Retired 11B, 18B and 18Z here... You're goddamn right son! I came from the infantry, and I always made sure the guys on my team gave due respect to our conventional infantry support when we had them.
As a retired 91W combat medic was assigned to Infantry. Honestly, was the BEST assignment I ever had. Airborne was good also. Did medivac but being assigned to Infantry? PRICELESS!! LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!
The infantry should certainly get a lot more respect. 100%. The thing is, people also look in and see that when they're not deployed they're being forced to paint rocks, do stupid shit in the motorpool, mop up the rain when it's raining, and otherwise get treated like a mentally deficient 6 year old.
@@ValhallaVFTwould you say that for someone out there who disliked being an infantryman (11B) and being in the conventional Army, that they would also dislike being a green beret? Thank you.
i was an 0311 my self and i think again like stated in the video, most people get they're understanding of infantry from movies and video games most movies that show regular infantry are either ww2 or ww1 and show human wave attacks which for one isn't even historically accurate, and even in for example American sniper there are tons of scenes that portray marine corps infantry almost like scared children or people who are conscripted last minute with no training what so ever. thats my cope and im sticking to it thanks for coming to my ted talk.
@@ValhallaVFTI heard that from my brother in 3rd SFGA. He said at one point, they were in their class A uniforms doing inspections of the support battalion barracks for Payday Activities.
@@SemperSometimesProductionsI agree. I was Army infantry and I hate the portrayal of regular infantry in movies. Especially American Sniper, right? Marine grunts won Falluja! Chris Kyle didn't win the battle singlehandedly, or even contribute that much to the overall success of the battle. Marines won that battle, not the SEALs. Marine grunts are not scared kids or untrained morons. Our infantry, whether Army or Marines, hasn't lost an engagement at the tactical level since Vietnam.
A 7th group Sergeant Major told me alot of "special missions" are to support Infantry operations. His exact words was " we support hard men, doing hard things"
As an airborne infantryman and Afghanistan combat vet I appreciate you validating all the bitching we as an MOS do. We still get the job done but nobody knows the plight of the infantry like the infantry 😂
The Outpost was a nice breath of fresh air, the movie really showed how regular guys were able to accomplish extraordinary things with the shittiest odds stacked against them. The 2 MOH recipients from that battle weren’t even infantrymen, they were Cavalry Scouts.
@@Kraken_316kinda not really, cav is meant to be a mobile force whether that’s walking or driving. Cavs role is supposed to ahead of the main army as a buffer and trickle intelligence back to give enough time for the infantry to adjust. Now if they’re used that way .. up to the big chiefs.
@@MbisonBalrog Vehicle based unit... Cavalry units throughout history have been the mobile vehicle based (or horse based as they where before the 20th century) fighting units who also scout enemy positions
You’ll see a lot of POGs claim they were infantry or claim they were “basically infantry” but you’ll be hard pressed to find an infantryman who claims they were a POG.
They do claim that POG shit when they scramble to lie on their resumè. It's probably why exgrunts always end up selling coffee or t-shirts online, like some school kid selling shit lemonade at a stand. haha 😢
@@cristobalalvarez5491 I admit some certain individuals because they were attached to combat units did see action, however majority of non combat mos's never see combat, which doesn't take anything from them, its just simply facts.
I graduated with a 4.0 for my Masters degree, I have a College World Series ring, and I rose pretty high up the corporate ladder before 30. However my proudest achievement is earning my infantryman’s Blue Cord. It’s not that only a select few can do it; rather, it’s that only a select few choose to do it. Being a light fighter was quite the honor!
It was great to see that I wasn't the only 1 who decided to get a masters degree and then went to 11B at 28! Did you hear all the bullshit of "why aren't you going into OCS first to"?
Thank you for being so genuine. Infantry does soo much of the heavy lifting and gets so little recognition. Hollywood... It's superb that you are one of the only SOF guys that are giving props to the grunts. Thanks!Hooyah!
I'm duel branch. Enlisted in the Marine Corps in 99. I wanted to be Marine Infantry since i was 9. Explicitly told my recruiter that but low and behold i never got my orders to SOI. Spent 8 yrs of my prime years as a POG and decided to get out because i couldnt live like that. 15 months later i decided to go back and get my 0311 but the corps wanted to take a rank from me due to an 11 month stipulation. I decided to go next door. Went to the Army and became an 11b Airborne and served in a LRS unit. I just could not die without saying i was infantry! Its simply the only thing ive ever wanted in life! Semper Fi!!!
Bro I’m 27 and I hate how i never joined at 19 army active or atleast national Gaurd infantry anything infantry but got side tracked for years and helped a friend at work for years telling them I want to join the army past 6 years 21 I was saying to myself it will happen soon now it’s another 6 years idk if I can anymore and the vaccines and new policies that might deter my enlistment and old age
The Corps is it's own worst enemy. Lawyer I worked with at the DA and private practice was a 0351 before school wanted to go back in as an officer and the Corps said he was too old...went to a NG SF Group and was commissioned as a JAG Capt just to get him in the door. Did you look into the Marine Reserves? Not widespread but POGs could get retrained as 0311s and Weapons MOS. We had a couple show up at 4th Recon and they did well. If their MOS fit into the H &S T/O then they were SOL.
@@4threconmarine this was back in 2008. If I could do it all over again I would have taken the hit on my rank and just went in as a corporal. I also didn't know anything about the army when I joined and had no idea about ranger regiment. If I had known that I would have gone that route as well. Before I went to airborne I was on a hold. I had one of the instructors ask me straight up if I wanted to go to selection which I did but I was so obsessed with getting a combat deployment under my belt that I just passed on opportunities that I should have. Live and learn but in this case nothing I can do about it now. I'm 44 yrs old. I did go speak to a recruiter about getting into the reserves. As soon as they hear I'm prior and 43 at the time they just Don't want to deal with you.
Joined marine infantry way too late (2016) didn’t like that i never got any combat deployments so i went security contracting after i got out for a little bit in afghanistan, of course it was the end there too so now im fire/ paramedic waiting to get medical experience and get back into it in 1-2 years, i get the feeling for sure.
As a grunt vet, if you have expectations of anything such as gratitude or respect, just stay a civilian or go be a doctor or lawyer. All that shit should come last or just fuck gaining someone else’s opinion or respect. Be a good dude and take care of your dudes, that’ll go a long way vice someone’s or people’s respect
Former Infantry PSG here. We did a lot of QRF in 2004-2005. We had an ODA and ING on our FOB. As QRF, we were called out to assist the ODA (working with ING) multiple times. They appreciated our assistance outside the wire and showed us nothing but respect on the FOB. Eventually, we had a number of KIA/WIA in my platoon but still did the QRF mission. After that Several times, the ODA guys “just so happened” to leave the FOB the same time as us when we had a particularly difficult QRF call…and “just so happened” to end up where we were tasked to go as QRF. SOF gets a reputation as prima donnas, but my experience with them was that they were solid and would reciprocate assistance they got from us.
@@UltimateLimitless678 the infantry is the Army - and I'm saying this as a Commo NCO. Infantry is simply the heart and soul of the Army. Every other job exists to support the Infantry - including all the other combat arms branches. I spent time with multiple different units - Cav, Armor, Signal, Ordnance, and Infantry units. I loved being commo and would do it again if I got the chance. But there's no mistaking why any other job exists in the Army - to support the Infantry.
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!! For your recognition of us conventional forces. I'm retired 19k (M1 tanker). I served in desert storm, OIF 1 RAMADI,HIT, HADITHA, FALUJA ETC. with elements of 101, 82, different sof,oda etc. OIF3 Tele afar ( Battle of) Oif 08-09. Have always felt that the conventional forces didn't get the recognition they deserve from all these pod cast commandos. You are huge breath of fresh air. Got my sub!!!
I appreciate this video. Thank you. I tanked selection, I knew I didn't belong there. But as far as grunt vs. GB, I always told people I had nothing but the utmost respect for spec ops. On the other hand, they get a minimum of 2 years of training before getting deployed is even an option. I got 2 extra weeks of basic training (the last week is just break down and clean up) and am considered frontline-certified.
Conventional Army has always been poisoned by terrible leaders (mostly officers and tyrant CSMs) who will go to extraordinary lengths NOT to recognize their Soldiers. BTW, anyone remember SMA Chandler?? The epic D-bag who wanted to ban tattoos and have us strip down so we could be photographed....so if we dare get another, we could be chaptered. Yeah, big Army is full of people like him. We even had senior officers in one of my units who pretty much went down range for a few days just to "set foot" in theater so they could "earn" a combat patch. We even had a CPT get awarded a CIB after an errant round from a "sniper" kicked off the ground like 50 meters away (no other shots were fired). Meanwhile, many of us who went through 15 month deployments were totally ignored when it came time for recognition and awards. We had Soldiers working jobs well above their pay-grade who had awards downgraded simply because of of their rank - while officers were running around around with BSMs and CIBs just for "existing" down range. It's pathetic.
My unit was good and everyone got recognition, 98% reenlistment rate after deployment. Nobody at all got bronze stars because the soldiers couldn't get them.
