Infantry Officer (11A)

• Officer
• Active Duty
• Closed to Women

The Infantry is the main land combat force and core fighting strength of the Army. It’s equally important during peacetime and in combat. The role of an Infantry Officer is to be a leader in operations specific to the Infantry and to lead others in all areas of land combat.

The responsibilities of an Infantry Lieutenant may include:

• Leading and controlling the Infantry and combined armed forces during land combat.
• Coordinating employment of Infantry Soldiers at all levels of command, from platoon to battalion and higher, in U.S. and multi-national operations.

Training:

Infantry Officer training includes completion of the Infantry Officer Basic Course (IOBC), where you will learn leadership skills, tactics, maintenance and operational aspects of weapons and vehicles used in an Infantry platoon. Your training will take place in classrooms and in the field. Infantry Officers can also volunteer for Airborne and Ranger School or for specific developmental assignments in Airborne and Ranger units.

Helpful Skills:

Being a leader in the Army requires certain qualities. A leader exhibits self-discipline, initiative, confidence and intelligence. They are physically fit and can perform under physical and mental pressures. Leaders make decisions quickly, always focusing on completing the mission successfully, and show respect for their subordinates and other military officers. Leaders lead from the front and adjust to environments that are always changing. They are judged by their ability to make decisions on their own and bear ultimate moral responsibility for those decisions.

Advanced Responsibilities:

Beyond the Captain level, Infantry Officers may continue in the Operations career field, serving in the Infantry at ever increasing levels of leadership and responsibility. The Operations career field supports the deployment, employment of land forces, and is composed of additional functional areas: Psychological Operations/Civil Affairs and Logistician.

Infantry Officers can also decide to serve in other career fields, such as the Information Operations career field, which manages the many forms of information flows during Army operations.

Responsibilities of an Infantry Captain may include:

• Commanding and controlling the Infantry and combined armed companies and company-sized units (200-300 Soldiers).
• Coordinating employment of Infantry Soldiers at all levels of command, from company to division level and beyond, in U.S. and multi-national operations.
• Developing doctrine, organizations and equipment for unique Infantry missions.
• Instructing Infantry skills at service schools and combat training centers.
• Serving as Infantry advisor to other units, including Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve organizations.