ufm101 said:
hey i' d like to know witch would be better for me. I'd like the challenge of being an infantry soldier but I also like construction. I want some action in my career, that's why I'm joining the CF. Combat engineer as the construction side, but does an infantry? The infantry as the action and the close combat but does a combat engineer? I'm currently waiting for a phone call or an answer to see if I'm accepted so any help would be appreciated. thx
I had the same questions (as you can see from my multiple posts - several are in this thread).
Infantry is there to fight. They go, kick the doors down and do all the "dirty work". They are the front line in terms of combat.
Infantry excels in combat. It is their purpose. They find a threat, and destroy it. In that sense, they keep the peace. They are there to fight. Period.
Infantry can be varied(sniper, heavy machine gunner, etc) but the task at hand is usually very specific: Kill and destroy.
Combat engineers have several roles. Their definition is somewhat different than that of infantry. They destroy...sometimes they kill too, but they mostly build. Combat engineers have very general tasks to accomplish.
Combat engineers focus on construction (set up water systems, housing and so forth) and deconstruction (defusing IEDs, bombs, mines, various booby traps and detonation of certain structures such as bridges and buildings).
However, since combat engineers are a "combat arm", that means that there might be situations where they are required to engage in combat.
Some examples:
If an area needs to be patrolled, then an infantry unit will most likely do that.
If an area needs to be attacked, infantry will do that.
If someone needs to be escorted, infantry will do that.
If a bomb needs to be defused, combat engineers will do that.
If a well, house or other such structure needs to be set up in an area, the combat engineers will do that.
If an area under the control of combat engineers is being attacked, then the combat engineers revert to their role as soldiers and must fight back as infantry.
If an area is under the control of infantry and is attacked, then infantry will fight back.
If an area or unit is in need of support fire or assistance, then infantry will be called in.
If mines need to be set or defused, then combat engineers are called in.
If a structure needs to be demolished with some high explosives, then the combat engineers are called in.
Even though combat engineers might be called upon to fight, it is not something that will necessarily happen. Keep this in mind.
I have decided infantry is for me. I was more interested in the combat aspect than the (de)construction aspect. I'm a very outdoors person. I'm well built and i love physical and mental challenges.
If you are too, then infantry is for you.
If (de)construction and explosives demolition is your thing, then combat engineer is for you.
One of the reasons i have decided infantry is because in my mind (and i don't know this yet) fighting an enemy that is somewhat predictable (other people) is something i
think i could handle. That guy has a gun, let's flank him, etc. You can somewhat react to it.
Defusing a bomb which could go at any time is something i definitely could not handle. I'll be man enough to admit it. That scares the
hell out of me.
Whichever path you take, both need tons of commitment and brass balls.
Good luck in your decision.
(I am still somewhat of a beginner when it comes to this knowledge, so anyone please feel free to correct me.)
