The US Army puts infantry on the front lines | Halek Hossain

 

FORT KNOX, Ky. - U.S. The Army is offering a signing bonus of up to $39,000 to individuals who choose the infantry as a career path and undergo training within 30 days of enlistment. Those who want to take their training to the next level with the Ranger option can take another $10,000.

The infantry plays a critical role in the U.S. military's ability to defend the nation and serves as the first line of defense in ground combat against adversaries. "Infantry soldiers understand that their job is to look our nation's enemies in the eye before they take away their ability to harm the United States." Gen. Larry Burris, commandant of the United States Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. "Only a certain person can do this, a person who is confident in himself, a person who has the spirit and drive to win - physically, mentally and emotionally, yet always willing to learn."

Once enlisted, the first step for future soldiers is one station unit training at Fort Benning, Georgia. After 22 weeks of combined basic and advanced training, individuals go to their first duty station as new infantrymen. "The infantryman is the backbone of our nation's ground forces," Burris said. "From day one, we train these dedicated, highly fit and qualified professionals to move into danger rather than away from it."

The infantry is a mentally and physically demanding profession, and soldiers must be able to use critical thinking skills quickly under pressure. To qualify for the infantry, an applicant must score at least 87 on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. They must pass a rigorous professional physical assessment test.

In addition to early enrollment incentives, Soldiers are eligible for up to $4,000 in tuition assistance per year to pursue higher education opportunities in their field of choice, along with a competitive benefits package including health care, housing and meal allowances, and diverse families. Support program. "Army values ​​and discipline, those are just two of the hundreds of virtues of being an infantryman," said Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Robles-Rodriguez, an infantryman currently serving as an Army recruiter in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

A career in the infantry often begins with many well-known advanced schools, including Airborne School, Sniper School, Pathfinder School, and Special Forces.