What all schools/courses can I attend as a Army Infantryman that would be good for my career?

PV2 J M — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 15:40:50 -0400

Response by SPC David Willis made Mar 13 at 2018 3:42 PM

SPC David Willis — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 15:42:28 -0400

Airbourne, air assault and ranger.

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Mar 13 at 2018 3:49 PM

1SG Dennis Hicks — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 15:49:56 -0400

Young man there are many schools and Additional Skill courses out there but you have to keep in mind you will not be on the top of the (OML) order of merit list from day one. You have to show your Chain of Command you are worthy of the investment and have the ability to pass the courses/schools. There will be others ahead of you that have already done this and will get the slots first. Each slot is portion of the units schools budget and if any troop fails a course it will be that much harder to get another slot. Perfecting your skills is an effort of the long run, if you are up to it the schools will come.

I will add this comment as well, sending PVT's/PFC's to RANGER, PATHFINDER, AIR ASSAULT, SFCQ ETC if not in your contract will not happen that fast. Back in my DAY you had to be at least a SGT to attend selection for SF. Ranger school is decided after you get to RANGER Bat they will make sure you are more than ready before they send you. Jump School, if you get Option 4 in your contract then that's possible. Focus on the 25 meter targets (Close ones) rather than the long distance ones. Do your very best at (OSUT) One Station Unit Training) Graduate that first then set your goals. It's a long ruck march ahead. That's the Advice I gave my youngest son and he wants to follow in my footsteps god help him.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2018 3:57 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 15:57:25 -0400

EIB and Ranger will be the most efficient schools to gain knowledge in being a infantryman. Airborne air assault and pathfinder are look at me schools

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2018 3:58 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 15:58:06 -0400

Everything would be beneficial if you are 11Bravo, ask any SF team.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Mar 13 at 2018 4:12 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 16:12:49 -0400

Take whatever schools that are open to your career choice, and then if they still have the sub-courses still available from Newport News, then go as far as you can with them also, you gain more knowledge and retirement points, plus the hours posted on them can be converted into credit hours for college.

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Mar 13 at 2018 4:19 PM

SFC Jim Ruether — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 16:19:44 -0400

I would say Marksmanship and Cover and Concealment would be the most important or your career as an Infantryman will be a short one!

Response by LTC Jeff Shearer made Mar 13 at 2018 4:20 PM

LTC Jeff Shearer — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 16:20:51 -0400

great question, I recommend Ranger, airborne, air assault, any of the mortar courses, combat life saver. BNOC, ANOC. These are just a few, Jordan not unlike any other profession, the profession of being a warrior is only complemented when the warrior educates himself in the business.

If I could give you 1 piece of advice, I would say dont start out worrying about your career be the best fucking infantryman you can be, the career part will take care of itself. That is going to require lots of schools, and effort of on your part.

Response by SSG Brian L. made Mar 13 at 2018 4:26 PM

SSG Brian L. — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 16:26:59 -0400

you can google career maps that will show you what schools at what rank that would be optimum for you... keep your long term hoah... just wanting to go to schools is not enough... training comes first then things like g.t. and a.p.f.t. scores come into play over whether your unit will even send you... it took me a few years into my career before I started to get schools... certain units just do not send average soldiers to schools point blank so.... it might take you years but if you stay motivated and consistently demonstrate that you have merit and can pass schools they will come

Response by SFC Johnathan Severs made Mar 13 at 2018 5:05 PM

SFC Johnathan Severs — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 17:05:24 -0400

Depends on how you imagine your career to go. Sure, the cool schools like Airborne, Air Assault and Ranger are appealing but others like Recruiter, Drill, EOA and SHARP are more career broadening. Think about looking at the CSM photos on your Chain of Command wall, 9/10 have been Drill.

I’d say align your career towards one of those and apply when possible. Think outside your MOS - last thing you want is a bunch of 11B schools that make you nothing more than a 11B. Beyond E-7, it’s more about what else you offer - personnel management and logistics and such opposed to Battle Drill 1A.

I’d recommend those in addition to Battle Staff, Master Gunner and Pathfinder. Those are legit skill courses.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2018 5:15 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 17:15:12 -0400

Ranger school!!!

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Mar 13 at 2018 5:30 PM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 17:30:23 -0400

I am an AF retiree but I can tell you that our policy was NEVER turn down a school that you are offered. You always learn something useful and you demonstrate your commitment to learning and to the service.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2018 5:35 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 17:35:02 -0400

UPL, Antiterrorism level 3, and SHARP Master.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2018 6:03 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 18:03:10 -0400

Ranger. That’s all you need!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2018 6:57 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 18:57:26 -0400

All of them. Any school you can get your hands on. Never stop learning. Does NOT matter what school it is. If it's offered, you volunteer to go. The biggest missed opportunities and the ones you neglect to take.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2018 7:04 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 19:04:02 -0400

SAMS.

Response by SFC Nate Robertson made Mar 13 at 2018 9:11 PM

SFC Nate Robertson — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 21:11:32 -0400

Are you talking about military schools or higher civilian education

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2018 9:42 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 21:42:38 -0400

Ranger, Ranger, Ranger, Ranger, EIB Should be your top 2. Airborne, Air Assault, Pathfinder,

then when you get down the road a bit knock out the troop schools. Sharp, EO, UMO,

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Mar 13 at 2018 9:44 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 21:44:49 -0400

I am glad to see you said career ,so you are in for the long haul ,if that indeed is your direction the more training and education you achieve will further your goals ,this might be prejudicial on my part but the base is there now ,Infantry,if you can achieve that ,anything is possible .

