Do you want to be the main effort? Every Marine is a rifleman and every MOS exists to support the Infantry. The infantry is a challenging and exciting place for new lieutenants. You are responsible for leading Marines through rigorous training and preparing them for ground combat missions. You will be expected to plan, direct, and assist in the development of orders and tactical employment of subordinate infantry and reconnaissance units. Some tasks conducted by infantry officers are:

1. Gather and evaluate intelligence on enemy strength and position
2. Develop offensive and defensive battle plans
3. Coordinate with supporting units such as tanks, AAVs, aviation, or artillery
4. Direct the use of infantry weapons and equipment, such as mortars, machine guns, rockets, and antitank missiles
5. Develop and supervise unit training
6. Supervise the maintenance of infantry weapons and equipment
7. Direct administrative activities

This MOS is physically demanding and mentally challenging. You will be expected to lead your Marines from the front. Often you will find yourself making time-sensitive decisions without all the information you would like. While, there is no ideal list of attributes that guarantee success as an infantry officer some helpful attributes are the ability to lead and motivate others, willingness to accept a challenge and face danger, willingness to accept responsibility, and an interest in land battle history and strategy. As an infantry officer you will be out in the field for extended periods of time, often with little sleep or rest, so it is helpful to be physically fit. I strongly recommend that anyone interested in the infantry score at a minimum a 1^st Class PFT.

Duty Stations: There are 24 active duty infantry battalions and 3 active duty LAR battalions in the Marine Corps. Camp Lejeune has 9 infantry battalions and 1 LAR battalion. Camp Pendleton has 8 infantry battalions and 1 LAR battalion. Twentynine Palms has 4 infantry battalions and 1 LAR Battalion. Hawaii has 3 infantry battalions.

Deployments & Training: Training is the way of life for the infantry. You can expect to spend 6-10 days of every month in the field as you prepare for your deployment. When you’re not in the field you will conduct physical training, teach classes, conduct maintenance, and required administration. Most units go through a progressive cycle in training from individual to Battalion/MEU level. All infantry battalions deploy on a regular schedule either through the MEU (SOC) program or the Unit Deployment Program (UDP) to Okinawa, Japan. Deployment cycles are 6 months deployed followed by 18 months stateside. Hawaii units are the exception. They deploy for 7 months followed by 14 months. In addition, you’ll leave your home base for several shorter training deployments prior to going overseas, such as going to 29 Palms for the combined arms exercise (CAX), or Bridgeport, CA for mountain warfare training.

Billets: Normally new lieutenants are assigned as Rifle Platoon Commanders for a period of 12 months, although it is not uncommon to be assigned a Weapons Platoon. After this period you will usually become a Company Executive Officer, a Weapons Company Platoon Commander, or move to H&S Company, to be assigned to the Battalion staff. You can expect at least 1 deployment, although plans are being worked now to have more lieutenants stay in the fleet for two deployments. Your tour in the fleet will usually be between 24 and 36 months.

Being an Infantry Officer is an exciting and diverse career. You will be in the field, directly responsible for mission accomplishment, and the welfare of your subordinates. If you liked the old recruiting poster "we didn’t promise you a rose garden…" then you will like being an infantry officer, since this MOS requires you to be a leader of Marines.