15 12 Q&A Jocko's Opinions on 'Regular' Army Infantry

Jocko Podcast 15 - 00:56:31 - 01:02:09

Full List of Book from the Jocko Podcast:

[ethanmcfarland]

Special operations might be the tip of the spear, but the normal infantry is the Hammer!

[DJF]

If your in Marine Infantryman and Army Infantry, they don’t get a break, they don’t have a gym back in the rear, they live and operate in the most austere environments, and in many cases come to the aid of special ops guys who inadvertently gotten in over their heads. Nothing better than to have an infantry platoon having your back. At the end of the day it’s all about Fire Superiority.

[JacksonFive-rjso]

Former 11B here, warms my heart for Jocko to say this....

[cinf]

Every other mos in the military was developed as support for the infantry

[tylerbryanhead]

My family, friends, and a lot of other soldiers couldn't understand why I chose infantry with a 96 ASVAB. I knew I wanted to join the Army. When I, like most people, think of the Army I think of the Infantry. Why join the Army and not do the most Army thing? I could make a lot more money somewhere else, but I couldn't be infantry anywhere else. I'm out now on 80%, but it has improved my life. Going to use the GI bill to get a degree in forestry in AZ to eventually be a mounted (on a horse) park ranger soon and also train up to get my EMT cert and also be a wildland firefighter, maybe hotshot in the future. I just enjoy being at the forefront protecting and serving in my community.

[PawneeStormChaser]

Thanks for saying that JOCKO. I was an 11 bang bang with the 82nd Airborne for a while, needed to hear somebody say they believe in us. I genuinely met a lot of smart people. My unit was riddled with guys from 75th Ranger who were kicked out for stupid things, as a result I lived and worked with some real freaks. I’ll never forget it.

[brandondavis]

I was in the infantry in the streets of Iraq in 2004. I now have a blue cord tattooed on my body. God bless the infantry.

[samhain]

SF major told me on mission once that the most important job that had the most riding on its success in any war is the infantry. He said all jobs in the military, are there to directly or indirectly support those men both army and marines so they can move in and destroy the enemy. Surprised me that an SF soldier thought of us that way. Best brotherhood ever.

[shoff]

It’s mainly civilians that throw shade at grunts. But everyone has their jobs. Special operations is just that, for special missions ex hitting a hvt, hostage rescue etc. infantry is to solely to destroy the enemy.

[iemiranda]

Some of the most decorated soldiers in U.S. History were regular infantry. Alvin York, Gino Merli, Audy Murphy to name a few.

[upperroomtoo]

I remember a SEAL on Shawn Ryan podcast saying that his first tour in Iraq didn't see any real combat but that a line infantry unit just down the road from them were in constant firefights and IED strikes.

[ThePimpedOutPlatypus]

I started my career as a Medic with the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea. Then went Airborne and deployed to Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division. Then I went to grad school and became a Medical Officer with a SF Group.

God loves The Infantry, and so do I. The Infantry IS the Army, and as far as I see it, I was there to keep my Infantryman alive and well, and I am honored to have been in the position to do it.

Even though I eventually moved into the Special Operations world, I never lost my respect for The Infantryman.

[CombatMonkeyB]

Someone once asked me the difference between special operations and the infantry. I told them Special Operations are small teams with a wide skill set. The infantry is more built for direct combat action. Special operations will take a small team, sneak into a village, and try to grab a person. The infantry will destroy everything, then look for the remains of the person 😂

[davewebster]

Honestly, half the reason why infantry are unpopular is jealousy. As a remf myself, laying my head down at night, I knew I was a soldier, but I'm never getting a bronze star. They're exceptionally well trained compared to every other army. I have a Green Beret buddy I ran into in Korea and he was training with their SF. I asked how they compared to our guys. He said: "American Infantry is at the level South Korea's Special Forces are at." Because the Infantry trains in a very specific, limited skill set they get extremely good at it. "I fear not the man that knows 10, 000 kicks, but he that trained one kick 10, 000 times." After seeing what they've gone through overseas, melting all day in full-battle rattle humping their house around, that's tough and they did it all day every day. Infantry guys may be harder to motivate than my intel peeps, but once they get the scent of the enemy they will not stop until they complete their objectives. The other reason infantry is unpopular is their alpha male attitude. But in order to be combat arms you need that edge, that overconfidence. That's what keeps you in the fight. It makes total sense. My Drill Sergeant was infantry and he taught us WAY more cool stuff than any of the pog drill sergeants.
The sky is blue because God loves the Infantry.

[MochaA]

Heart felt appreciation Jocko from me a combat veteran 11B grunt and I did all 22 years a grunt bad times a good ones. Trust me I felt the same way as that letter. We don't get all the cool toys and coolest missions, and we do get the shit jobs but we pride in being grunts the ones then nation sends into the worst situations . Because grunts can take anything and keep going and we aim to win.

[Jacob-helg]

One great advantage special operations units have over conventional forces is their budgets. I don’t know if it ‘s true, but I heard the Navy Seals have the same budget for ammo as the entire Marine Corps. This alone will make the spec ops troops better. This is not meant as a slight to conventional United States infantry troops, they are among the most highly trained soldiers in the world.

[georgesykes]

There's an Excellent book that details Army and Marine Corps Infantry fighting alongside Navy SEALs in AL Anbar Province, Iraq. It's called The Sheriff of Ramadi.

[camrenhansen]

I was only a reservist but I always believed my job was to give the best advantage possible to 11 bravos. I always revere anyone who serves in the infantry. Both of my grandpas were Army infantry in WW2, one with a Purple Heart from fighting in the Philippines. I would never look down on the guys doing the grunt work.

[Roger-iliw]

A lot of high iq people go into infantry, because they want to fight and challenge themselves. Nothing wrong with infantry. It’s badass. Similar to how police get better training than most military jobs (outside of sof) but they are talked down upon.

[lucaspyle]

i was 11B in Iraq in 03-04 and 08-09. we do 13 months straight. had zero leave. our job was to walk around and draw fire, then delete the threat. It's way more dangerous than just hitting a target quick and back on base in a half hour. we lived off base. and took many casualties. beyond different that SOF guys. looking back. I think I need my head examined for the things i did.