Former 11B here… I would also say my personal opinion is that the conventional Army infantry has a lot of douchebags, stupid idiots (literally nearly retarded), and people who simply do not want to be there (and oftentimes cannot be easily kicked out). This seems to be a big difference between SF where people do actually want to be there, have to be smart, and don’t have as many douchebags there (even Nate admitted that you don’t really see some of these douche guys at the special forces). SF seems to be more separated from the traditional/conventional Army BS. For me, it was either go SF or get out, but with my injuries, I highly doubted that I would make the cut. I still regret not going for it anyways even just to know for certain. I wish I was able to do the 18X contract, which now the green card holders can go for (unlike in the past). Good for them. That being said, there are still great infantrymen out there who do not hate their own lives, not causing them to treat others like shit. Those that were, are, and will be excellent, still making me proud that I was an infantryman myself in the past!
Former 11B here… My personal opinion is that in the conventional Army infantry, there are lots of stupid idiots (literally nearly mentally incapable), dbags, and some that simply do not want to be there at all. SF seems to be more separated from the conventional Army BS, because people actually do want to be there, one doesn’t see as many dbags, and the guys have to be smarter. For me, it was to go SF or get out but with my injuries, I highly doubted that I would make it. I still regret not trying out, even just to know for 100% certain. Even if there are lots of dbags in the infantry, especially those who hate their own lives and are insecure about something, causing them to treat others like crap… There still have been, are, and will be excellent infantrymen out there, making me proud that I have served and was an infantryman myself!
0311 OEF vet here. Operation Khanjari in 09’ and Sangin in ‘11 to back up 3/5. Man you have no idea how much I needed to hear this. I work in corporate now and when I tell people about my service you can visibly see the disappointment when they find out I were just a “regular” grunt & not some type of SF secret squirrel. Lots of companies say they hire vets but have unwritten rules that lead them to only really hiring prior SF or officers.
Hey brother respect, was an 0311 in the Invasion and then back for Phantom Fury. I saw some young men do some truly amazing things there, things people wouldn't believe. Appreciate your words brother, you all were some beasts and think the world of you all.
The fact that SF can win the Combat Infantryman’s Badge (CIB), like you have on your wall behind you, and that 18X candidates like yourself went through Infantry basic training (at least they did when I was in Infantry basic in 2003 shows that SF is essentially elite Infantry. The primary difference being that Infantry traditionally are large groups of soldiers for the purpose of closing with and destroying the enemy and holding ground. SF are force multipliers and able to function in small teams or even solo on occasion with a much higher level of training and proficiency. From the Infantry grunt perspective where I was at, we always considered SF to be elite Infantry.
You're a good dude. Former 1/75th myself. You might mention the fact that capabilities roll down thru orgs. Modern Infantry uses a lot of formerly SpecOps only equipment now making them much more lethal. They also shoot more than in the distant past.
Infantrymen here , served in OEF . I would like to let you know that You are the most humble Green Beret I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to. We all need each other and it’s our diverse skills that makes us the best fighting force on the planet. ❤
If you’ve read David Bellavia’s “House to house”, you respect the HELL out of the infantry. Holy shit. BTW-I highly recommend that book for anyone interested in learning what infantry during OIF/OEF went through.
11b during OEF here. I haven't seen that book, I'll have to check it out. OEF was indeed a shitstorm. Half the time you didn't know who the enemy was until bullets snapped past you. MOUT sucks ass and was practically all we trained for, that and detainee ops. Didn't help that my leadership was made up of glory hounds that missed out on their CIB the first time around and transfers from the chairforce under the blue to green initiative. Felt like the deck was stacked against us before we even shipped out.
Absolutely! I was an 11Bravo Infantry my entire career, we are totally thrown under the bus, but yet it's the Infantry that laid the foundation to special forces! There's some extremely skilled soldiers in the Infantry battalions!
Brother, we 0311's appreciate the love. Just a friendly corrector, in your description it's Corps not Core. We love the SF dudes also, you guys are the hammers on your side.
It’s disappointing to me that the infantryman do not get the support they need after service. There’s so many SOF organizations out there, but they don’t support conventional Infantryman, who arguably had the most dangerous job of the GWOT due to the lack of resources and green leadership. ODA’s, SMU’s and Ranger Battalion have seasoned leaders and nearly unlimited resources. 11B’s have none of that and were constantly doing movement to contact drills in combat.
Well said homie, I did two deployments with the infantry and two deployments with SF. We did some gagster shit in SF, but saw way more combat with the infantry the first half of the war. Infantry is way underrated and supported.
My impression, as a civilian, is that SF and Infantry are different in function. Some good SF films out there, as far as entertainment goes, but I always take those with a grain of salt. It’s this kind of information, from a real SF soldier, that gives us the real picture. Thank you Nate for the realism and objective reality 🫡🤙
@@Fkku-r6d Hahaha. You think I have a choice. I’m already in I didn’t choose the unit at MEPS. But nothing to do but focus on the positives. And there are positives. I’m already a slave boy no getting out now.
I was a 63C tracked vehicle mechanic at the end of Vietnam. While I was proud of my service it wasn’t something that was respected by our citizens back then. To this day when someone thanks me it feels off and slightly embarrassing. I’m so glad for you and all our fellow service members that isn’t the case right now. Thank you for your service!
Respect from regular grunts to special ops is mutual.....most of the time. Morale booster having the special operations community in the AO or on mission with us.
Marine 0311 here. Served in Baker 1/7 2003 Iraq during the invasion. Also was part of MNFI 2005 to 2006. Recently had an Army Ranger guy talking shit online about how Marines suck and how they had to save us many times which never happened. This was great to hear. Thank you
Okay, but your story about what one Ranger said (online, no less) literally had nothing to do with this video's content. You're gonna find 'elohssa' story embellishers, and straight up liars from all branches. I would have questioned him being a legit Ranger. Sounds like a poser to me.
@@elevenb6967 my point is that the respect goes all around and that was what was pointed out here. I’m giving it props. And ur correct he probably wasn’t even in that type of unit
Been on both sides, SF is popular in our culture because its sexy and guys all have fantasies of being an "operator." SF guys are far more spoiled in theatre, no disrespect here, but as an 11B we had very limited air support that would take 40 - 60 minutes to get to target, limited crap intel, far less sexy weapons, and live a hard day in day out life outside of missions that the SF community doesn't really experience. There are awesome guys in both communities, but selection weeds out a lot of dirtbags that are in the regular infantry and there are A LOT. I could go on and on with that as a lot of NCO's are worthless in combat but it's far less in the SF world. Without the infantry, everything stops, and without SF doing their thing there would have been far more casualties during the GWOT. We all stacked bodies and everyone deserves respect and credit regardless of MOS.
what’s kinda interesting is; my first duty station out of Airborne school was 525th BfSB C Troop 1-38 CAV (LRRS). a lot of our NCOs and officers were ex-Ranger Batt or SOF. RSLC, air assault/pathfinder and Ranger were expected of every specialist. we even had a HALO squad in the Troop. i guess because we were attached to MI, we had more funding for goodies and had cool pew-pew shit and some slick vehicles. everyone worked in synergy, regardless of where they can from and it was a highly effective and motivated unit. Infantry, Scout mixed with the Rangers and SF cats. thanks for the video, sir
11B here, it takes both to work. But the group dudes are highly intelligent and in better shape. A regular leg can’t do a team guys job, but a team guy can do the legs job better than he can.
I had a difficult time in Navy boot camp because I'm not a good runner. Had a difficult time keeping up with run times during and afterwards. Went Merchant Marine after the Navy to see the otherside of sailing. I highly recommend for someone with a desire for travel, adventure and camaraderie. But i have the utmost respect for anyone closing with and destroying the enemy. And especially because i know i couldn't do that. God Bless.
I was OSUT 11B first. Blue Cord on shouder blue disc behind brass crossed rifles. Was my first proud moment. Then Airborne Then RIP....etc. Once we hit the ground we were High Speed Grunts.
Man we lost two in my platoon. I was in an FSC…so we were all 88M’s basically…we ran supply missions in Afghanistan…we definitely seen some combat…thank God for our Infantry QRF on our COP. In 2010-2011 every MOS was getting in work…the GWOT was wild for real. 4/10th Mountain 2008-2014
“Let us be clear about three facts. First, all battles and all wars are won in the end by the infantryman. Secondly, the infantryman always bears the brunt. His casualties are heavier, he suffers greater extremes of discomfort and fatigue than the other arms. Thirdly, the art of the infantryman is less stereotyped and far harder to acquire in modern war than that of any other arm...The infantryman has to use initiative and intelligence in almost every step he moves, every action he takes on the battle-field. We ought therefore to put our men of best intelligence and endurance into the Infantry.” (Field Marshall Wavell, 1948) "It is not enough to fight. It is the spirit which we bring to the fight that decides the issue…The soldier's heart, the soldier's spirit, the soldier's soul, are everything. …not in reliance on things of steel and the super-excellence of guns and planes and bombsights…We are building it on belief, for it is what men believe that makes them invincible." (General of the Army George C. Marshall, The Infantry Journal, 1945) I served in two light infantry units and in one Joint SOF unit.
