Hey, talked to my dad who is an ex-marine reservist and he is willing to help me study for the asvab by splitting the costs of the books for it and sitting down with me to take the practice asvab to better understand what I may be getting wrong as far as math and mechanics go.
However, he is really pushing non-combat orientated Mos's for two reasons: to not get shot at, and to have a better chance at getting a great job when I get out. However, my gut is telling me to go infantry, not for any glory or to tell my friends and family about all the gunfights i've been in (if I ever see combat), but for..the experience of being in the infantry I guess. Its kind of hard to explain, it feels like something I would have more pride in doing. Don't get me wrong, I know all MOS's are important and there is no reason to not be proud to be in any one of them, but to me it just seems right.

Hopefully I don't come off as anybody immature for asking this or for going into infantry for this reason, like I said, I'm not doing it for the combat, or glory, because I know that I could be killed or lose a limb. Not to leave out the fact that from my understanding, being shot just plain hurts like nothing else that I can imagine.

My plan is to join the Army as infantry till my contract is up, then re-sign the contract as Military Intelligence systems maintainer/intergrator. If my asvab score is high enough and/or my GED would allow me to do so. Any advice? Thanks once again for your help and time.

quote:

Originally posted by 17569172:
Hey, talked to my dad who is an ex-marine reservist and he is willing to help me study for the asvab by splitting the costs of the books for it and sitting down with me to take the practice asvab to better understand what I may be getting wrong as far as math and mechanics go.
However, he is really pushing non-combat orientated Mos's for two reasons: to not get shot at, and to have a better chance at getting a great job when I get out. However, my gut is telling me to go infantry, not for any glory or to tell my friends and family about all the gunfights i've been in (if I ever see combat), but for..the experience of being in the infantry I guess. Its kind of hard to explain, it feels like something I would have more pride in doing. Don't get me wrong, I know all MOS's are important and there is no reason to not be proud to be in any one of them, but to me it just seems right.

Hopefully I don't come off as anybody immature for asking this or for going into infantry for this reason, like I said, I'm not doing it for the combat, or glory, because I know that I could be killed or lose a limb. Not to leave out the fact that from my understanding, being shot just plain hurts like nothing else that I can imagine.

My plan is to join the Army as infantry till my contract is up, then re-sign the contract as Military Intelligence systems maintainer/intergrator. If my asvab score is high enough and/or my GED would allow me to do so. Any advice? Thanks once again for your help and time.

Your dad isnt the one who will be doing the job you are. Pick the job you want not your father. My husband is going to do Infantry after everyone tryed to talk him out of a combat job. They finally realized he is the one who makes his career choice. Do what you want to do! This is your career choice don't let someone else pick it for you, regardless of who it is. My husbands dad repeatedly tells him go Navy but his choice was Army and Infantry he leaves Monday and has no regrets.

As for the switching MOS I got crap about that so I'll tell you what I was told. You cant look into the future that job might not be there and available to you at the time you are ready to enlist, or you might not qualify for that job. Again went through it on this website. Husband signed for Infantry and was going to switch to MP after his 3 years and 17 weeks was up. So pick which one you would really like to do. If your heart is set on Infantry then do it. If its more set on the Military Intelligence systems maintainer/intergrator then I'd go with that to start out with.

Do what you want to do with your whole military career just for that reason you might not be able to switch when the time comes.

No need to waste money on the books.
you can check out ASVAB for Dummies and other ASVAB books at your local librairy.

The home page of this website-Military.com has an ASVAB section with 3 different practice tests. You can also take a practice test at the Recruiters office.

Pick a job you will enjoy doing.
If being a wimp behind a desk is your thing, go for it. If not, there are a lot of good ones out there.

As for the ASVAB. Listen to what wendell said. Lots of free stuff out there so don't waste your money on the books. Something else you can do is go down to the recruiting station. They will probably be more than willing to help you out. After all, you pass the ASVAB with a good school you enlist right? The key score you are looking to get as high as you can is your GT score. Anything over 110 and every job in the military is open to you.

As far as the job you want. I agree with what everyone else said. Your the one going to be doing it, so pick what you want. I'm Active Duty Infantry this very moment. 8 years in. Wouldn't change a thing. I love this job. 98% of is sucks, but the 2% that is fun makes up for the 98 thats not. If you want to change your MOS after your first contract that is a fairly common thing. Just keep your eye on the job you want to make sure there is an opening for it. Good luck on your ASVAB.

I'm going to agree with Gruntpain here. I was an Artillery forward observer in multiple light infantry units for my first four years. I made a HUGE mistake when I re-classed to a pogue (non combat) MOS. I had maxed my ASVAB out, and just thought it would be cool to do something else. I had fast tracked to E-5 and was really digging the Army, so I re-upped and re-classed. When I got to Military Intelligence everything changed, a bunch of miserable, fat, weak and unmotivated S***bags there. What sucked is that they wouldn't let me go back to the line, and what REALLY sucked is the few tough soldiers, who wanted to actually be soldiers were stuck there also. I knew one E-4 who managed to bail out and become a cavalry scout and he still sends me e-mails thanking me for convincing him that going combat arms would be worth it.

