 Sergeant Saunders on the television series, Combat. In the late winter of this year, I had the good fortune of being the guest of the commanding general of the infantry school at Fort Benning, Georgia. My tour of this huge Army post was not only exciting, it was an eye-opener. I saw some of the best soldiers that ever marched to step or fight a round of ammunition. The real thrill of my visit was becoming one of them. I was made an honorary doe boy of the Second Infantry Division. I'm very proud of that, both as an actor and as an American. My stay was all too short, but it was a great opportunity to see today's fighting man in training. And you can bet that he uses all the ladies' equipment and techniques. When I left Fort Benning, I took with me one firm conviction. The infantryman is still the backbone of the Army. Make no mistake about it. Whenever the need arises, one thing is sure. The infantryman will always be there. In 1756, the infant American colonies were still tied to the apron strings of Mother England. In that same year, the British found themselves tied up in the knots of a French and Indian war. They hired a mercenary shop-shooting Yankee named Rogers. And he and his band of woodsmen became known as Rogers Rangers. And so the forerunner of the American infantryman was born. Trained he was not, but he was willing to learn. Rogers was a poor disciplinarian, but he did set down a list of standing orders that were gems of simplicity. Don't forget nothing. Order number two made sound sense. Have your muskets clean as a whistle, hatch it scoured, 60 rounds powder and ball, and be ready to march at a minute's warning. The Rangers took order number three at face value. When you're on the march, act the way you would if you were sneaking up on a deer. See the enemy first. But order number ten sometimes got confusing. And if we take prisoners, we keep them separate till we have time to examine them so they can't cook up a story between them. Came the revolution and the book of the American infantryman opened to its first page. He was a bookkeeper, a cobbler, a blacksmith. He lacked training and his musket was unwieldy. Untooted in the military arts, the civilian soldier walked into a hail of organized fire. Held together by inspired leadership, he retreated when necessary in advance when he could until we won our independence as a nation. Peace came, but it was short-lived. Three decades later, the citizen soldier was bearing arms in the War of 1812. Again in 1848, when we sent our troops into Mexico and wound up occupying Mexico City, now we had a standing army. It was still small and untrained, but it was growing. All of these military actions were but a prelude to the thunder of the Civil War. A call to arms was heard and answered. We are coming, Father Adron, with 300,000 more. We are coming, Father Adron, with 300,000 strong, with three hearts. Spanish-American war was a conflict that wasn't particularly large or bloody. More American casualties resulted from disease than from Spanish gunfire. Battle of San Juan Hill, Tilly Roosevelt led the charge, which broke the Spanish spirit. But it was the infantry that captured the San Juan blockhouse. Throughout the wars that saw America develop into one of the great powers of the world, the citizen soldier reached his maturity as a fighting man. In World War I, he acquired a name, Dobor. Regulars from the small American army and thousands of new recruits were hurriedly taught to techniques of trench warfare and prepared for combat. The plan was being held in France. Recruits were training at home. A typical center of activity was Camp Mills Long Island, home of the Rainbow Division. The rookies rolled into camp, young and eager. And looking for their great adventure, they found it all right. On the very first day, on the second day there was more, they put a rifle in his hands, and he learned to use it. He lived in a city of tents. As the dough boys kept pouring in, the tents got bigger, and the trenches grew longer. When the recruits griped about the daily routine, the ever-obliging non-coms variated. Naturally, all of this out there exercised, what are the appetites of drawing dough boys? To keep them from getting that logi feeling, they were given plenty of opportunity to work it off. Their basic training completed, the men of the Rainbow Division received orders to ship out. They began their great adventure, and were given a send-off as old as war itself. Troop transports were filled to overflowing, but nobody complained. At least not so anyone could notice. France, the excitement of the dough boys, was matched by the warmth of 50 million waiting Frenchmen. Quickly resumed their training. The shimmer of cold steel in the French sunshine hit them like a dash of cold water. Put their training to use in the trenches. This was the story of one infantry division. But all over the western front, the story was the same. Green troops fighting valiantly against a highly trained combat-hardened enemy. But soon the green troops became seasoned, became fighting men and won the war. It was conclusive enough. Proof that the American infantryman was a soldier to be reckoned with. 1928. And the infantryman's training was improving. He learned better ways to set up and administer a command post. He also learned how to save more lives with better methods of handling casualties. It was passed when a squad of platoon would execute an unprotected charge across no man's land. He learned new techniques of deploying an attire battalion on the defensive to ensure maximum protective cover and fire support. Liaison was worked up between airplane observers, artillery, and machine gun fire. In 1940, the term amphibious took on importance and the ever-changing face of the infantryman came into even clearer focus. He had to be a little of everything and very good at all of it. One item was standard, then as now it punctuates all phases of training. His gear and dress became more streamlined and so did