I’m a Cold War Marine Corps infantry veteran who served barracks duty in the UK in the mid-80’s. I served guard duty at a Naval Weapons Facility within the RAF ST. Mawgan airbase. Post infantry training school, I was selected to be part of the PRP security clearance we all had to have for that duty. My DD214 doesn’t even acknowledge that 18 month time frame. It sucks as I’m very proud of that service but those of us who did it have each other. After that duty, I would go on to become an 0341 with a weapons platoon in India Co. 3/4 2nd. Mar.Div. I’m, “not as lean and not as mean but still a Marine”. Semper Fi to all my Marine Corps family out there and all who serve and have served our great nation. Keep the faith. Godspeed.
Never felt too acomplished as a regular army grunt, sure wish id have at least tried selection, all though i was never happier or more proud of a job i did than being a tl/sl. Hats off to all my friends that did and my green beret and ranger friends, some of the most generous, humble and knowledgeable dudes out there....
11B here! Thank you for making this video. I served from Sep 2001-2008, I was part of the very first OSUT rotation that started Infantry school just after 9/11. We were trained in the mindset that we were guaranteed to go to war; and it was so. For the most part we all went through 12-18 months deployments, daily patrols, QRF, raids, tower guard, route clearing, gate guard, humanitarian missions delivering aid to small villages, operating out of FOBS in the middle of nowhere ducking mortars and artillery on a daily basis, and so much more. We all gave some and a lot of us gave all.
I’m an old guy. I retired from the Marines 22 years ago. Back then, before the GWOT, the only Spec Ops groups that got any attention was the counter terrorism units. When I was young the guys we talked about was MACV SOG. I realize the roles are different but when was the last time you heard of a reinforced Special Operations company (grunts not door kickers) fighting a running battle with a well trained, battle hardened infantry regiment? What you say is true. Thanks!
I went through PNCOC-CA a decades ago at Ft. Knox and we had guys in my class from SF (Ft. Devons), the Old Guard, and the 194th Armored Bde (Ft. Knox). It was basically a cross section of every kind of infantryman in the Army. The instructors said that typically the soldiers that did the best overall in the course were the generic grunts from Ft. Knox, because they could do the field work and the garrison work (e.g., drill and ceremonies), while the SF guys were great in the field, they couldn't march, and the Old Guard guys could march and pass inspections, but they couldn't do the field work.
Hate to come across as that person but Pacific and band of brothers are tv series not movies 😂anyway whateverwho cares, semantics aside I get what you mean. Generation kill is another good series though i think I is based on recon marines who are being used as conventional infantry.
Thanks for doing this video man. I know us infantry grunts are kinda playing in the minor league compared to you guys but we were still in the fight, you know. Year long deployments, baby wipe showers, burning our own shit out at the COPS , not to mention the actual combat every now and then. But we were just regular dudes for the most part and alot of us still had some hard deployments and have some pretty crazy stories to tell. I listen to a lot of shows and podcasts like this and regular grunts barely ever get a mention, so again, thank you.
I was a 13bravo …. But did nothing but infantry work as well with my regular mos … lots of infantry units have former green berets and rangers and I you could say they make infantry units square away 82nd being an example.. I was in Ramadi in 06 …. We sent our fisters to fallujah … a very bad playground 🛝 … Anyway this channel is addicting …. !! Thank you for your service .!
Absolutely overlooked. Can't quite speak on the Army infantry but they're likely up there with Marines. The proficiency of some Marine Corps units is surprisingly good especially with weapons platoons. You've got subject matter experts on every weapon system who are integrated with line companies and have the technical proficiency to execute complex assaults and raids with a maneuver element. School of Infantry is now 14-15 weeks in addition to 13 weeks of boot camp plus multiple follow on training at advanced schools. There are 20-21 year old Lcpl squad leaders in the marine corps who can emplace MK-19s in defilade as an indirect fire asset and rain hell down on the enemy. Now that the Marine corps has gotten rid of tanks most victor units are getting better gear like hi cut and bump helmets, PVS-31s, and M27s. The corps has never really had a SOF culture until recently. Most really solid dudes just stayed in the conventional infantry and got out. But with my experience now with friends and what i've heard a ton of dudes are doing interservice transfers and going to SFAS. Even Raiders and they're still required to do SFAS and Q course.
As a former 11B, a Grunt is a Grunt... Army or Marines, we both fought GWOT hard, taking most of the casualties.. Ramadi had Marines and Army Infantry units on the ground
True, and pretty soon, entry level enlisted infantry training will be extended to 18 weeks. IOC was also extended by a month, and there are plans in the works to extend AITB courses too. Also, Corps level squad competitions in addition to the Division level comps, extending Combat Instructor Course, 2nd Mar Div's Apex Battalion certification process, new ranges on Lejeune and Pendleton, and more courses at Division Schools to include a Signature Management Course, SUAS Operator Course, and Company Commander/ DLAP Course. I'd still argue we should have Snipers and Assaultmen, but whatever.
@Infantry198th Notice how i started off "cant quite speak on the Army" never worked with them in any capacity. You're just looking at something to get butthurt about
@Infantry198th Your logic makes no sense. Saying "All Army infantry suck" would be a blanket statement. Al l said was 1. I cant speak on them and 2. It's likely or I'm assuming 11b are on the same level as an 03xx which is my background. Are you implying they're not or something?
@Infantry198th Yeah you keep saying that without providing a logical argument. I'd love to here how Army infantry are superior or something if thats what you're getting. I could've said "i don't know if 11b and 03xx are on par" but i'm giving them the benefit of the doubt and my personal lack of experience working with them
I remember sitting on a Mountain side one pitch black night in East Paktika. We were providing overwatch for an element returning from a day of trading rounds with the Taliban. We expected contact from this location, known for ambush! Sitting behind my MK48 I watched IR illuminate a valley 1200m away. ODA was getting after the Taliban. An AC-130 Gunship supporting them with amazing effect. I remember thinking, that’s where the real fight is! Then Thinking, those Fk’rs are stealing our kills lol. We got our blood & the Taliban got theirs. We seem to think that we need to go SF to find the fight but many infantry units were submerged in fierce battles for weeks & months during OEF/OIF. The Infantry glorifies SF and always will but nothing is more sacred than our first kill & the bond we share for life after battle.
I was part of the 10th MTN out with you guys was this 2018 or 2020? I'm glad you brought that up. I have treated 2 guys who were Purple Heart recipients but not CIB recipients because they did not fire their weapon or perform infantry duties before or after receiving wounds. I have since talked to my congressman about those situations because it's trash. The Infantry is treated like garbage. And Purple Hearts and CIB's go a long way and when you don't get those awards it's like saying we didnt appreciate or recognize what you did. 1 of those Purple Hearts a GB and my squad leader nabbed up a guy who got shot and brought him to me (I'm a Combat Medic) under fire. GB got a BSM V and CIB dude who got shot got a PH and AAM C squad leader got nothing.
82nd, 11B1P here, 2/504 from 2002-2005 OEF and OIF. Attached to ODA in 3rd Grp. FOB Tycz or DR was a good one in Afghtrashistan👍 and Albu Dasheer District Baghdad...a lot of us realized quickly the being attached to the OD-As, that we need not go further in our career. We were right there with you guys, and people have this glamorous view that they are super heros when really we are all men capable of extraordinary things. The difference is a career path and the intestinal fortitude to push through selection and the rest to get to where you want to be. Other than that, bullets fly both ways and I know our guys were always ready to full send with no hesitation. In combat the color of your beret in garrison won't matter, just who's on your left and right and who's watching your 6, training kicks in and you hit the zone. Love my Maroon beret and had I decided to stay in, probably would have pushed on in SOF, the war decided my career for me and I got out and glad to this day for it. Love this channel
I stated out an Infantrymen for 9 years and retired 20 years SF . Everyone has a vital part . But from my observation one is an MOS (11B) and one is a Profession (18s) when you look at the continued work put in to get better each day .
I’m retired now, but always told my Soldiers, “The infantry is a thankless job. We don’t get fame, movies about us, and most people don’t know we exist. So you either love it or hate it on your own, but do your best while you’re here, and take pride in knowing what you do matters.”
