Does anyone have any tips for a future female Infantry officer?

CPT Bob Babcock, sir right on, that’s exactly what I’m talking about.

Always remember the leader sets the pace. The infantry are the warrior class. Warriors tend to be difficult to lead. Every warrior thinks they are the best and baddest on the block until you show them you are worthy of their respect. You do not have to compete with them you just have to lead them well. Be an expert at navigation. Be a weapons expert. Know how to strategically use your people. Be a problem solver. Infantry is a very dangerous combat job. You need to be able to keep them safe with your choices in battle. You need to commit to knowing the strengths and weaknesses of every trooper. This knowing is a constant evolution. I have been in many combat situations as an infantryman people I thought would be the beasts of the battlefield often froze under pressure even if just for a moment while the least likely man reacted without any hesitation and saved the unit. You need to be able to kill and equally important keep fighting and making the right decisions as others are dying around you. It is not about male or female it is about your willingness to be a warrior among warriors. It is for you to decide. Don't do it to be a trailblazer and make a political statement. I believe women are just as capable as men to be infantry officers. Just do it for the right reasons!

Well said, CSM Eric Biggs. On smoke-boats, it was the same way. NOT the place for thin-skinned, politically correct men. And you're right, you never know when your number is about to be called. I guess I'm one of the few to know what its like to be on a sinking submarine (lost 2 men, took on 40K gallons of seawater...) and survive.

And for your sake and that of your men if your sergeant says he thinks its not a good idea listen to the voice of reason, experience and common sense. That Sergeant's experience will help keep you alive.

Absolutely true. And keep in mind, a lot of enlisted Soldiers have significant college credit completed, associate degrees, and some have bachelors (or even master's degrees) just like you do. Its what you do with your knowledge that counts. So that "superior knowledge" isn't going to impress anybody; its nothing special (a general notice to officers out there...)

During my day in in the Army back in the Stone Age, I was enlisted but in a career field that had both male and female soldiers. In Army Air Traffic Control, we all went to the same training and once we go to our first duty assignment we were looked at as competent (or not competent) and how well we embraced the training that was given to us. Males and Females co-existed quite well and there was no noting of the gender of a controller, only if they had what it took to meet the demands. Washouts were around 50% - there were more male washouts than females because the males made up about 80% of the force.

So YES, you can do it if you apply yourself and listen carefully to what you are told by your superiors and Senior NCOs. Good Luck

Work your ass off, listen to your NCO's seek their opinions and council but don't let them run the show it is a delicate balancing act. you and your Platoon Sergeant ARE a team find out immediately if he resents you for being there! if he does get rid of him! if he is seriously on board with you being his LT then BE his LT. Do not ever let a subordinate push you around, if you make a decision and they don't like it don't allow them to argue or balk when the order is given, that's it. However, before you go giving orders discuss plans and operations with your Platoon Sergeant that's his job he is your right hand. Carry the 240B on ruck marches start rucking right now with ALL the weight of a real field load. I'm not talking about that bull shit Army "Standard Load" 35# I'm talking about an actual basic load with your full kit and weapon and 210 rounds ammo equivalent weight ALL OF IT! for example, my basic ruck load and kit and weapon/ammo all together weighed in at 145# that was with an M4. By the way depending on which platoon you get there can be Soldiers in your PLT carrying that basic load as well as 60mm mortar rounds, or the ammo bearer for the machine gunner for the 240B I mentioned earlier yeah that bitch weighs 23# add that to your load as well. Then there's the RTO with his load and a radio and the batteries that are spread out throughout the platoon. In other words load up with about 150# in a ruck and start walking! Do that for 12 miles in 3 hours and your Soldiers will respect the shit out of that. PT your ass off! strength training starts now! Start dragging tractor tires around to simulate dragging a body. NEVER fall out of ANY run for any reason, if you fall out of a run you better be dead! If your Soldiers sleep in the mud your ass better be in the mud right next to them, what they do you do! where they go you go! I had a Battalion Commander and a Brigade Commander that thought it was a good idea to stay in a hotel while the troops were sleeping in tents in the field on training exercises. What kind of units do you think they were? yeah you guessed it they were two of the worst units I was ever assigned to out of the 18 Brigades I was assigned to in 32 years. You can do it, the Soldiers WILL follow you if you earn their respect with the infantry it's real simple we're simple F*&%tards Fight hard, Shoot hard, Play hard, Never give up Never disrespect the unit, Never disrespect the Platoon, Train them hard! That giant 5 page post about leadership that Colonel posted was beautiful and poignant but to summarize all that verbose commentary the Army says "lead from the front" which in a nutshell means the example you set determines the attitude your Soldiers have about you. If you carry a 35# ruck because "That's all the Army requires" you have lost them and you will NEVER get them back. If you sleep in the back of a truck in the field while they sleep on the ground because its 36 degrees and raining you have lost them and you will NEVER get them back.

CPT Andrew Trimble - Dude!

solid advice for any future officer..

CPL Thomas Lannom - What a horrible comment! Who are you to decide what anyone male female or otherwise should be able to do with their lives. An Officer should be able to make the hard decisions, listen to the advice of others with more experience (no matter the ranks), and lead others where they may or may not want to go ...... where in that does it have a gender assigned to it? Please next time you want to type something like this ensure you have thought it through and have a good non emotional reason as to why it should NOT be someone. the ONLY gender assumption I make that Men cant give birth but who knows someday science may prove me wrong too

Yes what CWO3 Jennifer said don't drink and type. Men cant live with them and its illegal to shoot them.