In the infantry you will make the best friends, you will have far superior leadership and experience, and you will have a lot more fun. Huge live fire exercises, ranges, and the all around tempo will definitely give you pride. Tell your dad that everyone is getting shot at, but on the line you actually have a chance to kill your attacker instead of just stepping on the gas and shooting out the window.

Benefits are great, and a lot of guys join for the benefits alone and do just fine. But if you are joining because you WANT to be a soldier then stick with combat arms, you'll know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you're in the Army.

Thank you for all your help guys. Sorry I didn't reply sooner been really busy helping one of my uncle's getting his car running.

Maldo, you hit the nail on the head, I really want to be a soldier, plus working with weapons on a regular basis sounds more fun to me than working intelligence or repairing air and land vehicles. That is, if I am right to assume that I wouldn't be doing that in anything other than combat arms.

Now, here is something I have always been curious about, and I only ask this because I couldn't find anywhere else that would explain it. I've seen videos of BCT that everyone goes through when they enlist. When going in infantry what does their AIT consist of? I imagine its a bit different than BCT.

AIT is rolled into one long stay at "beautiful" Fort Benning. Its called OSUT. Basically you will be at a longer basic training which focuses on your combat tasks and Infantry tactics. If it is still anything like it was 7 years ago you will notice it is different when you start road marching with a 35 lb rucksack and pass up non Infantry recruits road marching in nothing but their digs, LCE, and weapon.

11B Infantry AIT is also one of the shortest AIT's the Army offers.

Nobody says that here but it's true.

Total of about 4 weeks of actual AIT training after the week or two of barracks maintence and equipment turn in is removed. For 11B it's actually 3 weeks. The fourth week is for 11C (and formerly 11H) during which time the 11B's have kind of a repetitive reinforcement tasks on the training schedule and the extra week was really put in there for 11B's so everyone can graduate together as one training company.

I hope I don't catch flak for saying that but it was true in the early 1980's at least and I am going to bet it's true today.

So really 3 weeks for 11B with the 1 week filler and barracks maintenence / turn-in removed. You do train that fourth week as 11B but I'm not sure it's needed because you really do not cover anything that a 11C (or formerly 11H) does not get or that cannot be had at your first unit assignment.

If you look at the Ft. Benning website link above they have a sample 11 series OSUT training schedule in there somewhere.

I remember when I went through there might as well not have been an AIT portion at all. It was all seemless. There was never a point where the Drills said "Your BCT portion is now complete, you are now beginning Infantry AIT". You just focus on your Infantry tasks the whole time. Its like an extended BCT. Thats all.

BCT has changed a lot in the last few years as well. Lets remember that. Its very diferent than when I went through. And I'm guessing its even more so different than when Erich went through. Just keep that in mind when you are processing this information in your head.

Oh I see, I appologize for all the relentless questions. I got a cousin that had just gone in this year, he got in for all the wrong reasons. To get out of debt, he thought he would be bringing in more money than he would at this point and so far he is hating the military life and is trying to get out of it. I can almost guarantee ya he did no research whatsoever, just picked a mos that he decided he wouldn't mind doing and that would keep him out of combat. He is currently working in chopper maintenence.

To be honest I don't want to end up like him hating the job im doing or having something surprise me such as pay. If I remember correctly the recruiter promised him about $875.00 a month and he is getting payed $500.00. Any thoughts on this?

Even the lowest grade in the Army makes something like 1200 dollars a month. The only reason he would be making 500 dollars is ifhe broke something and has to pay for it, or did some other knuckle head thing to get his pay taken away. Could be the rest of the money is going towards a nice healthy drinking habit. Thats where most of mine went.

Remember also that 1200 dollars a month might not seem like much, but you dont pay rent or utilities and your meals (3 square a day) are all free as well. All you should have to pay for is internet and cable if you want it.

Joining up for the money is definately the wrong reason. If he is only getting $500, then he is paying out for something, allotments for his old bills whatever. The guy is just blaming his problems on someone else. Not uncommon. The army helps some people grow up. Doesn't work for everybody.

Oh i see, yea he does have a lot of bills to pay for, and from what I heard from his parents who he keeps in touch with, is trying whatever he can to get out. He is a cool guy but a real knuckle head. So I bet your right azmax64, just shifting blame on someone else.

Luckily im not going in for the money, but I'm pretty sure y'all understand wanting to know how much to expect.

I completely understand what your saying runfuret, while I was working as a dishwasher for a hospital I was pulling in on average $500.00 a week and thats after taxes. Worked well for me till I got fired lol, good thing I decided against getting an apartment.

