What are the differences between infantry and cav scouts in the army?

Keenan Kostyk — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 21:02:42 -0500

it seems like everyone and their mother is talking about how cav scouts are not "basically infantry". and since I'm joining the Nat'l Guard, i would like to know so i don't make the wrong MOS choice

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2019 9:04 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 21:04:57 -0500

Infantrymen are alpha males and cav scouts are lesser men.

Jokes aside different jobs different concepts. Your best bet is to google the MOS for specifics. For infantry you can read tactics and specifics in ATP 3-21.8. You can read about cav scouts in a paw patrol coloring book.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Dec 17 at 2019 9:13 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 21:13:46 -0500

1. Technically there are NO IN scouts- instead you are assigned to a Recon PLT in the HHC , at BN, BDE level. 2. CAV Scouts is it's own MOS, in the IN its an additional duty. 3. IN unless they are Mech, walk- CAV scouts ride or fly since they are assigned to Mech/AR/AV units.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 17 at 2019 9:50 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 21:50:05 -0500

I have always thought they were the eyes and ears of large units. They relay information back in regards to enemy disposition and often the first line of defense. Patton used his scouts and fighter planes to paint the picture in order to move his army in record time and attack the enemy at his choosing.

Response by CPL Gary Pifer made Dec 17 at 2019 10:21 PM

CPL Gary Pifer — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 22:21:09 -0500

19D and 11B were both OJT on the job training MOS'... in the Guard... go learn a valuable job skill.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Dec 17 at 2019 10:45 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 22:45:17 -0500

How can I put this? Maybe in the words of my old platoon Sergeant”,You are Infantry ,you walk,those other peoples are Cav they ride”,that was his simple explanation ,I found it to be true.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Dec 17 at 2019 10:58 PM

SPC Erich Guenther — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 22:58:22 -0500

Neither choice is the "wrong" choice. It's based on what you want to do Infantry tactics are attack and hold. Cavalry Scout tactics are recon and avoid contact if possible. Cav scouts are far fewer in number and emphasize radio and communications. Infantry is more numerous and emphasize tactics. Cav Scouts actually used to be Infantry Scouts but some General back in the day saw declining Cavalry unit manning numbers and got nostalgic and moved the MOS over to Calvary. I still think that was a stupid move but what can you do with too many Generals in the Army, some get bored and cause MOS issues like this one.

Response by MSG Greg Kelly made Dec 18 at 2019 6:33 AM

MSG Greg Kelly — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 06:33:29 -0500

Well the biggest difference is Cav rides a lot.

Response by MSG Greg Kelly made Dec 18 at 2019 6:35 AM

MSG Greg Kelly — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 06:35:02 -0500

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2019 8:00 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 08:00:49 -0500

National Guard has retention and recruiting NCOs who can answer and provide a POC in both MOS for you to direct specific questions to if they cannot answer themselves. First, there is no “wrong MOS” to choose, it depends on your interests and goals among other things. You can always choose one and later reclass, but you’d need to discuss with retention. Google the term “infantrymen” and “infantrymen vs cav scout” you’ll find plenty to read.
Below are two hits to my search: “Cav Scouts see combat equally as any other combat MOS that leaves the wire. ... In an Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the cavalry squadron's role is to be the primary reconnaissance force for the brigade. In that, there are two mounted and one dismounted troops. The dismounted (C Troop) is all Infantrymen.”
And the second is: “The difference is that scouts generally are told not to fight the enemy and observe more than the infantry. Other than the fact that Cav Scouts fall under armor, they are infantry, but they also fill the forward observer role. ... They only accept 11B mos for the combat elements of the regiment.”

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2019 9:43 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 09:43:33 -0500

It’s easy. One eats crayons and the other is a scout

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2019 10:35 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 10:35:19 -0500

So there's a lot of misconceptions about "CAV" Scouts and "INF" Scouts or Infantry as a whole. So the Infantry is the main effort, their job is to close with and kill the enemy. INF Scouts conduct Reconnaissance push based off the commanders guidance/intent. CAV Scouts are the reconnaissance assets for their higher HQs and conduct both recon pull and push but are mostly used for their information gathering. Our mission is based of the METT-TC and the commanders intent. If utilized properly a Scout will leave days prior to the main body effort inorder to gather information on various things, terrain, mobility, site selection, enemy disposition, infrastructure, and possible course of action. We'll send our recommendations/information up to the commander so he can then build his plan of execution utilizing the infantry or armor assets. We help paint the picture so the Infantry can go in and cause mass destruction with minimal casualties. Scouts and Infantry are different MOS's with two different mission sets. Sometimes those missions intertwine but we are not the same.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Dec 18 at 2019 1:07 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 13:07:43 -0500

Now that they've repealed "Don't ask, Dont tell", the Cav Scouts have found much more public acceptance in the Army at large... They're even wearing their stetsons in public now!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2019 7:17 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 19:17:59 -0500

I have a friend who was a Cav scout. When I first met him, he said he was a 19D. I said, "Oh, a wannabe infantryman!". Another friend, who was a Ranger and Special Forces veteran said, "Oh, man it's on!" We had a good laugh. Scouts are usually attached to armored units. As we all know, infantrymen can and will perform reconnaissance as do scouts. Nevertheless, we all have the common mission of destroying the enemy. That is what is the most important thing to remember

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Dec 18 at 2019 7:52 PM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 19:52:49 -0500

Don't know, but they both call for CAS when in trouble. :-)

Response by PVT Mark Zehner made Dec 18 at 2019 7:56 PM

PVT Mark Zehner — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 19:56:51 -0500

Everything

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2019 12:12 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 00:12:17 -0500

I’m 11B in the NG. The main difference on paper is the cav scouts would be a “Recon” unit, and Infantry would be the fighting force.. On the modern battlefield, since the enemy is not uniformed, a lot of the time cav scouts will end up in contact and needing to do similar jobs. The infantry is trained more specifically for combat.. On paper, it’s basically Recon (19D) VS Infantry (11B/C).. If you are scared to fight, neither option is a great idea for you. If your more into the recon aspect, Cav Scout. If you want to be part of a bigger brotherhood that is build on the pride of being the best at everything they do, Infantry

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 31 at 2019 6:14 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 31 Dec 2019 18:14:33 -0500

I was a straight tanker so I don't mind being corrected. I believe the Cav have 3 missions. 1. Reconnaissance by maneuver. 2. Reconnaissance by fire (shoot and wait for a response). 3. Reconnaissance by fire and maneuver (movement to contact and engage) for follow on forces to attack in mass.

Response by SPC Alexander Bendyna III made Jan 31 at 2020 9:25 PM

SPC Alexander Bendyna III — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 21:25:39 -0500

The mentality between the two disciplines are polar opposites. Infantrymen need to violently aggressive to do thier jobs. Often times that aggression is what allows them to accomplish thier objectives and minimize casualties. Scouts, on the other hand, rely on stealth and patience to survive. If the 2 or 3 scouts on an OP are caught, they're likely dead. Scouts will fight to break contact and run. We're too far ahead of the main elements and won't reliable recieve any support of caught. We'd probably get some artillery support. Rule #1of being a scout: Don't get caught. The similarities between Scout and infantry is that we both do a lot of walking and carry a rifle and radio, the similarities end about there. As a scout, I trained on infantry battle drills just like infantry train on setting up OPs. Doesn't make us good at the others' job. during my stint at Ft. Irwin, most OPs I walked into a destroyed were set up by infantry guys who were talking so loudly that I heard them from my OP on the other side of the ridge from them.