To really excel within the ranks of the Army, must I serve in the infantry? Do I need a CIB/EIB, like the Chief and SMA?

It's all attitude. When I was in 1981 - 1986, and all the other men got off duty they would usually go out drinking, etc. I would stay on base in my barracks and study my military manuals. Attn. to details young man. Always do what will make you a better soldier.

Promotions above E-4 are usually faster for Infantry soldiers. The reason is that Infantry has more Sergeants, so more Specialists get promoted. In order to excell, you need to be the soldier who stands above your peers in everything - best uniform, best marksmanship, best PT score, etc. If you are going to be the best, be Infantry, earn your EIB, go Airborne Ranger, go SF. Make it difficult to promote the other guy, because you are THE most outstanding soldier in your unit.

No, but needs to have combat experience. Doesn't need to be a Ranger or infrantry either. Their are other mos out there.

My brief (6 years) experience with the Army shows the Combat Arms soldiers do better over a 20-year career. This is an entirely subjective observation based no my time as an Army Civilian. The Combat Service and Combat Service Support soldiers often do well within their MOS groups, but don't make it to the most senior leadership positions in the Army. Transportation is an example of this. The most senior Transportation Officer is normally a Maj Gen. Gen Dunwoody is and exception as SSG Robert Webster noted. It's important to know that Gen Dunwoody made the jump from Transportation to Logistics to advance her career beyond Commanding SDDC as a 2-star to Commanding AMC.

Combat Arms Soldiers and their equivalents in the other Services tend to be the Chiefs of Staff and serve in positions of similar leadership responsibility and rank.

No, but it definitely helps. There's a reason the majority of our senior leaders are combat arms. Tabs, badges, etc. also provide a certain level of credibility. I wouldn't get too hung up on them however. It's already becoming increasingly rare to have a CIB below the E6 level. EIBs are more common, but it still ultimately depends on the unit. You would be surprised how many active duty Soldiers in mech units don't have EIBs.

With that said, even if you're Infantry you may never get the opportunity to earn either one. In 11 years in the ARNG I've never had the opportunity to participate in an EIB event. At this point my Battalion doesn't even have enough qualified graders to conduct one. The same goes for a CIB. I've deployed twice as a combat arms Soldier. Even leading troops "outside the wire" in Iraq I never experienced anything that would qualify me for a CAB or CIB. A lot of it's simply the luck of the draw.

As I am sure many on this thread can attest to, if you spend most of your time focusing on getting promoted or moving swiftly through the ranks, chances are you will not. Also when you do that, people notice. Focus on your Soldiers and your mission and everything else will fall in place

I ass only a sp. 4 combat infantryman in Viet nam. I did my 2 years and got out (drafted). and to me the CIB is a badge of honor. It proves that the soldier was actually in combat not a REMF. I don't care if the soldier is a private or a general I respect anyone who has earned the CIB. I do think it matters for gaining rank.

Yes, it is important. Ranger and Airborne Schools too.

It depends on what your definition of Excel is if you want to general of the army it would not hurt if you are looking to be a base commander just be all you can be.

to answer your question simply...No. It is YOU the soldier who will make or break your career and nobody else. I knew a lot of senior NCO's with no Combat Badges and they all were successful in their chosen military career. You are the ultimate arbiter of how far you can/will go. Good luck to you

I served in the Infantry for twenty three years and all officers have a duel MOS and for most of them it is Infantry due to my understanding, I served with General Milly when we were in the 10th Mountain together and he is a hell of a soldier. We deployed to Somalia in 93 and he was an excellent leader in my book.

My short observation of the Army (6 years as a DAC) shows that most General Officers have some combat arms experience. Most had the CIB or CAB and many had jump wings or air assault. Also, they had unit leadership in most every rank and experience on Service and Joint Service staffs. Even on the logistics side where I worked, most of the CGs had combat arms experience. The future may hold greater status for non-traditional combat organizations, such as cyber warfare. Same was generally true for CSMs, although we had at least one who didn't have a CIB or CAB.