Thanks for making this video. I served as 11B in the Gulf war in 1990/1991 with B CO 1/8 Cav 1st Cav Div. but I also deployed to Bosnia, IFOR, SFOR 1996, KFOR Kosovo Camp Bondsteel 2001, OIF 05 -07 with 101St ABN DIV Camp Speicher IRAQ and also OEF 08 Bagram AB in Afghanistan . But Those deployments I was in Aviation. I think the SOF community is a highly professional Community with the most elite soldiers , sailors, Airmen, Marines. BUT and I mean BUT. there are a lot of movies and media and social media especially Former Navy Seals that are severely overshadowing what the conventional Army, Navy, Marine Corp can do. especially when it comes to destroying the enemy. lets talk about how AH-64a Apache helicopter can do severe damage, or what an MLRS can do, Why Artillery is called the king of battle. a row of 155 howitzers can destroy towns, the enemy and high value targets cannot be found without the intelligence community, Supplies are always need from food to radios, WE all have to eat. We need signal ops in order to communicate, I mean the list goes on and on. Most of the top story battles of WWI, WWII, Korean Conflict, Vietnam , Desert Storm and even Iraq and Afghanistan were mostly your conventional forces to include grunts, scouts, fisters, artillery, aviation. from the lowest ranking private all the way to 4 stars and most were either logistics, medical. military intelligence, Communications, MPs, Artillery, Supply and so forth., SOF Community is only about 11 percent of the large scale military. Nothing can work without signal, fuel, supplies, finance, administrations, School Instructors. transportation, mechanics, medical, aviation, intelligence. Thousands of men and women in those MOS/Rates is why combat MOSs and SOF are able to do what they do, And last, have served as a drill sergeant and army recruiter. Without Recruiters we have no military, and without Drill sergeants , soldiers don't get the initial basic training they need to follow on to AITs
Had a green beret tell me he is infantry first, also says he respects infantry more bc they are way less trained but fight just as much. It was a backhanded compliment but i took it lol
I feel like inside the military as a grunt I got equal amounts of respect from special forces my experience isn’t going to be the same as yours though and times may have been different pending when you served But outside the infantry I find me and my brethren where compared to mentally handicapped people or called a professional homeless person But I also found those people to be the first to bitch when shit hits the fan they’ll often say that’s not their job. But they’ll be the first to say we’re all riflemen or infantry plus or basically infantry. Outside the military I’ve often been told I’m not shit when I know that’s not true. Or oh you were just infantry you mustn’t be very smart or you weren’t an infantry officer so you weren’t shit. I just let people say what they’re gonna say I know my worth as any grunt should.
The infantry is a weird experience and can be difficult to explain to people. It's a career that can take you to a foreign land where you physically burn down a city; crack an enemy army down the middle while getting to engage in a little atrocity and we crime action; and then six months later you are busting rust off a thirty year old vehicle after coming off a 24 hour duty. You work with some of the best men as well as literal brain damaged individuals. It's a great time, but may not be for everyone.
I was 11H/11B for about 10 years before I went to the 18D (my career is unusual and a long story), which I failed at the very end. My marriage was in the shitter so they said come in a year. Then 9/11 happened. So I went back down the street to 3/505 PIR, and we did 6 mos in Afghanistan and then another 8 in Iraq. Then I go back to the 18C course in 04, and now there are 18Xs. The older ones were actually pretty cool, but I had these two 19 yo PFC dipshits that liked to talk shit about the 82nd. I said, “You made it through selection-good job. You know the difference between you and a PFC down the street? I know what he’s gonna do if he gets shot at. Guess who I’m taking to war if I have to go tomorrow. Not you. So, shut your mouth, cherry.” I’m getting worked up thinking about it.
I was Army infantry. We dont get nearly enough respect. SF and marines shit on us all the time as if theyre better. But, we had the longest deployments and get treated the worst. Army has the highest turnout rate. So, no we dont get respect.
I've never served But the reality of it is that in almost all of history, wars have been almost entirely won by infantry and conventional troops Just to clarify I still have the highest of respect for any troop spec ops, infantry or not I thank all of you for your service👏
Some of the most competent people I've had the pleasure to work with are infantry soldiers or ex-infantry soldiers (and marines). There's a lot of young guys in the infantry as well, but I won't discredit their training or dedication to being an elite fighting force at the individual level. There are too many unrecognized service members affected by a political agenda or lack of recognition.
Thanks but my favorite deployments where as an 11B we got attached to the SOF units as uplift. The extra training and cool missions those where the best.
As a retired US Army Airborne infantryman 22 years 87-09 i have much respect for special operations. We used to have a saying way back in the day. Can we do the job you do yes we can even though we'd have train up for it as you are already set up for it. We considered the green berets and others as infantryman with PhDs and us with a high school diploma.
Unfortunately the world will always look for SOF. There will always be pod cast, movies, TV, news contributors, and none profit organizations looking to raise money for SOF. But never basic infantry. Thanks for doing this and saying this.
0331 from 2005 - 2009. OIF and OEF. Ramadi in '06. Only SF story I have is from the times my squad was tasked out to pull security for Seals. It was my first deployment and was boot AF. It seemed that their infantry tactics were jacked up (ranger file, little dispersement for IEDs, in a city). But I was way to green to believe I had an opinion, and kept it to myself. Turns out, they were jacked up. There are things those guys do that is way out of anything I experienced or could do. But it's almost as if they were blind to the basics.
I was in both Fallujahs 1CD 2/7 Cav! OIF 2 2004-2005, we were heading to Najaf to support the Corp but my Plt received a FRAGO to go support our Scouts basecamp that was being attacked in the Sabuk Sur district of Sadr City! 11 Bang Bang!
Special Forces is exactly what is says it is it’s “SPECIAL FORCES” doing special missions that’s there jam. Regular army infantry or conventional army are exactly that, they are conventional. They both help and work with each other at certain times. I would say mostly not though unless it’s a pretty big invasion or assault. They still tie in here and there and work together though in different operations. They have different missions sets but the same at certain times it probably depends. In Special forces your primary mission set is SPECIAL OPERATIONS hence the reason they are in Special Operations. I was regular army infantry not airborne or air assault and I truly believe it’s an amazing learning experience to work with and operate in a conventional unit for some time. It definitely makes you understand different elements. I loved it, it helps mold a leader and warrior more because you’re around young joes (privates) and have to deal with all sorts of problem with different ranks high and low. Conventional and Special forces need each other they go hand in hand sometimes with certain missions like I said above but mostly they are doing their own thing. Special Operations have more assets yes because they are SPECIAL and have more training required for special missions and that’s just the way it is. You work harder and want more privilege and assets go Special Operations. If you want to be in a conventional unit and have less assets more often and do more conventional style missions with them then go regular Army or Marines. They both experience high risk missions/operations but Special Operations has better assets depending on circumstances and availability. Regular units don’t have that many assets a lot of the time so you could they have higher risks but Special Operations has high risks as well I would say even more so because they are doing Special missions most of the time but have more assets sometimes. So SF is doing Special stuff with sometimes more assets which is a lot of the times harder (because it requires more training) whereas conventional forces barely get assets and they have to hold out for those resources if they can get any. Either way they are all badass they just have different levels of skill, privilege, precedence (priority), and hierarchy in a lot of operations. I think I contrasted them pretty well. It could be better there’s things I probably don’t know.
11 B here. I respect the hell out of our Special Operations forces, however, ground will never be held without us grunts.
I relate to this. I myself an a 11C
@@nathanmoore8995 Amen brother!
Retired 11B, 18B and 18Z here...
You're goddamn right son! I came from the infantry, and I always made sure the guys on my team gave due respect to our conventional infantry support when we had them.
@@sigspearthumb3249 I’m a Cold War grunt! I was with 4/187 Inf Reg at Fort Campbell, Ky and 5/20 mech Inf 2nd Inf Division, Camp Casey South Korea
As a retired 91W combat medic was assigned to Infantry. Honestly, was the BEST assignment I ever had. Airborne was good also. Did medivac but being assigned to Infantry? PRICELESS!! LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!
As a Marine and Army infantry veteran that served as a squad leader in the second battle of Fallujah, thank you for the hat tip.
thank you for your service you’re a war hero
The infantry should certainly get a lot more respect. 100%. The thing is, people also look in and see that when they're not deployed they're being forced to paint rocks, do stupid shit in the motorpool, mop up the rain when it's raining, and otherwise get treated like a mentally deficient 6 year old.
We do that same dumb shit when we’re not deployed as well unfortunately.
@@ValhallaVFTwould you say that for someone out there who disliked being an infantryman (11B) and being in the conventional Army, that they would also dislike being a green beret? Thank you.
i was an 0311 my self and i think again like stated in the video, most people get they're understanding of infantry from movies and video games most movies that show regular infantry are either ww2 or ww1 and show human wave attacks which for one isn't even historically accurate, and even in for example American sniper there are tons of scenes that portray marine corps infantry almost like scared children or people who are conscripted last minute with no training what so ever.
thats my cope and im sticking to it thanks for coming to my ted talk.
@@ValhallaVFTI heard that from my brother in 3rd SFGA. He said at one point, they were in their class A uniforms doing inspections of the support battalion barracks for Payday Activities.
@@SemperSometimesProductionsI agree. I was Army infantry and I hate the portrayal of regular infantry in movies. Especially American Sniper, right? Marine grunts won Falluja! Chris Kyle didn't win the battle singlehandedly, or even contribute that much to the overall success of the battle. Marines won that battle, not the SEALs. Marine grunts are not scared kids or untrained morons. Our infantry, whether Army or Marines, hasn't lost an engagement at the tactical level since Vietnam.
A 7th group Sergeant Major told me alot of "special missions" are to support Infantry operations. His exact words was " we support hard men, doing hard things"
As an airborne infantryman and Afghanistan combat vet I appreciate you validating all the bitching we as an MOS do. We still get the job done but nobody knows the plight of the infantry like the infantry 😂
The Outpost was a nice breath of fresh air, the movie really showed how regular guys were able to accomplish extraordinary things with the shittiest odds stacked against them. The 2 MOH recipients from that battle weren’t even infantrymen, they were Cavalry Scouts.
How is Cav Scouts not an infantry unit?
@@MbisonBalrogDifferent MOS, Cav Scouts are meant to do mounted recon mainly.
