46S vs 11B

Writing news releases, taking photographs, producing videos, managing social media, and supporting media relations for the command. You tell the Army's story through traditional and digital media. Garrison includes covering training events, change of command ceremonies, and community relations. Deployment involves combat camera, media escorts, and operational communication.

PT at 0630, formation, weapons maintenance, ranges, and tactical drills. Most days end by 1700 but field problems run 72+ hours. Garrison time is heavy on maintenance and cleaning — you will mop floors that are already clean.

AIT at the Defense Information School (DINFOS) at Fort Meade (MD) is about 12 weeks. Covers journalism, photography, videography, media relations, and social media management. DINFOS training is genuinely useful and the skills are directly applicable to civilian media careers.

OSUT at Fort Moore (GA) is 22 weeks of combined Basic and Infantry training. High-intensity, high-washout environment. Land navigation, live fire exercises, and forced marches. The last few weeks are the best — squad live fires and a final field exercise.

Low to moderate. Some fieldwork documenting training and operations, but most work is writing, photography, video production, and media relations. Physical demands depend on what you are covering — embedding with infantry means infantry conditions.

Extremely high. Rucking 35-70 lbs over rough terrain, room clearing, casualty drags, and operating on minimal sleep. Your knees, back, and shoulders will take a beating.

Public affairs is one of the best MOSs for creative professionals who want military experience without giving up their craft. You get paid to write, photograph, and produce video content — skills that are directly transferable to civilian media, marketing, and communications careers. The recruiter might undersell it as a support job, but PA specialists produce real content that reaches real audiences. What they won't tell you: you are also the person who writes the command's dry press releases, covers boring ceremonies, and manages social media accounts that nobody reads. The creative work is sandwiched between a lot of bureaucratic communication requirements. The civilian translation is strong: corporate communications, journalism, marketing, PR agencies, and government public affairs all recruit from the 46S community. DINFOS training is respected in the industry.

The recruiter will tell you infantry is the backbone of the Army, and that part is true. What they won't tell you is that peacetime infantry is 80% maintenance and cleaning, promotion is glacially slow because everyone has the same MOS, and your body will age faster than your peers in other fields. The camaraderie is unmatched — you will form bonds that last a lifetime — but the day-to-day can be mind-numbing between field rotations. If you want to be an infantryman, go all-in on schools and tabs, because that's what separates the ones who love it from the ones who count down their contract.