Infantry Officers

Background

In peacetime, the infantry stays ready to defend the country anywhere in the world. In combat, the infantry is deployed to capture or destroy enemy forces on the ground and to repel enemy invasions. Infantry officers direct, train, and lead infantry units.

What They Do

Infantry officers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Coordinate plans with armor, artillery, and air support units
• Develop and supervise infantry unit training
• Develop offensive and defensive battle plans
• Direct administrative activities
• Direct construction of bunkers, fortifications, and obstacles to support and camouflage infantry positions
• Direct the use of infantry weapons and equipment, such as machine guns, mortars, rocket launchers, and armored personnel carriers
• Gather and evaluate intelligence on enemy strength and positions

Physical Demands

Infantry officers must meet the same demanding physical requirements as the infantrymen they command. They must be in excellent physical condition to perform strenuous activities over long periods of time, sometimes without sleep or rest.

Special Requirements

A four-year college degree is normally required to enter this career. 

Helpful Attributes

Helpful attributes include:

• Ability to motivate and lead others
• Interest in land battle history and strategy
• Willingness to accept a challenge and face danger

Helpful School Subjects

No information available.

Helpful Fields of Study

Helpful fields of study include:

• Business administration
• Engineering
• History
• Physical education
• Public administration

Work Environment

Because infantry officers must be prepared to lead their troops anywhere in the world that the infantry is needed, they work and train in all climates and weather conditions. During training exercises, as in real combat situations, infantry officers work, eat, and sleep outdoors and in tents. When not in the field, infantry officers perform administrative and management duties in offices.

Services offering this career:

• Army
• Marine Corps

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 officers.

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

Job training consists of eight to 14 weeks of classroom instruction and field training under simulated combat conditions. Training length varies depending on specialty.

Course content typically includes:

• Infantry leadership roles
• Infantry squad and platoon tactics
• Modern offensive and defensive combat techniques

Civilian Counterparts

Although the job of infantry officer has no equivalent in civilian life, the leadership and administrative skills it provides are similar to those used in many civilian managerial careers.

Employment and Outlook

In peace time the services have about 7,000 infantry officers. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new infantry officers due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After job training, infantry officers are assigned to infantry units as platoon leaders. They direct training and tactical exercises for war games. Advancement in the infantry is based on ability to lead. Infantry officers with proven ability to lead may assume command positions.