What is your opinion on army infantry trying to Reach retirement?

Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 20:14:41 -0400

This question is for anyone.If you’re currently infantry what route are you taking to survive 20 years as Army infantry. If you arent Infantry but have advice on how you would Survive it. Or if you think its a waste of time. ALL OPINIONS WELCOME.

Response by CPL Douglas Chrysler made Mar 17 at 2020 8:23 PM

CPL Douglas Chrysler — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 20:23:18 -0400

I didn't make it, but it's certainly not a waste of time.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2020 8:44 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 20:44:09 -0400

Cross one bridge at a time. Talking about retirement as an Infantrymen is something you shouldn't even be thinking about right now.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2020 8:52 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 20:52:46 -0400

Infantry has the best promotion rate of any of the branches. If you're infantry, about a third to half of your career will be doing Force Generating assignments such as Drill, Recruiter, ROTC Instructor, Defense Attaché, some other type of instructor, Inspector General, or EEO. Then once you hit MSG you'll be back and forth between planning and commanding. Of course, you're not actually commanding as a 1SG or CSM, but you are part of the command team. Once you hit E8 you're generally either on the operations section doing the planning, or the command team executing that plan. The first few years for an infantryman are definitely the most physically demanding and also the ones where you really get a chance to set the path and tone of your career.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Mar 17 at 2020 9:09 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 21:09:51 -0400

First things first ,the 11 Bravo route is by nature very taxing mentally and physically ,be prepared for a lifestyle mostly devoid of creature comforts,along with times you will feel tedious,boring ,training routines never ending,did it for my whole three year enlistment, Vietnam the whole ball of wax,never regretted a day but could not have done a twenty year bit,only a special few can,good luck young man going Infantry you are going to need it!

Response by PVT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2020 9:58 PM

PVT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 21:58:02 -0400

Take care of your feet knees hips and back.

Response by MSG Dan Castaneda made Mar 17 at 2020 10:10 PM

MSG Dan Castaneda — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 22:10:49 -0400

I spent 9 years in the Infantry. I had to move on. It wasn’t for any other reason other than I had to move on to bigger and better things.

I will say that if you plan to stay in the Infatry that long, earn a Ranger tab.

Response by SSG Timothy McCoy made Mar 17 at 2020 11:11 PM

SSG Timothy McCoy — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 23:11:00 -0400

As a retired infantrymen, I’ll give you a couple pointers since you haven’t signed up yet. I spent 24 years in and out of active duty and my last 3/4 of my time was as an 11B with the 82nd at Ft Bragg.
1.) Be all you can be, you drive your career no matter what your CMF/MOS becomes.
2.) The army will give you anything you ask for, you just have to learn how to articulate the question and to whom you must ask.
3.) there is nothing it upset me more than being called a dumb Grant. Because the grant the infantry man has to be the smartest, articulate, and cunning soldier on the battlefield. You have to know your deadly craft to the nth degree. Because you will have to close with and kill the enemy. If you are a dumb grunt the enemy will kill you.
4.) Education will be your friend and or your enemy. You need to read everything you can get your hands on about great battles and great general and great men. I have just completed reading call sign chaos, written by general Mathes get the book read it and start reading his reading suggestions.
If you do not educate yourself and those around you then you will be a follower, as others that are in the know will be making the decisions. Learn what it takes to do the job to ranks above you as a need to private you need to understand and have the wherewithal to become an Asst team leader, as a SAW gunner or a Grenadier/203. In a combat situation you might have to take over a team. As a PFC E3 you need to learn What it takes to become a team leader,, as a corporal 44 no need to know how to maneuver two teams as a squad leader as Staff Sgt.
5.) Infantry is the pinnacle of all of the CMF’s in the army except for special forces/CMF 18. Infantry is your is platform and your forte foundation for all other schools and skills.
6.) here is my career progression for you, it may be somewhat confusing, anyone else that has read this far can chime in to help.
Don’t sign up for a ranger or special forces contract straight out the door. Reason being if you are injured, or fail a subject, or not get selected, then you go back to the good of the army.
From Enlistment E-1 go to basic and AIT. Then go to jump school, put in for hometown recruiter, and then go to the 82nd Airborne division at Fort Bragg North Carolina.
After spending two years there you’ll be looking at E4, put in for Ranger school, after two years of being in the 82nd you have learned all of your basics of being an Infantryman. as a sergeant E5, go to jumpmaster school, once you complete the requirements for senior parachutist you were a star over your wings. Anybody that sees him knows that you’ve been a jump status somewhere.
as Master Sergeant Castaneda stated above, I’ll start looking around for other opportunities a bigger responsibilities or an airborne ranger. Maybe you need to go to the Ranger Battalion, or some otherSpecial Operations.