@@Kraken_316kinda not really, cav is meant to be a mobile force whether that’s walking or driving. Cavs role is supposed to ahead of the main army as a buffer and trickle intelligence back to give enough time for the infantry to adjust. Now if they’re used that way .. up to the big chiefs.
@@MbisonBalrog Vehicle based unit... Cavalry units throughout history have been the mobile vehicle based (or horse based as they where before the 20th century) fighting units who also scout enemy positions
Hell No! @@MbisonBalrog
You’ll see a lot of POGs claim they were infantry or claim they were “basically infantry” but you’ll be hard pressed to find an infantryman who claims they were a POG.
lol truuu
They do claim that POG shit when they scramble to lie on their resumè. It's probably why exgrunts always end up selling coffee or t-shirts online, like some school kid selling shit lemonade at a stand. haha 😢
😂😂😂😂
Half of those pog saw the same amount of combat specially if they were mt,he ops and other
@@cristobalalvarez5491 I admit some certain individuals because they were attached to combat units did see action, however majority of non combat mos's never see combat, which doesn't take anything from them, its just simply facts.
I graduated with a 4.0 for my Masters degree, I have a College World Series ring, and I rose pretty high up the corporate ladder before 30. However my proudest achievement is earning my infantryman’s Blue Cord. It’s not that only a select few can do it; rather, it’s that only a select few choose to do it. Being a light fighter was quite the honor!
@@haveaday1812 I take it that literacy isn’t your thing 👌
One Love From Tennessee!
that's a beautiful attitude. I love that.
It was great to see that I wasn't the only 1 who decided to get a masters degree and then went to 11B at 28! Did you hear all the bullshit of "why aren't you going into OCS first to"?
@@haveaday1812 What would you consider as your greatest accomplishment in your life so far? I’m just curious.
Thank you for being so genuine. Infantry does soo much of the heavy lifting and gets so little recognition. Hollywood... It's superb that you are one of the only SOF guys that are giving props to the grunts. Thanks!Hooyah!
I'm duel branch.
Enlisted in the Marine Corps in 99. I wanted to be Marine Infantry since i was 9. Explicitly told my recruiter that but low and behold i never got my orders to SOI. Spent 8 yrs of my prime years as a POG and decided to get out because i couldnt live like that.
15 months later i decided to go back and get my 0311 but the corps wanted to take a rank from me due to an 11 month stipulation. I decided to go next door.
Went to the Army and became an 11b Airborne and served in a LRS unit.
I just could not die without saying i was infantry! Its simply the only thing ive ever wanted in life!
Semper Fi!!!
Bro I’m 27 and I hate how i never joined at 19 army active or atleast national Gaurd infantry anything infantry but got side tracked for years and helped a friend at work for years telling them I want to join the army past 6 years 21 I was saying to myself it will happen soon now it’s another 6 years idk if I can anymore and the vaccines and new policies that might deter my enlistment and old age
@@nickmalon7577 you still can do it my friend. i know things have changed but if you really want it you can go after it. don't ever live a what if!
The Corps is it's own worst enemy. Lawyer I worked with at the DA and private practice was a 0351 before school wanted to go back in as an officer and the Corps said he was too old...went to a NG SF Group and was commissioned as a JAG Capt just to get him in the door.
Did you look into the Marine Reserves? Not widespread but POGs could get retrained as 0311s and Weapons MOS. We had a couple show up at 4th Recon and they did well. If their MOS fit into the H &S T/O then they were SOL.
@@4threconmarine this was back in 2008. If I could do it all over again I would have taken the hit on my rank and just went in as a corporal. I also didn't know anything about the army when I joined and had no idea about ranger regiment. If I had known that I would have gone that route as well.
Before I went to airborne I was on a hold. I had one of the instructors ask me straight up if I wanted to go to selection which I did but I was so obsessed with getting a combat deployment under my belt that I just passed on opportunities that I should have.
Live and learn but in this case nothing I can do about it now. I'm 44 yrs old.
I did go speak to a recruiter about getting into the reserves. As soon as they hear I'm prior and 43 at the time they just Don't want to deal with you.
Joined marine infantry way too late (2016) didn’t like that i never got any combat deployments so i went security contracting after i got out for a little bit in afghanistan, of course it was the end there too so now im fire/ paramedic waiting to get medical experience and get back into it in 1-2 years, i get the feeling for sure.
Great topic for a video. My 1SG was a PFC in Iraq and he is probably the most savage guy I have ever met. Lots of respect for those dudes.
Had some of my teammates who were as well before they went SF. Wild stuff.
As a Marine veteran and infantryman (0311), who as a LCpl served in the Battle of Marjah/Operation Moshtarak in OEF, thank you!
Did you rock the M249 by chance?
@@StaffSergeantAdamsI sure did.
As a grunt vet, if you have expectations of anything such as gratitude or respect, just stay a civilian or go be a doctor or lawyer. All that shit should come last or just fuck gaining someone else’s opinion or respect. Be a good dude and take care of your dudes, that’ll go a long way vice someone’s or people’s respect
Former Infantry PSG here. We did a lot of QRF in 2004-2005. We had an ODA and ING on our FOB. As QRF, we were called out to assist the ODA (working with ING) multiple times. They appreciated our assistance outside the wire and showed us nothing but respect on the FOB. Eventually, we had a number of KIA/WIA in my platoon but still did the QRF mission. After that Several times, the ODA guys “just so happened” to leave the FOB the same time as us when we had a particularly difficult QRF call…and “just so happened” to end up where we were tasked to go as QRF. SOF gets a reputation as prima donnas, but my experience with them was that they were solid and would reciprocate assistance they got from us.
Infantry deserves alot more respect than people think.
@@UltimateLimitless678 the infantry is the Army - and I'm saying this as a Commo NCO. Infantry is simply the heart and soul of the Army. Every other job exists to support the Infantry - including all the other combat arms branches. I spent time with multiple different units - Cav, Armor, Signal, Ordnance, and Infantry units. I loved being commo and would do it again if I got the chance. But there's no mistaking why any other job exists in the Army - to support the Infantry.
From a busted up grunt, thank you brother. Super proud of all of our combatants especially our operators.
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!! For your recognition of us conventional forces. I'm retired 19k (M1 tanker). I served in desert storm, OIF 1 RAMADI,HIT, HADITHA, FALUJA ETC. with elements of 101, 82, different sof,oda etc. OIF3 Tele afar ( Battle of) Oif 08-09. Have always felt that the conventional forces didn't get the recognition they deserve from all these pod cast commandos. You are huge breath of fresh air. Got my sub!!!
It’s pretty awesome to see former 11Bs in the comment section showing their support to your channel bro! Preciate the acknowledgment
I appreciate this video. Thank you. I tanked selection, I knew I didn't belong there. But as far as grunt vs. GB, I always told people I had nothing but the utmost respect for spec ops. On the other hand, they get a minimum of 2 years of training before getting deployed is even an option. I got 2 extra weeks of basic training (the last week is just break down and clean up) and am considered frontline-certified.
Conventional Army has always been poisoned by terrible leaders (mostly officers and tyrant CSMs) who will go to extraordinary lengths NOT to recognize their Soldiers. BTW, anyone remember SMA Chandler?? The epic D-bag who wanted to ban tattoos and have us strip down so we could be photographed....so if we dare get another, we could be chaptered. Yeah, big Army is full of people like him.
We even had senior officers in one of my units who pretty much went down range for a few days just to "set foot" in theater so they could "earn" a combat patch.
We even had a CPT get awarded a CIB after an errant round from a "sniper" kicked off the ground like 50 meters away (no other shots were fired). Meanwhile, many of us who went through 15 month deployments were totally ignored when it came time for recognition and awards.
We had Soldiers working jobs well above their pay-grade who had awards downgraded simply because of of their rank - while officers were running around around with BSMs and CIBs just for "existing" down range. It's pathetic.
My unit was good and everyone got recognition, 98% reenlistment rate after deployment. Nobody at all got bronze stars because the soldiers couldn't get them.
Former 11B here… I would also say my personal opinion is that the conventional Army infantry has a lot of douchebags, stupid idiots (literally nearly retarded), and people who simply do not want to be there (and oftentimes cannot be easily kicked out).
This seems to be a big difference between SF where people do actually want to be there, have to be smart, and don’t have as many douchebags there (even Nate admitted that you don’t really see some of these douche guys at the special forces). SF seems to be more separated from the traditional/conventional Army BS.
For me, it was either go SF or get out, but with my injuries, I highly doubted that I would make the cut. I still regret not going for it anyways even just to know for certain. I wish I was able to do the 18X contract, which now the green card holders can go for (unlike in the past). Good for them.
That being said, there are still great infantrymen out there who do not hate their own lives, not causing them to treat others like shit. Those that were, are, and will be excellent, still making me proud that I was an infantryman myself in the past!
It was SMA Chandler wanted to remove tattoos, not Preston. Chandler was a tanker
@@mgway4661 yikes...gotta edit my comment😉
Former 11B here… My personal opinion is that in the conventional Army infantry, there are lots of stupid idiots (literally nearly mentally incapable), dbags, and some that simply do not want to be there at all.
SF seems to be more separated from the conventional Army BS, because people actually do want to be there, one doesn’t see as many dbags, and the guys have to be smarter.
