Army Infantry Career - Essay Example

Chandrakant Mallya March 31, 2007 Army Infantry Career In the Army Infantry Career, if an individual enters on graduation, the commitment is for a total period of 8 years, out of which 5 years on active duty and the next three years as reserve, if you choose not to continue on active duty. Mostly the children of the Army Officers choose the same career as that of their father, if he was in he army. On many occasions, the same branch as well! You choose the branch of your choice, from among Field Artillery, Armor, Infantry, and Air Defense Artillery etc. You have the opportunities to rise to higher positions and higher responsibilities in the branch that you choose. Apart from the mere academic achievements, the leadership qualities count a lot in the infantry. The types of students required by the Army are those who are good athletes as well, with potentiality to shape into good leaders. If you decide not to serve beyond the agreed 5 years, there is lot of demand, scope and respect for the ex-Commissioned Officers. You are assured of senior positions in business, especially on the technical and security areas, and thereafter you will have no problems about supporting the family. Women are not allowed to join the Infantry. Infantry Officers and men wear Army uniform according to the environment of their operation. The training is an all-environment training, such as mountain, desert, tropical and temperate. They are well trained to live off the land when then occasion arises. The training is intensive as well as extensive. That includes developing an ordinary individual into a tough Ranger/Officer in which they are trained to navigate, conduct clandestine combat missions in deserts, mountains, swamps and temperate terrains. You rise to different ranks that are part of the military hierarchy. The Infantrymen fight with any joint combat unit as required by the mission. They may be regular Army, Navy Seals, Special Operations teams, UNO assignments, Marines etc. (Epand) How to seek the Infantry Career: Recruitment at the entry level, Ranger is through US Military Recruiters. They are fully conscious of their duties and obligations, dedicated to the basic values of their service; they are a hardworking lot and tough professionals. The job of the recruiter is to find and provide qualified volunteers for a particular branch or service. This is, and has to be straightforward because it is concerned with the most important aspect relating to the existence of the Nation, its security! Let us say, for the recruiter it is his business as well. Any business man wants his business to prosper. It is a number game also. When the pressure from the superior authorities is intense to get a fixed number of volunteers, and when sufficient eligible candidates are not forthcoming, the Recruiter then tries other alternatives. They plan to make ineligible enlistment of volunteers to be severely reprimanded and punished at any stage, if they are caught. It is crime for the recruiter as well as the volunteer to cheat and lie. Unethical practices will take the career of a Ranger to a dead end. Enthusiasm is okay, but over-enthusiasm is not desirable when you decide to seek entry to the infantry career. It is a good career, but the tough one. You need to know the truth of joining the military, the advantages and the disadvantages. Military service is not for everyone. Statistics reveal that about 40% of recruits will not complete their full term. Because the infantry branch was not what they thought to be! The recruiters also did not give them correct information. (What the Recruiter) So, before enlisting for the army infantry career, make a thorough study about all the details about choosing a Military Service, meeting the recruiter, the enlistment process and job selection, enlistment contracts and enlistment incentives, military pay, housing allowance and barracks, food allowance, education programs, leave and job training, assignments, promotions, the medical care, commissaries and exchanges, morale, welfare and recreation activities. The Job of the Infantry Commissioned Officer: This Branch is closed for women. Branch description: Encompasses positions concerned with the training and tactical employment of Infantry units, Infantry soldiers, and combined arms units. Evaluates intelligence, estimates situa­tions, and formulates decisions. Coordinates employment of unit with other units. Commands attached elements. Directs communications, location and construction of Infantry positions and ground obstacles, and camouflaging of positions and equipment. Directs operation and employment of Infantry weapons and equipment such as rifles, machine guns, mortars, hand grenades, rocket launchers, recoilless rifles, armored personnel carriers and Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle. Directs training, administration, supply, maintenance, transportation and security activities of Infantry units. Branch qualifications: DA Pam 600-3 lists qualification criteria for entry and professional development in this branch. Description of duties: Commands or assists the commander in commanding an Infantry unit. Serves in positions requiring general infantry experience. Special qualifications: Must have completed the Infantry Of­ficer Basic Course and/or possess the basic knowledge necessary for successful operations in an infantry unit gained through additional training or experience. Special grading of positions: (a) The Recon Platoon Leader in a Ranger Regiment will be graded CPT. (b) The Chief, Leadership Training Program (LTP), at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC), Ft Polk, LA will be graded LTC. (c) The company commander in the Alaskan National Guard Scout Battalion will be graded MAJ. (Commissioned) Departments and the operational facts about infantry: Infantry is the sterling segment of the army. Working in the infantry is not for the chicken hearted. The Infantry offers a unique lifestyle-it has something special! Excitement, good money, great training that make you a tough and sturdy individual, lot of travel from day one! Naturally your fellow Rangers will be your friends for life. Infantry has several departments. They are: 1. Light Role: A highly versatile, independent and specialized force for tough environments. 2. Armored: The backbone of infantry. It has tremendous firepower. It is a highly mobile, fast moving force. 3. Mechanized: Ever ready for action. They must reach where they are needed at short notice. 4. Air Assault: They strike first to clear the path for other units to attack and advance. 5. Training: The training that you get is one of the best. It will be useful not only for your army-life, but for your post-release career and activities as well. (US Army Infantry) Army Infantry Career world over: The mode or training for the infantrymen in any country is more or less the same. But the pay and perquisites naturally vary from one country to another. The level of training will also depend upon, how best the technology has advanced in the country. For, the technical power of the infantryman in USA can not be the same as that of an infantryman in Iraq. In UK, the infantryman has a very special demeanor and treatment. He is known as the Royal Green Jackets Infantry Soldier. Some of the specialties of this Regiment are, it was the first Regiment to introduce camouflage in to the British Army. This Regiment also introduced “Skirmishing” in the attack. This infantry soldier is known as the Rifleman. For getting selected as a Rifleman, you need to be a tough individual, and you must like challenging situations. The special quality marked is surprisingly, the sense of humor! The training provided to you is indeed extraordinary. Machine-guns, anti-tank missiles, fighting on foot or in armored vehicles. You may be deployed anywhere in the world. Not only you get good salary as per time scale, you are assured of a job after you are disengaged from service, on completion of the term. “You will be treated on merit, whatever your race, color or creed. The Regiment has a proud tradition of fair employment and strongly upholds a policy against discrimination. The Army is committed to being an Equal opportunities Employer.” (The Royal Green) Works Cited Epand, Victor. "An Army Rangers Career: Experts Perspective." EzineArticles 16 February 2007. 30 March 2007 . Powers, Rod. “What the Recruiter Never Told You.” About: US Military N.D. 30 March 2007 http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/joiningup/a/recruiter.htm Powers, Rod. “Army Commissioned Officer Job - Infantry (11).” About: US Military N.D. 30 March 2007 http://usmilitary.about.com/od/officerjob1/l/blinfantry.htm The Royal Green Jackets Infantry Soldier. EG Frames. 30 March 2007 http://www.egframes.co.uk/CDRECRUIT.htm US Army Infantry Homepage, Fort Benning, Georgia. 30 March 2007 https://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/ Read More