Infantry

Background

The infantry is the main land combat force of the military. In peacetime, the infantry's role is to stay ready to defend our country. In combat, the role of the infantry is to capture or destroy enemy ground forces and repel enemy attacks. Infantry personnel operate weapons and equipment to engage and destroy enemy ground forces.

What They Do

Infantry personnel perform some or all of the following duties:

• Carry out scouting missions to spot enemy troop movements and gun locations
• Dig foxholes, trenches, and bunkers for protection against attacks
• Drive vehicles mounted with machine guns or small missiles
• Operate communications and signal equipment to receive and relay battle orders
• Operate, clean, and store automatic weapons, such as rifles and machine guns
• Parachute from troop transport airplanes while carrying weapons and supplies
• Perform hand-to-hand combat drills that involve martial arts tactics
• Set up camouflage and other protective barriers

Physical Demands

The infantry has very demanding physical requirements. Infantry personnel must perform strenuous physical activities, such as digging foxholes, climbing over obstacles, and marching while carrying equipment. They also need good hearing and clear speech to use two-way radios, and good night vision and depth perception to see targets and signals.

Special Requirements

No information available.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful attributes include:

• Ability to stay in top physical condition
• Interest in working as a member of a team
• Readiness to accept a challenge and face danger

Helpful School Subjects

No information available.

Helpful Fields of Study

No information available.

Work Environment

Because infantry personnel must be prepared to go anywhere in the world they are needed, they work and train in all climates and weather conditions. During training exercises, as in real combat, infantry personnel work, eat, and sleep outdoors. Most of the time, however, they work on military bases.

Services offering this career:

• Army
• Marine Corps
• Navy

Hiring Practices

To serve in the military, a person must be at least 17; the maximum age for enlistment varies. To enlist, a person must pass a physical exam and an aptitude test. An enlistee must also meet military standards of discipline and be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.

This position is for enlisted personnel.

Wages

The military is competitive with the civilian world when it comes to pay and benefits. All branches offer the same basic pay and benefits.

Pay depends mainly on rank or grade as well as length of service. Bonuses and the situation in which the person is serving (for example: flight duty, sea duty, hazardous duty) also affect pay. 

Cost-of-living increases usually occur every year, based on inflation. The military also pays allowances for food, clothing, and housing. All these factors combined are called Regular Military Compensation (RMC). They should all be considered when comparing military pay to civilian pay.

There are two main parts to RMC: basic pay and allowances. There are also additional incentives for special abilities, training, or hazardous duty.

Check out the RMC Calculator to calculate your RMC based on your inputs.

Training Provided

Infantry training starts with basic training of about seven or eight weeks. Advanced training in infantry skills lasts for another eight weeks. While some of the training is in the classroom, most is in the field under simulated combat conditions. In reality, training for an infantry soldier never stops. Infantry soldiers keep their skills sharp through frequent squad maneuvers, target practice, and war games. War games conducted without live ammunition allow soldiers to practice scouting, troop movement, surprise attack, and capturing techniques.

Civilian Counterparts

Although the job of infantry personnel has no equivalent in civilian life, the close teamwork, discipline, and leadership experience it provides are helpful in many civilian jobs.

Employment and Outlook

In peace time the services have about 68,000 personnel in infantry positions. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new infantry soldiers due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. Leadership ability and job performance are the main factors for advancement in the infantry. Those who have the ability to motivate, train, and supervise others assume greater responsibility.