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Suggest a Feature →ArmyCombat ArmsRank #46 of 101 by 4-year cost
11C
Indirect Fire Infantryman
16-week pipeline · OSUT (BCT + AIT combined) · Fort Moore, GA
Training Pipeline
$40K
16 weeks
Annual MILPERS
$63K
E-4, 3 years service
Equipment Burden
$8K
per year (amortized)
4-Year Total Cost
$326K
DoD investment
4-Year Cost Breakdown
Training Pipeline
$40K12%
Military Personnel (MILPERS × 4yr)
$254K78%
Equipment Burden (× 4yr)
$32K10%
Training: 12% · MILPERS: 78% · Equipment: 10%= $326K
By the Numbers
Mortar systems can deliver a 14-pound round 5.7km every 15 seconds. The equipment each crew operates costs more than an average American car.
Training Pipeline
Duration
16 weeks
Type
OSUT (BCT + AIT combined)
Location
Fort Moore, GA
Pipeline Cost
$40K
The M252 81mm mortar each 11C operates costs $23,000 — more than most 11Cs earn in base pay their first year.
Equipment & Annual Burden
Primary Platform
M252 81mm Mortar — $23,000 per tube (6-person crew)
Assigned Equipment
- ·M252 81mm Mortar System
- ·M4A1 Carbine
- ·PVS-14 NVG
- ·IOTV Body Armor
- ·Fire Control Equipment
Annual Equipment Burden
$8K/yr
M252 ($23K/6 crew/~5yr) + personal equipment amortized
Military Personnel Cost (Annual)
Grade BenchmarkE-4, 3 years service
Base MILPERS$63K/yr
Total Annual MILPERS$63K/yr
Force Structure Context
Annual Accessions~2,800
Avg Career Length6 years
Annual Training Bill$112.0M
Total Force 4yr Cost$911.5M
Other Army Profiles
Cost estimates derived from DoD Comptroller per-soldier analysis, RAND Corporation military personnel studies, CBO military compensation reports, service-specific training cost testimony, and published equipment unit costs. Error margin ±15%. Individual costs vary by duty station, assignment, and deployment tempo. This is Phase 3 of the Honest MOS DoD Budget Intelligence Roadmap.