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2018 10:00 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 22:00:07 -0400

First Airborne. Ask for it in your contract or volunteer out of Basic.
Then Ranger school, this will max your promotion points and you can pin Sergeant rank immediately.
Then Jumpmaster, which you cannot attend until you are a Sergeant.
After that, take whatever is offered to you.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Mar 13 at 2018 10:10 PM

LT Brad McInnis — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 22:10:20 -0400

I will give you the advice I got when I was a young sailor from my Chief, and I kept it and used it for the sailors that worked for me... If you focus all your energies on being the top soldier/sailor/airman Marine or Guardsmen you can be, everything else will work out. I always tried to send my top performers to schools that would help them as a reward for doing well. I never sent poor performers to a cool school, unless it was mandatory. Focus on being the best you can be, and when schools come up your name will be brought up....

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Mar 13 at 2018 10:24 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 22:24:39 -0400

Any and all- All tactics, weapons, history and don't forget to find and study for a secondary MOS to cover should you get too crippled up to stay a grunt.

Response by LTC Jeff Shearer made Mar 14 at 2018 9:05 AM

LTC Jeff Shearer — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 09:05:22 -0400

Jordan, find someone who can become your mentor, make sure its not some shitbag but a squared away Infantryman. Your mentor does not need to be someone with the same amount of experience as you, some guy that has been around the block a time or two. Dont be an ass kiss or a suck up but be the best you possibly can at whatever you are doing.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2018 9:12 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 09:12:19 -0400

EIB, Light leaders course, Airborne, Air Assault, Sniper, RSLC, Pathfinder, Drill Sergeant, and lastly RANGER school

Response by SGT Chyrone Ragland made Mar 14 at 2018 10:24 AM

SGT Chyrone Ragland — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 10:24:40 -0400

Any IT courses will help your career no matter where you go. When you get a chance you should check out MyComputerCareer.com

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2018 2:11 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 14:11:45 -0400

Here you go.

Response by MSG Dan Castaneda made Mar 14 at 2018 2:46 PM

MSG Dan Castaneda — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 14:46:10 -0400

Everyone is right go to all the schools you can. But what ever you do, do not flat line a CIB or EIB. Aint nothing worst than that.

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made Mar 14 at 2018 4:41 PM

MSG Danny Mathers — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 16:41:07 -0400

EIB is a test, Ranger School is not a school but a leadership course. All the badge producing schools and tests are indicators of risk taking and personal accomplishments. Professional development schools and college courses will take you far.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2018 6:19 AM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 06:19:44 -0400

Ranger School!!!!! Get that tab!!!

Response by SGT Aric Lier made Mar 15 at 2018 6:40 AM

SGT Aric Lier — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 06:40:46 -0400

before you sign the dotted line, ask what schools are available to you, yes you can go right from basic to airborne ranger etc. specialty schools that will help differentiate you from the legs. sniper school will set you apart from your team. request all of this right away as your unit once assigned will only have limited spots available

Response by SPC Izaiah Calabrese made Mar 17 at 2018 10:37 PM

SPC Izaiah Calabrese — Sat, 17 Mar 2018 22:37:30 -0400

Definitely Ranger and get your EIB. But once you get a ranger tab, they’ll send you to schools left and right as long as you continue to work hard

Response by PFC Neil Macdonald made Mar 19 at 2018 9:23 AM

PFC Neil Macdonald — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 09:23:34 -0400

First, concentrate on basic and AIT.

Response by LTC Jeff Shearer made Mar 24 at 2018 6:46 AM

LTC Jeff Shearer — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 06:46:00 -0400

Jordan all the answers below are great and correct, however, here is the part to never forget. Schools and courses are great but don't ever forget you are an 11B learn everything possible about being a 11B. Over a lifetime of an Infantry dude you will serve in many positions and do many different jobs, but when you start out learn how to be the best grunt you can. Listen, listen, listen to your TM leader, SQD LDR, PLT LDR, etc... There is volumes of information that is there and all you have to do listen, learn and apply. Become an expert at individual camouflage, load/unload/reduce stoppage/fire accurately any and all weapons you come in contact with. Be careful don't be an ass kiss or a suck up just strive to be the best knuckle dragging barbarian you can. You don't have to act crazy or be crazy, just work hard, be hard, listen and learn. If you keep in shape and a good attitude the schools and course will come, most likely more than you can handle hahaha

Response by LTC Jeff Shearer made Mar 24 at 2018 6:47 AM

LTC Jeff Shearer — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 06:47:12 -0400

Response by SSG Eduardo Ybarra Jr. MS Psyc made Apr 6 at 2018 4:31 PM

SSG Eduardo Ybarra Jr. MS Psyc — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 16:31:38 -0400

While Ranger will enhance your career another school, which is probably the hardest in the Army is combat diver. This course is hard to get into and even harder to complete. If you are able to complete this course you will be among the few who possess it. Airborne, Air Assault, Pathfinder, Halo are all "look at my chest badges"

Response by MSG Loren Tomblin made Jun 11 at 2018 4:07 PM

MSG Loren Tomblin — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 16:07:58 -0400

Even though it was in the early 60's and I was deployed here and there. I took correspondence courses relating to the Infantry. I entered the Army in'59 was awarded the EIB along with SGT stripes in May '62. I know that things have changed but my 201 looked thick from all the temporary files.