Now my dad was telling me that while he was in the Marines he had to pay for his dress blues. Does that hold true for the Army to the best of your knowledge? If so, what other general things would I have to purchase if needed? I can't imagine having to purchase a lot since the military gives you all the essentials.

Currently yes, you have to buy your dress blues out of your own pocket. As an enlisted Soldier you would not be required to have them though. They are optional. You may have noticed that the Army green uniform is going away though. Beginning in 2009 all new recruits will be issued the Army Service Uniform or ASU, which are basically dress blues with a few minor changes. The only other things you should have to buy during basic training are basic toiletries and running shoes which you will be given advance pay (usually on a card) to purchase when you arrive.

quote:

Originally posted by runfuret:
There was never a point where the Drills said "Your BCT portion is now complete, you are now beginning Infantry AIT".

There was for us. We didn't graduate or anything, but almost everybody got an overnight pass.

I filled sandbags while they went on pass because I was a "worm dirt user".


To the original guy, I know almost what you're going through. My dad thought it was a great idea for me to be Infantry.

Nearly everybody else I knew thought I was crazy. I had real good grades in school and high test scores. Everybody from MEPS to my teachers tried to talk me out of it.

I wanted to be Infantry, and I was. I'm glad I was. If you're supposed to be Infantry, you probably already know it. Don't listen to other people.

There's plenty of time to re-train when you get out if you want. I never understood why so many people are obsessed with getting "job skills" in the military. I wanted military skills. There's plenty of time and college money to re-train in something else. Meanwhile, do something you can only do in the military. Most civilian employers don't care what skills you got in the military. They want civilian training anyway. Why waste your time in the Army?

Also, I thought the pay was great. I was only making about $1100/mth as an E-4 over four my last time in, too. I always had money in my pocket and money to blow. I also sent home an allotment of several hundred into a savings account my whole time. I travelled (a lot), drank (a lot), ran around with women of varying character (a whole lot), bought nice things (guitar/stereo/camera...the usual), had my truck at home completely re-built to show condition, and still had cash. A lot of guys never have any money, but a lot of guys are stupid with their money in the military. Some things I never did was: get married or get a girl knocked up, get into too much debt, gamble, buy vehicles I couldn't afford, or spend money I didn't have. I always had money. I went to the Oktoberfest in Munich by myself twice because I was the only one with any money. I don't even know where some of those guys blew all their money because I was sometimes known to spend $100 in a night of drinking over there. I went in with no debt and got out with no debt and a large bank account.

Don't get married, live in the barracks, eat in the chow hall, and you'll have plenty of money. I did everything I wanted to do and got out with about fifteen grand in the bank.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: PepeLep,

The Infantry isn't for everyone , but if you feel it in your gut , then go for it.

I never wanted to be one of those guys that said ' I wonder if I would have done this...Blah Blah blah ..."


As far the difference between Basic and AIT

My Drill Sgt had us all in formation one day and said " welcome to AIT ,, DROP!"

quote:

Originally posted by PepeLep:
There was for us. We didn't graduate or anything, but almost everybody got an overnight pass.

It's still that way, it's called Family Day now. If your family doesn't show up you still get the overnight pass as before and your still restricted to Class B or A uniform.

The whole definition of OSUT thing I think is splitting hairs. I'm more old ways and like to tie new to the past BUT in this case the current OSUT break in training is so similar and differences so minor it's not worth arguing over particulars of OSUT terminology.

I also still call fighting positions foxholes even though they were called fighting positions in 1982. It's because I served in Germany and I could see the foxholes from WWII in places at times. If you said fighting positions on a old battlefield with older vets you will lose them.

runfuret is correct the tasks within the program have changed a lot over time. In some cases it is just a name change with a few tweaks in other cases entire blocks of instruction have been added or dropped. However, I stand by my original comment that AIT for 11B is only 3 weeks at the most and if you removed it from the course you would just have Infantry Basic. Infantry AIT for the NG in some states is only 2 weeks I read. After WTC (which is generic basic training for everyone), they add you to Infantry OSUT right before Family Day to do the AIT part (which is NOT called AIT....it's true).

I read in the WTC forum that it is a mismatch and it's not exactly the same and you miss parts of Infantry basic BUT the Army considers that good enough because you can catch up at your first unit in most cases.

The other point I would mention is that 11B training for the most part is refined and greatly added to at your first unit. OSUT at Ft. Benning is largely just an introduction, it has always been that way. So the content discussion is largely probably a moot point. I think you could probably skip half of Infantry OSUT and still train up with your first unit OK. It would be more difficult but not impossible.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ErichG2,

Family day for me was at the end of the cycle.

My Boss was a Grunt in Vietnam (196th Inf Bde), Ft Polk Class of '69. "Tiger Land." Guys were going straight from Polk to Vietnam.
I went to Infantry AIT at Polk in '74. A lot of difference in those 5 years. I got the quick overall view, it was expected I would learn to be a Grunt once I got to Ft Bragg.