I was told that you aren't a real infantryman unless you went to basic training at Fort Benning. What are your opinions on this?

Basic soldier skills and Infantryman are two different things. Moreover, i would say someone is actively trying to kill that "esprit de corp" (sp) that we once had. Whatever job you signed up to do, have pride in that. If you signed up to be a cook, no, you are not infantry. I myself am not infantry, but hey, if you ain't Cav.......... Lol...

Medical reasons DQed me from being in the infantry, but that doesn't diminish my worth as a Soldier, not does it make me fight the enemy any less, hell it makes you fight and train harder. I am a 92G, I enjoy what I do. All of my deployments I've never done my actual mos the most time I spent in the dining facility was eating the food . Without food the Army don't go nowhere.

Can you be an Infantryman... in the modern era (post Vietnam) and have gone to BCT/AIT - OSUT anywhere else other than Benning? Since I entered the Army in 1980, and ALL US Army Infantryman went to Benning...

What am I missing SGT Robert Cupp?

I went to OCS, Airborne, Ranger, IMPOC, Pathfinder, and I am in the Infantry Museum... But, I am not Infantry... nor do/did I want to be. I salute the Infantry and I spent my life supporting maneuver.

I am not following this or SSG Porter, B. comments either. Tell me more.

I was a 38B, I had better toys

Got one.......

Wow the last 24 years I thought I was a 19K Tanker, but I guess I wasn't because I transitioned to that MOS from a prior Infantry company! Who knew.....

What about an Infantry Marine who served in combat and then joins the Army? No, it isn't me, just asking.

D-5-1 Harmony Church, Fort Benning

Tell that to an SOI grad and see what happens.

Did I miss something about this thread being Army-centric? Cause I know a few Marines...

For those whom might not know, the 0300 series (since you mentioned 11-series) would be the Corps' version. There are many specific MOSs within it. In terms of the basic rifleman, the Army 11-B and the Marine 0311 would be somewhat similar. Yes I said "somewhat similar". Given the USMC infantry people all go through 13 weeks of Boot Camp, 4 weeks of Combat Training, and a 6-8 week MOS School..."somewhat similar" is as close as that's ever going to get.

No disrespect intended, but most 0311s can eat most 11-Bs for breakfast (given similar size). =) There are of course exceptions to everything, so if you're an 11-B, don't get offended...at least not until you first ask yourself Why you didn't go USMC when you may have had that chance.

Even in the Corps I had heard the same comment, but it wasn't about Basic Training/Boot Camp. It was weather or not you went to Jump School, at Fort Benning.