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I believe Infantry and Operators should be treated with a higher regard in the military.
Even officers and NCOs of all other military specialties should show respect to our nation's true warriors.
The general military is doing a good job of promoting everyone is a warrior but those non combat arms specialties do not train or destroy their bodies like true combatants. I would even say that infantry line medics and navy corpsman that are attached to the marines deserve the same regard.
This is not intended as a put down of other specialties but an awareness that some put in more than others in combat arms.
Even officers and NCOs of all other military specialties should show respect to our nation's true warriors.
The general military is doing a good job of promoting everyone is a warrior but those non combat arms specialties do not train or destroy their bodies like true combatants. I would even say that infantry line medics and navy corpsman that are attached to the marines deserve the same regard.
This is not intended as a put down of other specialties but an awareness that some put in more than others in combat arms.
Posted in these groups: 
11B: Infantryman
11B: Infantryman
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 419
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I had/have a lot of friends that were 11B's and had/have a lot of respect for what they do.
They called me "REMF", and "pogue". I called them "rock with lips", and "cannon fodder". It was good natured ribbing. I picked their brains and learned a lot from them in the event that particular skill set was needed.
I fixed CH-47D's, and I was grateful that I didn't have to step off the aircraft into a hot LZ, and they were grateful that I pulled them onboard and gave them a ride home to a hot meal.
Respect was mutual... we held each other in high regard.
They called me "REMF", and "pogue". I called them "rock with lips", and "cannon fodder". It was good natured ribbing. I picked their brains and learned a lot from them in the event that particular skill set was needed.
I fixed CH-47D's, and I was grateful that I didn't have to step off the aircraft into a hot LZ, and they were grateful that I pulled them onboard and gave them a ride home to a hot meal.
Respect was mutual... we held each other in high regard.
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SPC David Hannaman
SSG Pamela Smejkal - "When it comes down to it everyone is trained infantry, just a matter of how proficient each one is."
Well... yes, in the sense that we all go to 8 weeks of basic training. The key word there is "basic". It teaches you about enough to be able to die in place should a conventional attack come "through the wire".
Even the guys that go through the advanced course (14 weeks, correct me if I'm wrong) arrive at their duty station "a rock with lips" (meaning they still don't know enough to not get their squad killed), and need more training.
I consider myself lucky, right away I pulled brigade guard duty, and got partnered up with SPC(P) Kenny Wells, who had been to SERE school, the ranger course, and a ton of other classes. He mentored me, and brought me books to read. He taught me things that my unit didn't even think about.
Well... yes, in the sense that we all go to 8 weeks of basic training. The key word there is "basic". It teaches you about enough to be able to die in place should a conventional attack come "through the wire".
Even the guys that go through the advanced course (14 weeks, correct me if I'm wrong) arrive at their duty station "a rock with lips" (meaning they still don't know enough to not get their squad killed), and need more training.
I consider myself lucky, right away I pulled brigade guard duty, and got partnered up with SPC(P) Kenny Wells, who had been to SERE school, the ranger course, and a ton of other classes. He mentored me, and brought me books to read. He taught me things that my unit didn't even think about.
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SPC David Hannaman
2LT Tom Waters, JD - It was just good natured ribbing. I didn't take offense, just like they didn't take offense to me calling them "cannon fodder".
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Sgt Joseph Baker
Hannaman: Yeah, bet it was funny how happy they were to see your POG ass looking down that loading ramp at them!
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I think I understand where you are coming from. I to was an SFC and was Light Infantry. I was a 11B and damn proud of my unit. I at one time did agree with what you say, being the first to face the bad guys face to face and take a bullet or get cut by one of them. All the running jumping diving, being in the wake of concussion after concussion from Grenades and incoming rounds, bombs being dropped danger close and closer, Makes one feel they are the ones that gets the brunt of the action and it does have a toll on the body, a devastating effect on the human body and mind. HOWEVER! what we as the (Warrior) don't see is that without those men and women behind us we could not do or be whom we are and or were. Their jobs are just as important as ours. Without them we wouldn't have the food, water, ammo, clothing, Intel or anything else we need to do the job we had or have to do! And they also pay a toll for what they do. maybe not with a bullet hole in their body but with slipped disks and hernias and god an ex-stream amount of stress and strain that we don't see. My father was an Administrative tech before becoming a 1SGT that man put in so many hours trying to make sure we had fuel for the trucks and the heaters for tents we never got to use or see but he had to make sure it was there. I watched him as the pressure mounted on him year after year. Our supply SGT was the same! He became old before his time trying to support and fast moving light Infantry company and make sure we had what we needed to make us the Warriors we were! WAR EAGLES! Company "C" 2nd of the 151, 38th infantry division and later company "D" vietnam
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SSG Pamela Smejkal
Not to mention when the shit hits the fan we all pick up our weapons and fight...or at least trained to..so not do support MOSs need to be perfect ant in their specialty they also need to do yours as well...not as well trained, but be able to at any given moment.