Don’t look too far forward in the future as you will stumble on the small stones in front of you. Enjoy your time in the military. Don’t look too far forward in the future as you will stumble on the small stones in front of you. Enjoy your time in the military, as it is part of the rest of your life. Don’t for sake your family and your children for your career. You will be Son, husband, father or, Grandpa to your extended family longer, but you were only be SGT Alex Rydholm for just a short time in the grand scheme of things.

HtH, AATW
Tim

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2020 1:47 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 01:47:58 -0400

You can also change MOS after a few years too.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2020 6:10 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 06:10:07 -0400

I have just over 4 years till retirement, I wouldn't want to do anything else. Now don't get me wrong, my body hurts somewhere more often then not, but it was totally worth it. Even with the pain I outperform 3/4 of the young ones gunning for my job.
The Infantry isn't as hard as it used to be anymore either. We used to just run 5 miles a day for PT, we were not even allowed in the gym. We have gotten alot smarter about our PT and how we do things in general.
As far as after military- SFC and up you are more managerial than anything. I'll retire with a BS in leadership and management and go for a job as a project manager. Is it an exact fit of what I'm doing now? Not quite, but pretty close.

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Mar 18 at 2020 7:04 AM

1SG Dennis Hicks — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 07:04:20 -0400

If by currently serving as an Infantryman is your sampling, you are thinking about this the wrong way. Just like there is no such thing as an Ex-Marine, you never really stop being an Infantryman. While you may not take long romantic walks in the dark carrying everything you were ever issued and then some while it rains/snows/scorches or freeze dries you you are still an Infantryman at heart. You will question your career choice the 3rd, 4th or 5th time you re-enter that swamp because the Platoon Leader can't navigate his way out of a paper bag with either a compass or a GPS.

Back when I joined being Infantry was considered the door prize that everyone qualified for by just breathing and we were looked down upon by all those MENSA MOS's. Weapons systems had those quote cartoon drawings, Mines had those helpful directional suggestions and you felt like command was talking with the short bus crowd daily. You never "SURVIVE" the Infantry, you get constant reminders right up to your dirt nap that you served as a grunt. The back, neck, hand, shoulder, hip, knee and ankle pain to name a few. These are just friendly reminders to bring your life choices to the front of your concussed mind. While promotions are fairly fast, you are expected to step up and lead sooner and for longer than many which takes t toll others ways. Every few decades it possible to lose that rank and gain it back with minimal career damage as your learn what works and what doesn't.

Depending on the Type of Infantry, Mech, Airborne, light etc you gain different perspectives as well as damage. You could say I survived over 35 years starting off as an Infantryman and ending as one with brief visits to other MOS's as needs of the Army and career advancement came into play. I have 15 years of Active duty and a little over 20 in the Reserves and I wouldn't trade the memories both good and bad for anything. Being Infantry made it possible to survive the most toxic and greatest leadership around, it madam laugh at bad weather as I go about my daily activities and it taught me how to make my work easier by critical thinking and goal achievement.

Lastly this can apply to many other MOS's and branches as each has their own defining characteristics as well as the good and bad things that occur. While this is my personal opinion based upon my experiences I believe that being an Infantryman better prepared me for life and dealing with problems , while most issues can be dealt with as it it were a tactical problem I have found that my time as a Staff NCO helped me develop a filter that prevented me in most cases from allowing my fowl language and direct thinking from being looked upon in horror by non military exployers and employees as well as the general public as I rage over some F-Tard that disrupts the harmony of the job.

And lastly being an Infantryman is a job/life choice that allows you to expend vast quantities of ammunition, explosives and mainly "SARCASM with like minded individuals and units and get paid for it while forming strong bonds with friends you can compare back pain with in your 60's as you try to outdo who has the worst service related gifts from Uncle Sam. As a bonus you also get to tell war stories about the most braindead Soldiers, NCO's and Officers you have run into while in and out of uniform as you try to beat others with their stories.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2020 8:34 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 08:34:56 -0400

Your wondering about retirement and you havent been to Basic Training yet? I like your optimism, but ... Your 5 meter target should be getting out of basic first.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Mar 18 at 2020 11:55 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 11:55:47 -0400

Change your MOS at first opportunity. After 3 to 5 years in infantry, move to an MOS supporting the combat arms such as logistics, transportation, maintenance, contracting, IT, supply. These MOS often have direct equivalent civilian jobs. Use the Army to build your training and education with experience outside of combat arms. Use your experience in combat arms to inform your work focusing on the Soldier.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2020 12:50 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 12:50:35 -0400

My opinion - as you gain rank your focus will move from being tactical to being strategic. You need to learn those two terms and what the differences are. And, IMHO, this is the biggest area of leadership failure, not being able to mentally move to more strategic thinking.

