Infantry

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Romanian infantry in Afghanistan

British Infantryman in Iraq

Infantry is the branch of a country's army that fights on foot. A member of the infantry is called an infantryman. Infantrymen are also called foot soldiers or footmen. Infantry is different than cavalry because infantry members fight on their own two feet, without vehicles or animals to ride on. Historically, infantrymen were trained to use spears, swords and shields. Modern infantrymen are trained to use many different kinds of weapons, including rifles, grenades, rocket launchers, pistols, sniper rifles, and machine guns. It is one of the most dangerous jobs in any country's military. Since the end of World War II, 81% of Americans killed in battle were infantrymen. This is despite the fact that the infantry made up only about 4% of the US military. The infantry is the backbone of the military and the most important branch of the army.

Infantry Media

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  French Army and British Army infantry during a military exercise in 2020

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  Stadlinger Tafel I oben: 1. Infanterieregiment *(Grenadierregiment Königin Olga, 1. württembergisches, Nr. 119) 1638-1767.

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  Infantry of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army boarding an M2 Bradley IFV in Iraq in 2006

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  Greek soldiers of Greco–Persian Wars

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  Rocroi, el último tercio ("Roicroi, the last tercio") by Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau, portraying infantry of a battered Spanish tercio at the 1643 Battle of Rocroi

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  Original caption: "A remarkable photograph of an actual bayonet charge by French soldiers typical of the gallantry and spirit they display in action."

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  Swiss Army infantry kits arrayed in front of a field kitchen in Spitalacker, Bern during a workers' strike, c. 1918

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  Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces infantry "packing light" during a patrol in 2013

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  Russian weapons from the 13th to 17th centuries

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  The Roman testudo performed during a siege, as shown on Trajan's Column.