You don’t absolutely need them, BUT, THEY SURE HELP❤️‼️‼️❤️

U need jump wings bro you don't want to be a dirty nasty Leg.....lol

I have known 10 SGM/CSMs in my career. Not one of them was 11B. I admit that part of that is due to the structure of the Reserves, but it does show that any determined leader can excel with a strong drive. Many SGMs have had broadening assignments. I suggest you look at Drill Sergeant, Recruiter and TRADOC while balancing your leadership time in line units.

Maybe to reach the very top, but actually there are Generals and CSM of every MOS.

The Infantry is the quintessential branch in the military; all activities; operations and ultimately all focus rests on the Sildiers and Leaders of the Queen of Battle. You have an exponentially higher potential tonwxcel if you rise through the ranks of the Infantry; though many other routes are good to think about-andany others do very well in other Branches; it is and will always be the Infantry that the Army revolves around...follow me!

Yes.

Look at it this way. Everybody, and everything is there to serve and support the grunt!

You will make rank faster than other MOS's.

No. There are so many jobs in the Army you don’t have to be Infantry to be successful. Just pick a job and work to be the best at it.

Every Soldier should think that their job is the most important job in the Army, but be humble enough to realize that it is just a small piece of the pie. If you don't think that your job is the most important, then you will not give it your all. Plain and simple.

I've had to counsel several Soldiers and recommend that they find a new job that they would Excel at. One got out, the other two excellent at their new jobs. It's all about perspective.

No just do your job set a good example of your ability. Show the Leaders that you have the integrity professional ability to stand tall and get the job done. It seems sometimes that other rule but not true. Just be you and it will be fine. I have been there Hooah

Most of the SGM and Battalion Commanders at FT SILL did not have CIB or EIB on them and the Battalion Commanders are LT COL. It just depends on how you do your job outside civilian education PT and marksmanship score and behavior. I mean there are avenues in where you can earn a CIB or EIB by joining the Ranger Regiment but you don't need that to make rank really.

We join to serve our country. Remember your soldiers and the mission... I will in a heart beat give everything back to get my soldiers back that I seen go down in combat. Badges, Ribbons and Medals are just that...

Apparently you don't need Drill Sergeant time anymore to be SMA. First one I've ever seen...

PV2 (Join to see)
No, you do not need to be Infantry BUT we are the Army and being Infantry does place in situations that allow you to excel more often than some other MOSs.

PV2 (Join to see) It depends on your definition of succeed and excel... The Army is run by Infantry and Armor Officers for the most part.... But, you can excel in any of our 18 basic branches.... It depends on your goals. You can only get an EIB and CIB if your are Infantry or Special Forces... That is only several of over 150 job specialties....

For starters, if you're going to be infantry, you should earn your Ranger Tab. Second, our current SMA is the first infantry SMA we've had in years.
Infantry is the most challenging and fastest promoting MOS you can choose in the Army. If you go that route and you want to excel, you should look at Airborne, Ranger, and EIB. However, you could choose another MOS and still be a very successful Senior leader.

Eating your EIB shows your team and others within your unit that you have mastered the skill level 1 tasks. To earn your EIB in any MOS other than 11b, is a huge accomplishment. Its a lot of studying and training. Its totally worth it for your career. Its even more beneficial for yourself.

I think your enthusiasm is outstanding! And if a fast track is your only goal I'm sure there are formulae one can follow. I hope that it's more than that. If so, my advice is to find what you do best and then be the best at that job. that you can be. Infantry is vital and promotion swift but it's also very challenging and you need to mesh with that team.I was artillery but wound up doing checkpoints and liaising with British forces in Dortmund doing security. I really enjoyed it and if you are dedicated and you are capable of excellence you will succeed.
Goods luck, Miguel!