Your path options as you gain rank opens up for those that strategically look at their career. It is hard right now to envision but by the time you make Corporal you will have a better idea of which way to go. Training? Recruitment? Command Support Staff? Planning Support Staff? Warrant Officer? Commissioned Officer?

On the physical side, strength training, but not bulking up. Keep the joints and supporting muscles trained. An hour or so in the gym, 4 or 5 times a week will keep you there as long as you use a balanced weekly routine.

Now think of what it means to become a NFL player. Your hard knocks start around 9th grade and only intensify with each passing year for the next 20 years. They have to learn strategic thinking (Seahawks or Patriots? Usually the agent's job) as well as the tactical acumen (this guy is rushing me, do I juke left or right?). Like any other career you need to have a general idea of how you want to end it then work on the steps to navigate to that ending. Do you want to do 20 and get out? A full 30? Transition to a security company in 10, 20 or 30? End up in a white collar job? Go into politics?

Response by CPL Gary Pifer made Mar 18 at 2020 11:10 PM

CPL Gary Pifer — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 23:10:31 -0400

Learn a real skill... or play infantry in the National Guard... I didn't make it to Retirement... Over 160% VA disabled... deafness.. Bipolar 1... crosseyed double vision ...diabetes ... TBI... PTSD... heart failure... spent cartridge and so are all my buddies... 11B 19D...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2020 11:44 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 11:44:53 -0400

Just take care of yourself. Use the medical system when you actually need it, not just because something is sore. Take it seriously when you're young. My biggest regret is the amount of time I wasted as a Joe saying, I'm not staying in so why would I wanna do this, that, or the other. Doesn't matter if you're gonna be in for 3 years or 30 years, put everything you have into it, because at the end of the day your life could quite literally depend on it. Network while you're in. Get to know people, because somewhere down the line you may see them again, and you may both be able to provide help for each other. And most of all, just stay in shape. Hit the gym, get that extra ruck in, put on your kit even when your not in the field and do some PT in it. Let your body adapt to the extra stress before it becomes a shock and then you actually get a serious injury.

Response by Cpl Charles Trump made Mar 19 at 2020 12:12 PM

Cpl Charles Trump — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 12:12:58 -0400

I would say lay a path of progression, 20years as a grunt. I did 9.5 and got knee and back problems. But if your gonna reup into another MOS better to do a 3yr enlistment first. Get your infantry done, get your EIB/CIB Airborne etc. Then A. switch over to something you can use out here. B. Something that's easier on your body so you can do the next 20. Knees back problems are common for former grunts. What happens if you cant pass your PFT test? Then their gonna put you out then and you will never retire. Trust and believe SAM has no loyalty!

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Mar 19 at 2020 2:02 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 14:02:06 -0400

Well as someone who joined 11X and went on to retirement, I can tell you my secret....

RECLASS!!!
LOL

Response by MSgt Steven Smigelski made Mar 21 at 2020 11:49 AM

MSgt Steven Smigelski — Sat, 21 Mar 2020 11:49:51 -0400

Develop a taste for hot canteen water and bad food, get used to Motrin, and always ALWAYS look after your troops. Be tactically and technically proficient. When your troops trust you and your abilities they will go the limit for you.

Response by 1SG Andre Judkins made Apr 12 at 2020 8:01 PM

1SG Andre Judkins — Sun, 12 Apr 2020 20:01:18 -0400

I don’t believe infantry is a field you want to do 20 years straight in. Step away a go to Drill Sergeant School, instruct light infant course or instruct PLDC and BNCO. Get your degree because trust me you will need a second career after your military service is done.

Response by SSG Franklin Briant made Apr 26 at 2020 5:33 PM

SSG Franklin Briant — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 17:33:24 -0400

I did, it is hard to do as you advance in age but the only thing holding you back is yourself and injury.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2020 9:29 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 21:29:21 -0400

That is if your legs, back and feet will let you stay there

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 3 at 2020 10:40 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 22:40:39 -0400

Someone tell me if light and mechanized infantry are interchangeable.

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Sep 4 at 2020 1:33 AM

SSG Roger Ayscue — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 01:33:05 -0400

I retired Infantry....Mostly Airborne Units and well enough to survive what could have been a career ending injury.
My advice is simple. Do your job, do it well and....well....Do your job. In addition...NO, Just do your job better than anyone else you know. Try to be the best you can be.

Response by SGT Jake Ellison made Jan 14 at 2022 3:18 AM

SGT Jake Ellison — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 03:18:08 -0500

After playing college football and working labor jobs until my mid 20’s I got a late start in the Army. I am currently infantry but could not imagine retiring as an infantryman. I’ve already had shoulder surgery. I’m broken enough.