For me, it was to go SF or get out but with my injuries, I highly doubted that I would make it. I still regret not trying out, even just to know for 100% certain.
Even if there are lots of dbags in the infantry, especially those who hate their own lives and are insecure about something, causing them to treat others like crap… There still have been, are, and will be excellent infantrymen out there, making me proud that I have served and was an infantryman myself!
Much respect to you bro! Thats why Green Berets will always be respected and admired by the Grunts. ♠️🤙
Thanks brother 🫡
That's why they're the only other MOS that's allowed to wear the CIB.
@@Jeremy-ul3it very true ♠️
0311 OEF vet here. Operation Khanjari in 09’ and Sangin in ‘11 to back up 3/5. Man you have no idea how much I needed to hear this. I work in corporate now and when I tell people about my service you can visibly see the disappointment when they find out I were just a “regular” grunt & not some type of SF secret squirrel. Lots of companies say they hire vets but have unwritten rules that lead them to only really hiring prior SF or officers.
Hey brother respect, was an 0311 in the Invasion and then back for Phantom Fury. I saw some young men do some truly amazing things there, things people wouldn't believe. Appreciate your words brother, you all were some beasts and think the world of you all.
The fact that SF can win the Combat Infantryman’s Badge (CIB), like you have on your wall behind you, and that 18X candidates like yourself went through Infantry basic training (at least they did when I was in Infantry basic in 2003 shows that SF is essentially elite Infantry.
The primary difference being that Infantry traditionally are large groups of soldiers for the purpose of closing with and destroying the enemy and holding ground. SF are force multipliers and able to function in small teams or even solo on occasion with a much higher level of training and proficiency.
From the Infantry grunt perspective where I was at, we always considered SF to be elite Infantry.
0311 usmc infantry here! Currently working on my 18x contract your videos have been help and motivating, stay deadly 🤙🏽
Man, I love your podcast and how you explain the duties and your experience. Keep doing what you do.
Met so many infantry dudes just as hard as any operator
You're a good dude. Former 1/75th myself. You might mention the fact that capabilities roll down thru orgs. Modern Infantry uses a lot of formerly SpecOps only equipment now making them much more lethal. They also shoot more than in the distant past.
Infantrymen here , served in OEF . I would like to let you know that You are the most humble Green Beret I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to. We all need each other and it’s our diverse skills that makes us the best fighting force on the planet. ❤
If you’ve read David Bellavia’s “House to house”, you respect the HELL out of the infantry. Holy shit. BTW-I highly recommend that book for anyone interested in learning what infantry during OIF/OEF went through.
Sooo true awesome book!
Absolutely fantastic read. He also has done a podcast with Jocko that is worth a listen.
11b during OEF here. I haven't seen that book, I'll have to check it out. OEF was indeed a shitstorm. Half the time you didn't know who the enemy was until bullets snapped past you. MOUT sucks ass and was practically all we trained for, that and detainee ops. Didn't help that my leadership was made up of glory hounds that missed out on their CIB the first time around and transfers from the chairforce under the blue to green initiative. Felt like the deck was stacked against us before we even shipped out.
@@volkardlokisson6292 Damn, man. That sucks. Anyway, glad you made it back safe and sound. Thank you for your service, and welcome home.
Absolutely! I was an 11Bravo Infantry my entire career, we are totally thrown under the bus, but yet it's the Infantry that laid the foundation to special forces! There's some extremely skilled soldiers in the Infantry battalions!
Infantry stud here. Hooah brother
🫡
Brother, we 0311's appreciate the love. Just a friendly corrector, in your description it's Corps not Core. We love the SF dudes also, you guys are the hammers on your side.
It’s disappointing to me that the infantryman do not get the support they need after service. There’s so many SOF organizations out there, but they don’t support conventional Infantryman, who arguably had the most dangerous job of the GWOT due to the lack of resources and green leadership. ODA’s, SMU’s and Ranger Battalion have seasoned leaders and nearly unlimited resources. 11B’s have none of that and were constantly doing movement to contact drills in combat.
Well said homie, I did two deployments with the infantry and two deployments with SF. We did some gagster shit in SF, but saw way more combat with the infantry the first half of the war. Infantry is way underrated and supported.
As one of those infantry Marines that fought in Iraq. You can keep your podcast and movies. I know what we did, we don’t need anyone’s admiration.
Semper Fi bro
YOU HAVE ONE OF THE VERY BEST CHANNELS. CLEAR EXPLANATIONS. INTERESTING TOPICS. DOWN TO EARTH. I ALWAYS LOOK FORWORD TO HEARING WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.
Thank you for your acknowledgement and respect, this was honorable and appreciated
My impression, as a civilian, is that SF and Infantry are different in function. Some good SF films out there, as far as entertainment goes, but I always take those with a grain of salt. It’s this kind of information, from a real SF soldier, that gives us the real picture. Thank you Nate for the realism and objective reality 🫡🤙
Leaving next week to the 101st and I appreciate your knowledge and perspective.
Dont do it, lol,
@@Fkku-r6d Hahaha. You think I have a choice. I’m already in I didn’t choose the unit at MEPS. But nothing to do but focus on the positives. And there are positives. I’m already a slave boy no getting out now.
I was a 63C tracked vehicle mechanic at the end of Vietnam. While I was proud of my service it wasn’t something that was respected by our citizens back then. To this day when someone thanks me it feels off and slightly embarrassing. I’m so glad for you and all our fellow service members that isn’t the case right now. Thank you for your service!
Thank you for making this. You gave me an idea to start Nonprofit dedicated to the Infantry and Marines.
From a former Army grunt, thanks for this.
🫡
Respect from regular grunts to special ops is mutual.....most of the time.
Morale booster having the special operations community in the AO or on mission with us.
Marine 0311 here. Served in Baker 1/7 2003 Iraq during the invasion. Also was part of MNFI 2005 to 2006. Recently had an Army Ranger guy talking shit online about how Marines suck and how they had to save us many times which never happened. This was great to hear. Thank you
Okay, but your story about what one Ranger said (online, no less) literally had nothing to do with this video's content. You're gonna find 'elohssa' story embellishers, and straight up liars from all branches. I would have questioned him being a legit Ranger. Sounds like a poser to me.
@@elevenb6967 my point is that the respect goes all around and that was what was pointed out here. I’m giving it props. And ur correct he probably wasn’t even in that type of unit
Been on both sides, SF is popular in our culture because its sexy and guys all have fantasies of being an "operator." SF guys are far more spoiled in theatre, no disrespect here, but as an 11B we had very limited air support that would take 40 - 60 minutes to get to target, limited crap intel, far less sexy weapons, and live a hard day in day out life outside of missions that the SF community doesn't really experience. There are awesome guys in both communities, but selection weeds out a lot of dirtbags that are in the regular infantry and there are A LOT. I could go on and on with that as a lot of NCO's are worthless in combat but it's far less in the SF world. Without the infantry, everything stops, and without SF doing their thing there would have been far more casualties during the GWOT. We all stacked bodies and everyone deserves respect and credit regardless of MOS.
what’s kinda interesting is; my first duty station out of Airborne school was 525th BfSB C Troop 1-38 CAV (LRRS). a lot of our NCOs and officers were ex-Ranger Batt or SOF.
RSLC, air assault/pathfinder and Ranger were expected of every specialist. we even had a HALO squad in the Troop. i guess because we were attached to MI, we had more funding for goodies and had cool pew-pew shit and some slick vehicles.
everyone worked in synergy, regardless of where they can from and it was a highly effective and motivated unit. Infantry, Scout mixed with the Rangers and SF cats.
thanks for the video, sir
A large example of this is the first gulf war in the 90s and how it was fought. Also Jarhead was set in the first gulf war 90s era.
I’m aware.
11B here, it takes both to work. But the group dudes are highly intelligent and in better shape. A regular leg can’t do a team guys job, but a team guy can do the legs job better than he can.
I had a difficult time in Navy boot camp because I'm not a good runner. Had a difficult time keeping up with run times during and afterwards. Went Merchant Marine after the Navy to see the otherside of sailing. I highly recommend for someone with a desire for travel, adventure and camaraderie.
But i have the utmost respect for anyone closing with and destroying the enemy. And especially because i know i couldn't do that. God Bless.
As Infantry, I'd say Special Forces deserves more, though I'm extremely proud to have been 11B.
I was OSUT 11B first. Blue Cord on shouder blue disc behind brass crossed rifles. Was my first proud moment. Then Airborne Then RIP....etc. Once we hit the ground we were High Speed Grunts.
Glad to see a special operations guy speaking this way. 11 bravo 10th mountain vet here
Man we lost two in my platoon. I was in an FSC…so we were all 88M’s basically…we ran supply missions in Afghanistan…we definitely seen some combat…thank God for our Infantry QRF on our COP. In 2010-2011 every MOS was getting in work…the GWOT was wild for real. 4/10th Mountain 2008-2014
Great insight, thanks for putting this out there🤙🏽
“Let us be clear about three facts. First, all battles and all wars are won in the end by the infantryman. Secondly, the infantryman always bears the brunt. His casualties are heavier, he suffers greater extremes of discomfort and fatigue than the other arms. Thirdly, the art of the infantryman is less stereotyped and far harder to acquire in modern war than that of any other arm...The infantryman has to use initiative and intelligence in almost every step he moves, every action he takes on the battle-field. We ought therefore to put our men of best intelligence and endurance into the Infantry.” (Field Marshall Wavell, 1948) "It is not enough to fight. It is the spirit which we bring to the fight that decides the issue…The soldier's heart, the soldier's spirit, the soldier's soul, are everything. …not in reliance on things of steel and the super-excellence of guns and planes and bombsights…We are building it on belief, for it is what men believe that makes them invincible." (General of the Army George C. Marshall, The Infantry Journal, 1945) I served in two light infantry units and in one Joint SOF unit.
