Posted on Nov 26, 2019
Should I go ahead and pursue 11X now, or should I wait until I get more physically fit?
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Looking for brutally honest advice from current and former 11B/C's. I have wanted to be in the infantry since I got into the military in 2013. Got stuck fixing Marine aircraft for 5 years and now I'm in the Army as an 88M driving trucks and sweeping the motor pool. My 368 to go AD got approved and I have a chance to go 11B. My concern is not with the mental aspect of the job, nor is it with my abilities. My concern is that I'm going to MEPS this week and I'm not where I should be physically in my opinion. I'm not overweight or fat or the kind of soldier on profile 24/7, my run game is just not all there. The last thing I want to do is pursue this goal and getting to my unit only to disappoint because of my current run times. I've been busting my ass since my surgery on my legs to get my times down. So do I chase it anyways, or steer clear and try again when I get my times lower?
Posted in these groups: 
11B: Infantryman
11C: Indirect Fire Infantryman (Mortarman)
11B: Infantryman 11C: Indirect Fire Infantryman (Mortarman)
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 18
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Never turn down an opportunity to chase your dreams. Your run time is good enough to pass an APFT so it's good enough for the Infantry. You can get better in OSUT and at your unit once you are an infantryman. There are plenty of Infantry who aren't great runners but are strong in other areas. I work in a Stryker battalion and most of my 11B E4s have a PT score in the 220s, so you don't have to be Ranger quality to be Infantry, but it sure helps if you are.
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1SG David Spalding
SFC Boyd is absolutely correct. Plus, if I'm right, you need to go to Ft Benning to reclass to 11B, correct? Well, you'll be in AIT with a lot of recruits who can't run at all. Use that time to train to where you want to be.
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Perdue your goal. Just remeber everyone sweeps a motor pool. No MOS is devoid of its mundane tasks. As for slow run times, do you have stamina, can you go the extra mile whether running or rucking. If you have stamina, your run will improve. Good luck and thank you for your service.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
Thank you for your service as well Sergeant Major. I am more than happy to do the mundane tasks if at the end of the day I am a part of that brotherhood. I consider myself a savant in mundane tasks considering my seven years serving as junior enlisted.
My stamina needs improvement, my endurance needs improvement. The heart, drive, and goal to be better is all there. I just do not want to be a liability to my team, squad or platoon.
My stamina needs improvement, my endurance needs improvement. The heart, drive, and goal to be better is all there. I just do not want to be a liability to my team, squad or platoon.
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
You present heart, compassion and a concern for others. You should do well. SGT(P) (Join to see)
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
Thank you again Sergeanr Major. I'll be sure to post an update once I've signed.
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11Bs still spend a fair amount of time driving trucks and sweeping motorpools, and deployment missions nowadays are mostly base defense or some sort of security force. What I like about Infantry is one size fits all solutions rarely work and Infantry have a a lot of latitude to find solutions to a vast array if problem sets. Combat is a science and an art. The science is the battle drills and technical aspects of vehicles, weapons, even people. The art is how you employ them accomplish the mission.
Run times can be worked on, dont worry about those unless you're doing 20 minute 2 miles and not showing any improvement.
Run times can be worked on, dont worry about those unless you're doing 20 minute 2 miles and not showing any improvement.
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From my experience, what your job is to do is bring your "heart" to the table. If you're not in tip-top shape when you get there, they will help you get there...but you're gonna need to provide the heart to make sure you do it.
Go 11B bro, you get to do some of the coolest things on the planet.
Go 11B bro, you get to do some of the coolest things on the planet.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
I've got the heart and I give it my all. I think after reading all of these comments, I'm just too caught up in the perception I may give.
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SFC Roland Price
Brother, just go for it. Sometimes, all you need to do is jump! Good luck out there!
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BLUF: if you are fit enough to pass the MEPS physical and the OPAT, do it now.
