Infantrymen are primarily employed in units from the team to regimental level to locate, close with and destroy the enemy in all environments and weather conditions, day and night. Excluding LAR units, Infantrymen are principally trained to operate on foot. However, infantry units are capable of embarking aboard and fighting from helicopters, assault amphibian tractors, motorized vehicles and small boats. As a principal component of a MAGTF’s GCE, Infantry Units must be comprised of Marines who are trained to direct supporting arms fires and act in concert with other combat arms units. All Infantrymen must be masters of field craft and proficient in the use and operation of small arms, demolitions, rockets, and mortars.
What is an 0302?
Infantry Officers are the commanders or their assistant sin infantry and reconnaissance units in MAGTFs. They plan, direct, and assist in the deployment and tactical employment of MAGTFs and any subordinate infantry and reconnaissance units. Infantry Officers are responsible for the discipline, morale, and welfare of their unit's Marines. To fulfill these responsibilities, they evaluate intelligence; estimate the operational situation; and formulate, coordinate, and execute appropriate plans for offensive/defensive maneuver, reconnaissance, fire support, nuclear, biological and chemical defense, directed energy warfare, communications and operational logistics and maintenance.
Are there any prerequisites to becoming a Infantry Officer
Officers must meet the Ground Combat Arms MOS Classifications Standards. For the Physical Fitness Test, officers must perform at least 6 pull-ups and run 3-miles in 24:51 or less. For the Combat Fitness Test, officers must perform at least 60 ammo can lifts, run the movement to contact in 3:26 or less, and navigate the maneuver under fire in 3:12 or less.
Where do I go after TBS?
After TBS, officers must complete the 12-week Infantry Officers Course (IOC) at TBS aboard Camp Barrett, MCB Quantico, VA. The purpose of the course is to train and educate newly selected infantry and ground intelligence officers in the knowledge, skills, and leadership required to serve as infantry platoon commanders in the rifle company and to provide advanced employment and training considerations of the weapons company platoons. The course also provides the core infantry knowledge, skills, and leadership required for those officers selected to serve with reconnaissance, sniper and LAR units. The focus of effort at IOC is in developing the moral, mental, and physical character of the students as it relates to the demands of an infantry unit leader that must prepare and lead Marines and a unit in combat. Specifically, IOC must prepare and train the student’s ability to decide, communicate, and execute in a mentally and physically demanding, austere, chaotic, and uncertain environment, for sustained operations. The training and education is designed to build on the infantry skills and leadership gained in the BOC as captured in the TBS Five Horizontal Themes.
What is it like being a Infantry Officer?
A typical first tour assignment for an Infantry Officer is within an O-5 (Lieutenant Colonel) command at an Infantry Battalion within the MARDIV as part of the GCE of the MAGTF. Billets typically include: Rifle Platoon Commander, Weapons Platoon Commander, Combined Anti-Armor Team (CAAT) Platoon Commander, 81mm Mortar Platoon Commander, Scout Sniper Platoon Commander, or Company Executive Officer. Infantry Officers assigned to an Infantry Battalion in their first tour typically train and employ a platoon of roughly 45 Marines to meet the objectives of the battalion to which they are assigned. As a Scout Sniper Platoon Commander, Infantry Officers command, train, and employ 15-30 specialized infantry Marines to support the battalion’s collection plan in support of offensive and defensive operations across the entire spectrum of conflict.
Recommended reading for Infantry Officers
Grunts: Inside the American Infantry Combat Experience, World War II through Iraq. John C. McManus (free audiobook)
The Last Stand of Fox Company: A True Story of Marines in Combat. Bob Drury and Tom Clavin (free audiobook or kindle book)
The Village. Bing West (free audiobook)
Sources of Power. Gary A. Klein (free audiobook)
Emotional Intelligence. Daniel Goleman (free audiobook)
Related occupations
- 0306, Infantry Weapons Officer (III) (CWO5 to CWO2) PMOS
- 0311, Rifleman (Sgt to Pvt) PMOS
- 0313, Light Armored Reconnaissance Marine (Sgt to Pvt) PMOS
- 0316, Combat Rubber Reconnaissance Craft (CRRC) Coxswain (SSgt to PFC) NMOS (0311, 0321, 0369)
- 0317, Scout Sniper (GySgt to LCpl) NMOS (0311, 0321, 0331, 0341, 0351, 0352, 0369)
- 0321, Reconnaissance Marine (MGySgt to Pvt) PMOS
- 0323, Reconnaissance Marine, Parachute Qualified (MGySgt to Pvt) NMOS (0321)
- 0324, Reconnaissance Marine, Combatant Diver Qualified (MGySgt to Pvt) NMOS (0321)
- 0326, Reconnaissance Marine, Parachute and Combatant Diver Qualified (MGySgt to Pvt) NMOS (0321)
- 0331, Machine Gunner (Sgt to Pvt) PMOS
- 0341, Mortarman (Sgt to Pvt) PMOS
- 0351, Infantry Assault Marine (Sgt to Pvt) PMOS
- 0352, Antitank Missile Gunner (Sgt to Pvt) PMOS
- 0363, Light Armored Reconnaissance Unit Leader (GySgt to SSgt) PMOS
- 0365, Infantry Squad Leader (Sgt) PMOS
- 0367, Light Armored Reconnaissance Master Gunner (MGySgt to Sgt) NMOS (0313, 0363, 0393)
- 0369, Infantry Unit Leader (GySgt to SSgt) PMOS
- 0372, Critical Skills Operator (MGySgt to Sgt) PMOS
- 0393, Light Armored Reconnaissance Operations Chief (MGySgt to MSgt) PMOS
- 0399, Operations Chief (MGySgt to MSgt) PMOS
- 0370, Special Operations Officer (LtCol to Capt) PMOS
Sources/Credits: Please note that the information above was derived from and in most cases taken directly from the "Marine Officer MOS Assignment Handbook". The Basic School. Camp Barrett. March 3, 2019. All credit goes to the great staff at TBS for putting this together.
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