Infantry for 15 years and the Lt's always could beat our pt scores because they were in such good shape. Infantry is a great and the best MOS I believe. So if you have doubts about being Infantry then you need to do what you would like to do.
(3)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
CPT Lawrence Cable
2
2
0
Physically difficult, mentally challenging and even in training, it's dangerous. Expect to be in the field a lot, deployed a lot (depending on the Unit). It's hard on family and social life. That said, I volunteered for it twice (enlisted and commissioned) and don't regret either decision. Rank gets competitive after you reach Captain, so suck up those schools when you get the chance, Airborne, Air Assault and Ranger, if you can pull a slot. It's not the death knell many portray being a leg as being, but it certainly helps you at the promotion boards.
I should also point out that I branch transferred to the Engineers as an O2.
If you decide to try it, get in shape, study up on tactics and infantry maneuvers, and listen to the senior NCO's when you get your first Platoon. Embrace that Platoon and Company time, to me that is what the Army was all about and I missed it when I went to staff.
(2)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.