It's great to hear the respect you have for infantry.. goes both ways
I’m a Cold War Marine Corps infantry veteran who served barracks duty in the UK in the mid-80’s. I served guard duty at a Naval Weapons Facility within the RAF ST. Mawgan airbase. Post infantry training school, I was selected to be part of the PRP security clearance we all had to have for that duty. My DD214 doesn’t even acknowledge that 18 month time frame. It sucks as I’m very proud of that service but those of us who did it have each other. After that duty, I would go on to become an 0341 with a weapons platoon in India Co. 3/4 2nd. Mar.Div. I’m, “not as lean and not as mean but still a Marine”. Semper Fi to all my Marine Corps family out there and all who serve and have served our great nation. Keep the faith. Godspeed.
Never felt too acomplished as a regular army grunt, sure wish id have at least tried selection, all though i was never happier or more proud of a job i did than being a tl/sl. Hats off to all my friends that did and my green beret and ranger friends, some of the most generous, humble and knowledgeable dudes out there....
Great video. Really appreciate the acknowledgment!
11B here! Thank you for making this video. I served from Sep 2001-2008, I was part of the very first OSUT rotation that started Infantry school just after 9/11. We were trained in the mindset that we were guaranteed to go to war; and it was so. For the most part we all went through 12-18 months deployments, daily patrols, QRF, raids, tower guard, route clearing, gate guard, humanitarian missions delivering aid to small villages, operating out of FOBS in the middle of nowhere ducking mortars and artillery on a daily basis, and so much more. We all gave some and a lot of us gave all.
Damn
Thank you for insuring peace the best you could. May the rest of your days be peaceful and full of happiness brother.
Very humble and great statement, one you don't hear much from SOF guys with a platform.
I’m an old guy. I retired from the Marines 22 years ago. Back then, before the GWOT, the only Spec Ops groups that got any attention was the counter terrorism units. When I was young the guys we talked about was MACV SOG. I realize the roles are different but when was the last time you heard of a reinforced Special Operations company (grunts not door kickers) fighting a running battle with a well trained, battle hardened infantry regiment? What you say is true. Thanks!
I was an infantryman, rifleman in the Army. Being a grunt is a hard ass job.
I was an infantryman (0311) in the Marine Corps (2003-2011), same with us brother.
I went through PNCOC-CA a decades ago at Ft. Knox and we had guys in my class from SF (Ft. Devons), the Old Guard, and the 194th Armored Bde (Ft. Knox). It was basically a cross section of every kind of infantryman in the Army. The instructors said that typically the soldiers that did the best overall in the course were the generic grunts from Ft. Knox, because they could do the field work and the garrison work (e.g., drill and ceremonies), while the SF guys were great in the field, they couldn't march, and the Old Guard guys could march and pass inspections, but they couldn't do the field work.
Regular infantry movies: Jarhead, full metal jacket, outpost, saving pvt Ryan, band of brothers, the pacific and that’s just off the top of my head
Saving Private Ryan focuses on a 2nd Ranger Bat
@@JosephsCoatWhich are Infantry.
@@Jeremy-ul3it umm, the others
Hate to come across as that person but Pacific and band of brothers are tv series not movies 😂anyway whateverwho cares, semantics aside I get what you mean. Generation kill is another good series though i think I is based on recon marines who are being used as conventional infantry.
'We were soldiers' as well. Even 'generation kill' could be considered as well even though they were battalion recon Marines
In my experience, the difference between dudes on a team and dudes on the line boils down to perspective.
One is a man with a gun and one is a gun.
Thanks for doing this video man. I know us infantry grunts are kinda playing in the minor league compared to you guys but we were still in the fight, you know. Year long deployments, baby wipe showers, burning our own shit out at the COPS , not to mention the actual combat every now and then. But we were just regular dudes for the most part and alot of us still had some hard deployments and have some pretty crazy stories to tell. I listen to a lot of shows and podcasts like this and regular grunts barely ever get a mention, so again, thank you.
I was a 13bravo …. But did nothing but infantry work as well with my regular mos … lots of infantry units have former green berets and rangers and I you could say they make infantry units square away 82nd being an example..
I was in Ramadi in 06 …. We sent our fisters to fallujah … a very bad playground 🛝 …
Anyway this channel is addicting …. !! Thank you for your service .!
My proudest moment is when my CO handed me my CIB.
11B/11C Iraq veteran here. I appreciate this video thank you.
Absolutely overlooked. Can't quite speak on the Army infantry but they're likely up there with Marines. The proficiency of some Marine Corps units is surprisingly good especially with weapons platoons. You've got subject matter experts on every weapon system who are integrated with line companies and have the technical proficiency to execute complex assaults and raids with a maneuver element. School of Infantry is now 14-15 weeks in addition to 13 weeks of boot camp plus multiple follow on training at advanced schools. There are 20-21 year old Lcpl squad leaders in the marine corps who can emplace MK-19s in defilade as an indirect fire asset and rain hell down on the enemy. Now that the Marine corps has gotten rid of tanks most victor units are getting better gear like hi cut and bump helmets, PVS-31s, and M27s. The corps has never really had a SOF culture until recently. Most really solid dudes just stayed in the conventional infantry and got out. But with my experience now with friends and what i've heard a ton of dudes are doing interservice transfers and going to SFAS. Even Raiders and they're still required to do SFAS and Q course.
As a former 11B, a Grunt is a Grunt... Army or Marines, we both fought GWOT hard, taking most of the casualties.. Ramadi had Marines and Army Infantry units on the ground
True, and pretty soon, entry level enlisted infantry training will be extended to 18 weeks. IOC was also extended by a month, and there are plans in the works to extend AITB courses too. Also, Corps level squad competitions in addition to the Division level comps, extending Combat Instructor Course, 2nd Mar Div's Apex Battalion certification process, new ranges on Lejeune and Pendleton, and more courses at Division Schools to include a Signature Management Course, SUAS Operator Course, and Company Commander/ DLAP Course.
I'd still argue we should have Snipers and Assaultmen, but whatever.
@Infantry198th Notice how i started off "cant quite speak on the Army" never worked with them in any capacity. You're just looking at something to get butthurt about
@Infantry198th Your logic makes no sense. Saying "All Army infantry suck" would be a blanket statement. Al l said was 1. I cant speak on them and 2. It's likely or I'm assuming 11b are on the same level as an 03xx which is my background. Are you implying they're not or something?
@Infantry198th Yeah you keep saying that without providing a logical argument. I'd love to here how Army infantry are superior or something if thats what you're getting. I could've said "i don't know if 11b and 03xx are on par" but i'm giving them the benefit of the doubt and my personal lack of experience working with them
I remember sitting on a Mountain side one pitch black night in East Paktika. We were providing overwatch for an element returning from a day of trading rounds with the Taliban. We expected contact from this location, known for ambush!
Sitting behind my MK48 I watched IR illuminate a valley 1200m away. ODA was getting after the Taliban. An AC-130 Gunship supporting them with amazing effect. I remember thinking, that’s where the real fight is! Then Thinking, those Fk’rs are stealing our kills lol.
We got our blood & the Taliban got theirs. We seem to think that we need to go SF to find the fight but many infantry units were submerged in fierce battles for weeks & months during OEF/OIF. The Infantry glorifies SF and always will but nothing is more sacred than our first kill & the bond we share for life after battle.
I was part of the 10th MTN out with you guys was this 2018 or 2020? I'm glad you brought that up. I have treated 2 guys who were Purple Heart recipients but not CIB recipients because they did not fire their weapon or perform infantry duties before or after receiving wounds. I have since talked to my congressman about those situations because it's trash. The Infantry is treated like garbage. And Purple Hearts and CIB's go a long way and when you don't get those awards it's like saying we didnt appreciate or recognize what you did. 1 of those Purple Hearts a GB and my squad leader nabbed up a guy who got shot and brought him to me (I'm a Combat Medic) under fire. GB got a BSM V and CIB dude who got shot got a PH and AAM C squad leader got nothing.
Were you in Khanadar in 2018? If so my ODA took your guys out on quite a few operations. We were on Vasquez.
@@ValhallaVFT I was in Ghazni 1212 and then 7314 in 20
As some one who’s been to both… thanks for this video.
1/4 B Co 1st platoon dirty 30
Shout out to my grunt bros.
