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?

I heard the same crap from scouts when they change us from a year or so after I was already in. Its just morons with complexes trying to make themselves feel better.

Basic @ Knox in Mar 71, then to Ft Polk, Tigerland, "Little Viet Nam" for 11B. Next stop Benning for 11F Shake & Bake. Like someone said above, at the time Benning was primarily Schools, Policy, tactics and techniques. I worked in Infantry Hall (Bldg 4)for a few months as an instructor and it seemed most of the people on the top floor looked on Polk as the Gold Standard since it was primarily designed as prep for Nam. Gave me a great deal of pride. But since I got my 11B @ Polk, I guess I wasn't qualified as an Infantryman. Does make me wonder tho.... when I took my EIB testing in 72, there were 4 of us from the BN who passed (out of over 120 tested), with one Enlisted who passed, me. I guess I just got lucky...

I've gone thru basic twice due to a long break in service. First at Knox as I said, the 2nd time @ Benning. With very few exceptions, there was very little difference between the two. Everything that happened the first time thru, happened again, and could almost be predicted. Trash can down the center aisle, the destroyed barracks because someone had a faulty display, the cohesion of the platoon as one person was being singled out for discipline and the platoon all started participating in the discipline. That was the point the DS saw it was becoming a team and not trainees. The 2nd time was easier in almost every respect. Maybe because of experience, maybe some other reason, but it wasn't a physical reason, I was 33 at the time.

If I remember correctly, training was consolidated at Benning for monetary reasons, not because there was any particular reason only Benning could produce Infantrymen.

I had seven years in the PA NG (enlisted in 1955 when I was 16) three years as a medic and four in the Transportation Corp, enlisted RA in 1962, went to armor AIT at Ft Knox, went to Infantry OCS at Ft Benning in 1965, Special Forces at Fort Bragg in 1967 and a trip to Vietnam w/the SF, Infantry Officer Advanced Course at Fort Benning in 1969......but I had never been to basic training at Fort Benning (or any other fort). And all of this time, I thought I was a real infantryman. :)

I don't have a blue cord, I have an Eagle, Globe and Anchor.

I'm sure Google will tell us exactly who is egilible to take the EIB test. I f you can take and pas the EIB Test you will wear a badge which is much more difficult to earn than. A CIB! I think most other proud owners of an EIB would agree that you have definitely earned the right to be called an INFANTRYMAN!!!

I've had several Sons and GrandSons who went through Basic at Benning. They all did well. As a Graduate of The Basic Infantry Officers Course and Airborne andThe Advanced Infantry Officers Course I feel qualified to answer questions concernyFlrt Benning. I began my career there and retired there. I loved Benning. I had the good fortune to be able to pass my Jump Badge and EIB on to a couple on my kin!

Where one takes Basic is not material. At each post that has Infantry Basic they all follow the same directions. The only difference I Could tell was when during years in which you're budget was higher. In those years you could afford to spend more. Some was just "Luck ofThe Draw" when you would have a group of Drill Sargents who were exceptional good!

I went to Marine Corps Basic. Nuff said. ;-)

I am not an Infantryman but I served at Fort Benning and it is the home of the infantry. Personally I think if you trained at the foremost training facility for the infantry it carries a certain distinction with it. Basic Training at FB is tough with the Georgia sun showing no mercy and maybe this is why some may thing you earn your metal as an infantryman at Benning versus another base.

I went to basic and infantry AIT at fort jackson, combat leaders course at fort benning .... no one can take my infantry creds away. I was a drill sergeant for infantry AIT at fort benning 76 to 78 all our trainees came from other basic training bases....ft benning is were we made them infantrymen. Basic is where you make soldiers since 1978 benning is the only place that makes infantrymen.