No matter how out of shape you think you are, there will be others at BCT that will make you feel like a fitness god. Very few people that enlist now days are fit enough for the Army, but that’s a big part of what BCT is there for.
No matter how out of shape you think you are, there will be others at BCT that will make you feel like a fitness god. Very few people that enlist now days are fit enough for the Army, but that’s a big part of what BCT is there for.
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I think you're scared of failure and that's a good thing ,but don't let it stop you from pursuing this opportunity! They'll get where you need to be if you're really motivated and not a quitter! Go for it!
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
You're absolutely right Sir. I'm terrified of failing my team, my squad, my platoon, and my unit as a whole. Trust is the most important trait I look for in soldiers and the most important trait I looked for in my Marines. If I want to trust my soldiers, I want them to trust me even more. My biggest fear in life is disappointing those I care for. I'm still searching for that happy medium.
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Go for it anyway. MEPS does not care about your run time and Infantry OSUT does not either until you approach your graduation date. Your first Infantry unit will give you a grace period to get in shape, even if your a SPC. Yes you will take a little shit for it but if they see you working at it on your own time they will shut up and leave you be. Just be advised that a Regular Army Infantry Unit expects you to target near MAX score on the test. Also, pace it with the legs, make sure they get rest time to fully recover don't keep stressing them or keep them sore all the time.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
If that's truly how it is, then I am happy to prove myself to the unit. I'm not the type who particularly enjoys being a liability and/or dead weight.
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SPC Erich Guenther
SGT(P) (Join to see) - Yeah they will only harrass the dead beats that eat pizza and sit on their ass on the weekends that remain out of shape. They see you running on your own time....word will get around and nobody will bother you. They have Infantry unit spies everywhere off duty.........which you will learn fast. Can't do just about anything without being spotted by a NCO in your unit.
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SGT(P) (Join to see) I believe it was the noted American shoe philosopher Nike who once said "Just do it".
All jokes asides, you said that its not the "mental aspect of the job" you are concerned about; however, I suspect it is; at least at this initial point.
It is true that surgery will knock one's PT down--especially run times--and you don't want to push things too much too early, but if that's not the case, go for it! Reclassing will incorporate PT, and that will help build you up to where you need to be. Until then, keep working on your runs.
You may never be Mr.-Audie-Murphey-Super-Hooah-PT-Stud-Guy, and that's fine, but take it from an ex-Grunt who got his crossed rifles less than a month before turning 37 (seriously!), its NOT impossible to make it if you are not broken to start and if you do have heart.
Now, go forth, and kick much ass!
All jokes asides, you said that its not the "mental aspect of the job" you are concerned about; however, I suspect it is; at least at this initial point.
It is true that surgery will knock one's PT down--especially run times--and you don't want to push things too much too early, but if that's not the case, go for it! Reclassing will incorporate PT, and that will help build you up to where you need to be. Until then, keep working on your runs.
You may never be Mr.-Audie-Murphey-Super-Hooah-PT-Stud-Guy, and that's fine, but take it from an ex-Grunt who got his crossed rifles less than a month before turning 37 (seriously!), its NOT impossible to make it if you are not broken to start and if you do have heart.
Now, go forth, and kick much ass!
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
Will do Sgt...you brought up a good point that I had completely overlooked with respect to the mental aspect. I was focused too much on the mental side of the job versus the personal mental state. I become especially conscientious when it comes to the possibility of disappointing those I care for.
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I have no idea how physically fit you are... can I get some data? Besides that metal toughness will get your further than muscles alone. If you want it take the shot. It is very hard but intermittently so. Do it now.
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You are going to have to do some part of OSUT, which is about 7 weeks longer that when I went through. If you have a passing run time, I wouldn't sweat it. My experience is that Infantry units will give you plenty of opportunity to improve your time. I went through OSUT at 27 and I certainly wasn't a PT stud when I hit Benning, but I made it through and later Commissioned 11B and made it through Infantry Officer Basic Course, which was much harder physically since about 1/3 of the class would head to Ranger School after graduation.
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