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You take away supply and chow from an infantryman. He will make a weapon kill an animal and fight in close combat with his hands if that's all he has. I get what you're getting at sergeant, most look at it as arrogance and it is but we can't do what we do the way we do it without believing we are the best. It's what keeps us motivated and keeps us alive. Infantry leads the way
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Sgt Joseph Baker
Of course if you are planning to engage the enemy with only your hands and they have rifles, bullets, grenades, mortars, and MREs, you are ***ked.
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I'm going to disagree with you. This job isn't about getting a pat on the back. It's not about "atta boys". If you are good at your job, and a decent, dependable person you will earn respect. What you are proposing is all about entitlement. Respect is not an entitlement.
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SFC Esquivel-In general, I do get (and respect) where you're coming from. In terms of "pointy end of the spear" comparisons...yes, I would defer to a PFC in the Big Red One when relating specific expertise/experience in combat arms; more so, any member of elite forces.
However...We fight in a much more complex and widespread battle-space than that.
An aviator flying missions over enemy held territory faces enormous risks; before, during and after ejection. Sailors at sea have been actively prosecuting interdiction operations against the desperate criminals supporting our enemies-criminals who sometimes fight rather than surrender at the first sign of a U.S. warship. With the increasing op-tempo, numerous Navy, Air Force and National Guard personnel have been asked to "fill in" duties on the ground, and outside the wire. Of the three combat losses I personally experienced with the JTF; two were National Guardsmen, and the third, a doctor.
Are any of those "equal" to infantry, let alone elite forces-No. Still, they are taking risks that exceed their designator, rating or MOS routinely, and that, in and of itself, counts for something.
All of that aside...None of us get to the AO without logistics, communications, hell, even finance. Those folks are doing their job so that everyone else can do theirs.
More to the point, I think sincere and rightly earned respect DOES exist; When I see a trident, jump wings, red or green berets, crossed arrows, or those much discussed "tabs"...the rank/service of that individual suddenly pales against what I know they've endured in defense of every American, myself included.
I hope when they see my uniform, they at least give it the benefit of the doubt that I've participated enough for my sincere respect to mean something.
However...We fight in a much more complex and widespread battle-space than that.
An aviator flying missions over enemy held territory faces enormous risks; before, during and after ejection. Sailors at sea have been actively prosecuting interdiction operations against the desperate criminals supporting our enemies-criminals who sometimes fight rather than surrender at the first sign of a U.S. warship. With the increasing op-tempo, numerous Navy, Air Force and National Guard personnel have been asked to "fill in" duties on the ground, and outside the wire. Of the three combat losses I personally experienced with the JTF; two were National Guardsmen, and the third, a doctor.
Are any of those "equal" to infantry, let alone elite forces-No. Still, they are taking risks that exceed their designator, rating or MOS routinely, and that, in and of itself, counts for something.
All of that aside...None of us get to the AO without logistics, communications, hell, even finance. Those folks are doing their job so that everyone else can do theirs.
More to the point, I think sincere and rightly earned respect DOES exist; When I see a trident, jump wings, red or green berets, crossed arrows, or those much discussed "tabs"...the rank/service of that individual suddenly pales against what I know they've endured in defense of every American, myself included.
I hope when they see my uniform, they at least give it the benefit of the doubt that I've participated enough for my sincere respect to mean something.
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What about those supply guys and gals that run the convoys through enemy territory? or the cooks that are at the Op Base? or the aircrew that is dodging SAM's to either airdrop you supplies or to direct the fire to get your butt out of trouble? I agree with Col Smallfield below when he said this is a team sport...period...one person fails and the chain breaks. Everyone that has ever raised their hand and took an oath is a warrior class. Just because they didn't get selected to be a grunt doesn't make them any less a warrior than the guy engaging the enemy. By writing this you just blew 2 of your seven Army core values...Respect and Selfless Service!!!
https://www.army.mil/values/ Definitions are at this link for your reading pleasure.
https://www.army.mil/values/ Definitions are at this link for your reading pleasure.
List of Army Values are Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage.
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Hahahahaha is this a joke? The air must be pretty thin up on that pedestal. Good job on embarrassing yourself. Probably some of the worst drivel, I've ever heard coming from a senior NCO...
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