82nd, 11B1P here, 2/504 from 2002-2005 OEF and OIF. Attached to ODA in 3rd Grp. FOB Tycz or DR was a good one in Afghtrashistan👍 and Albu Dasheer District Baghdad...a lot of us realized quickly the being attached to the OD-As, that we need not go further in our career. We were right there with you guys, and people have this glamorous view that they are super heros when really we are all men capable of extraordinary things. The difference is a career path and the intestinal fortitude to push through selection and the rest to get to where you want to be. Other than that, bullets fly both ways and I know our guys were always ready to full send with no hesitation. In combat the color of your beret in garrison won't matter, just who's on your left and right and who's watching your 6, training kicks in and you hit the zone. Love my Maroon beret and had I decided to stay in, probably would have pushed on in SOF, the war decided my career for me and I got out and glad to this day for it. Love this channel
I stated out an Infantrymen for 9 years and retired 20 years SF . Everyone has a vital part . But from my observation one is an MOS (11B) and one is a Profession (18s) when you look at the continued work put in to get better each day .
I’m retired now, but always told my Soldiers, “The infantry is a thankless job. We don’t get fame, movies about us, and most people don’t know we exist. So you either love it or hate it on your own, but do your best while you’re here, and take pride in knowing what you do matters.”
Thanks for this!
I’m a proud airborne infantryman combat veteran. But I respect each person’s service.
Thanks for making this video. I served as 11B in the Gulf war in 1990/1991 with B CO 1/8 Cav 1st Cav Div. but I also deployed to Bosnia, IFOR, SFOR 1996, KFOR Kosovo Camp Bondsteel 2001, OIF 05 -07 with 101St ABN DIV Camp Speicher IRAQ and also OEF 08 Bagram AB in Afghanistan . But Those deployments I was in Aviation. I think the SOF community is a highly professional Community with the most elite soldiers , sailors, Airmen, Marines. BUT and I mean BUT. there are a lot of movies and media and social media especially Former Navy Seals that are severely overshadowing what the conventional Army, Navy, Marine Corp can do. especially when it comes to destroying the enemy. lets talk about how AH-64a Apache helicopter can do severe damage, or what an MLRS can do, Why Artillery is called the king of battle. a row of 155 howitzers can destroy towns, the enemy and high value targets cannot be found without the intelligence community, Supplies are always need from food to radios, WE all have to eat. We need signal ops in order to communicate, I mean the list goes on and on.
Most of the top story battles of WWI, WWII, Korean Conflict, Vietnam , Desert Storm and even Iraq and Afghanistan were mostly your conventional forces to include grunts, scouts, fisters, artillery, aviation. from the lowest ranking private all the way to 4 stars and most were either logistics, medical. military intelligence, Communications, MPs, Artillery, Supply and so forth., SOF Community is only about 11 percent of the large scale military.
Nothing can work without signal, fuel, supplies, finance, administrations, School Instructors. transportation, mechanics, medical, aviation, intelligence. Thousands of men and women in those MOS/Rates is why combat MOSs and SOF are able to do what they do, And last, have served as a drill sergeant and army recruiter. Without Recruiters we have no military, and without Drill sergeants , soldiers don't get the initial basic training they need to follow on to AITs
Had a green beret tell me he is infantry first, also says he respects infantry more bc they are way less trained but fight just as much. It was a backhanded compliment but i took it lol
I feel like inside the military as a grunt I got equal amounts of respect from special forces my experience isn’t going to be the same as yours though and times may have been different pending when you served
But outside the infantry I find me and my brethren where compared to mentally handicapped people or called a professional homeless person
But I also found those people to be the first to bitch when shit hits the fan they’ll often say that’s not their job. But they’ll be the first to say we’re all riflemen or infantry plus or basically infantry.
Outside the military I’ve often been told I’m not shit when I know that’s not true. Or oh you were just infantry you mustn’t be very smart or you weren’t an infantry officer so you weren’t shit.
I just let people say what they’re gonna say I know my worth as any grunt should.
Nobody understands infantry but infantry.. We've always been misunderstood lol
The infantry is a weird experience and can be difficult to explain to people. It's a career that can take you to a foreign land where you physically burn down a city; crack an enemy army down the middle while getting to engage in a little atrocity and we crime action; and then six months later you are busting rust off a thirty year old vehicle after coming off a 24 hour duty. You work with some of the best men as well as literal brain damaged individuals. It's a great time, but may not be for everyone.
I was a Marine machine gunner and my Staff Sergeant was in the initial Fallujah push. It sounded crazy.
I was 11H/11B for about 10 years before I went to the 18D (my career is unusual and a long story), which I failed at the very end. My marriage was in the shitter so they said come in a year. Then 9/11 happened. So I went back down the street to 3/505 PIR, and we did 6 mos in Afghanistan and then another 8 in Iraq. Then I go back to the 18C course in 04, and now there are 18Xs. The older ones were actually pretty cool, but I had these two 19 yo PFC dipshits that liked to talk shit about the 82nd. I said, “You made it through selection-good job. You know the difference between you and a PFC down the street? I know what he’s gonna do if he gets shot at. Guess who I’m taking to war if I have to go tomorrow. Not you. So, shut your mouth, cherry.” I’m getting worked up thinking about it.
I was Army infantry. We dont get nearly enough respect. SF and marines shit on us all the time as if theyre better. But, we had the longest deployments and get treated the worst. Army has the highest turnout rate. So, no we dont get respect.
Completely agree. Especially the marine part. They don't seem to understand that army infantry and marine infantry are practically identical.
As a former 0311 I have nothing but respect for the sacrifices that Army grunts made during GWOT. I would take you all over POG Marines any day.
@@mogwaiman6048
You're a rare breed, devil. We appreciate you for that.
I've never served
But the reality of it is that in almost all of history, wars have been almost entirely won by infantry and conventional troops
Just to clarify I still have the highest of respect for any troop spec ops, infantry or not
I thank all of you for your service👏
11B here. Was deployed to Ramadi. Don't forget about Army grunts
Exactly.
Some of the most competent people I've had the pleasure to work with are infantry soldiers or ex-infantry soldiers (and marines). There's a lot of young guys in the infantry as well, but I won't discredit their training or dedication to being an elite fighting force at the individual level. There are too many unrecognized service members affected by a political agenda or lack of recognition.
Thanks but my favorite deployments where as an 11B we got attached to the SOF units as uplift. The extra training and cool missions those where the best.
As a retired US Army Airborne infantryman 22 years 87-09 i have much respect for special operations. We used to have a saying way back in the day. Can we do the job you do yes we can even though we'd have train up for it as you are already set up for it. We considered the green berets and others as infantryman with PhDs and us with a high school diploma.
Unfortunately the world will always look for SOF. There will always be pod cast, movies, TV, news contributors, and none profit organizations looking to raise money for SOF. But never basic infantry.
Thanks for doing this and saying this.
You’re doing good work.
0331 from 2005 - 2009. OIF and OEF. Ramadi in '06. Only SF story I have is from the times my squad was tasked out to pull security for Seals. It was my first deployment and was boot AF. It seemed that their infantry tactics were jacked up (ranger file, little dispersement for IEDs, in a city). But I was way to green to believe I had an opinion, and kept it to myself. Turns out, they were jacked up.
There are things those guys do that is way out of anything I experienced or could do. But it's almost as if they were blind to the basics.
Thanks bro!
I was in both Fallujahs 1CD 2/7 Cav! OIF 2 2004-2005, we were heading to Najaf to support the Corp but my Plt received a FRAGO to go support our Scouts basecamp that was being attacked in the Sabuk Sur district of Sadr City! 11 Bang Bang!
Special Forces is exactly what is says it is it’s “SPECIAL FORCES” doing special missions that’s there jam. Regular army infantry or conventional army are exactly that, they are conventional. They both help and work with each other at certain times. I would say mostly not though unless it’s a pretty big invasion or assault. They still tie in here and there and work together though in different operations. They have different missions sets but the same at certain times it probably depends. In Special forces your primary mission set is SPECIAL OPERATIONS hence the reason they are in Special Operations. I was regular army infantry not airborne or air assault and I truly believe it’s an amazing learning experience to work with and operate in a conventional unit for some time. It definitely makes you understand different elements. I loved it, it helps mold a leader and warrior more because you’re around young joes (privates) and have to deal with all sorts of problem with different ranks high and low. Conventional and Special forces need each other they go hand in hand sometimes with certain missions like I said above but mostly they are doing their own thing. Special Operations have more assets yes because they are SPECIAL and have more training required for special missions and that’s just the way it is. You work harder and want more privilege and assets go Special Operations. If you want to be in a conventional unit and have less assets more often and do more conventional style missions with them then go regular Army or Marines. They both experience high risk missions/operations but Special Operations has better assets depending on circumstances and availability. Regular units don’t have that many assets a lot of the time so you could they have higher risks but Special Operations has high risks as well I would say even more so because they are doing Special missions most of the time but have more assets sometimes. So SF is doing Special stuff with sometimes more assets which is a lot of the times harder (because it requires more training) whereas conventional forces barely get assets and they have to hold out for those resources if they can get any. Either way they are all badass they just have different levels of skill, privilege, precedence (priority), and hierarchy in a lot of operations. I think I contrasted them pretty well. It could be better there’s things I probably don’t know.
They should do a movie based on the book, one million steps.
The Marines fighting in Sangin, Afghanistan.
Level 0 heroes as well
Can you make a video of what kind of college degree or Educational Backgrounds do special operators have? Or is preferred?
Organizational Leadership is probably the most common, have one myself.