he. Training got to be more vigorous and comprehensive. It had to. He told him to do this in Europe and this in the Pacific. Korea taught us even more lessons about combat. This is Fort Benning, Georgia, the home of the infantry. Here the infantryman's skill is home to a sharp edge. The scope of his learning is the broadest it has ever been. And while on duty he keeps Marty busy. Double time is the rule rather than the exception. Between 400 and 500 officers from 30 to 40 allied nations keep abreast of our training methods each year. They learn the pace is a fast one. Now, one thing I want you to get straight. I've only got one mission here. And it's not to become your dear friends. You left that when you left your home. Oh, my job is to make soldiers fighting men. Obviously the infantryman instructors don't mince words and one lesson is driven home constantly. You might find it to be pleasant to you. Pleasant to you. And some day you men may have to face combat. And some day you're going to be in that situation where you're going to have to have this discipline. And when someone tells you to move you got... An old story still holds true. The infantryman's rifle is his best friend. Chopin's is shooting allied cardboard enemies. He'd be ready for anything. He also studies theory in a modern classroom. Let it he'll apply it in the field. The room is aptly named. There's plenty of it. These students learn the techniques of military communications. The actual maneuver. All the pieces fit together to the modern ranger. The further refinement and another face of the infantryman. The infantryman have temporarily lost their identity. While they train an individual answers to the name of Ranger. To the heights to which a ranger can aspire. Training is realistic, rough and hazardous. The closest approach to combat conditions that can be achieved in a peacetime arm. The pugil stick is an asset to pay in that training. These logs are heavy. And you have to be rugged to be on the receiving end. This can be played as a game. But here it's used to sharpen the competitive spirit. The ranger student is taught how to use explosives for demolition work. It's a patrolling by day or night. It's high on the list of rangers' musts. These soldiers learn there's more than one way to cross a ravine. Or walk a typo. Rough situations such as this 40 foot drop must become commonplace. The confidence course is designed to help the ranger student face and overcome these dangers. Each student had to make molehills out of mountains. Reptiles of poisonous and which are not. Which are edible and which are not. Every man must become intimately acquainted. Adjust or die is a basic range of law. A man eats what he can when he can get it. He learns that his mission requires him to surmount all natural obstacles plus a few added ones. By the special forces soldier is a symbol of excellence. His badge of courage. A volunteer and a dedicated one. He is an outdoorsman trained to live and fight anywhere. His training includes the study of foreign languages. He is prepared to face the perils of interrogation and brainwashing. He learns the international Morse code and transmits at the rate of 18 words per minute. He must also be able to build and maintain a working set out of parts at hand. He must have more than a passing knowledge of judo. And judo's deadly extension karate. Special forces medic is equipped to meet any emergency. To the special forces soldier there's no such thing as an unscalable cliff. He learns to fight in the jungle. The Panji trap is a camouflage pit at the bottom of which needle shop bamboo stalks are embedded. The traps are mined with hand grenades. To survive a special forces team man must be prepared to frequency anything from A to Z or anywhere. He'll make it. Also he must be a good pathfinder which means he has to know his area orientation. Cliff wall of thin air. The art of repelling is the quick way. The special forces man goes from student to instructor when his mission takes him to smaller countries struggling to remain free. In this role he serves both as teacher and ambassador. His mission may take him anywhere. Here the special forces soldier makes good use of another traditional best friend. Whether he is in the jungle or the frozen north he must be at home. Man takes a giant step up when he volunteers to be an airborne soldier. Incoming trainees get a preview of what's in store for him. This is the beginning for every soldier. His boot must be the mirror of himself. He discovers the gladiator pit. An exercise with no holds barred. And he must keep in shape. Airborne soldier is a careful process. Begins by learning how to fall from an airplane with proper body position. Man you're not making good parachute landing fall. In order to make a good parachute landing fall you're going to have to put your feet and knees together and shift it over toward the ground. Soldier you're not paying attention to me. You're not mentally alert. Get out and get 10 push ups. Student is sloppy. He pays a penalty. But nobody feels slighted. Trainees go through pre-jump procedures in a mock airplane. Foot towers used to train potential jumpers in techniques and body position. It also serves to test the medal of the man. Each student is given individual attention by his instructor. He receives constant instructions in preparation of his gear for safe jumping. Soldier your leg straps are loose. They should be tight. You're not mentally alert. Move out. Get 12-squat jumps. Tighten your leg straps and move to the end of the line. Yes, Sergeant. This machine serves to give him experience in collapsing a parachute in high winds. In relation to control the shoot during his descent. The student is not completely alone during his first experience of controlling a parachute. Instructors brief the students on a training mission and the terrain of the drop zone. In the plane the first actual jump is at hand. Perhaps the only exception to the rule that a rifle is a soldier's best friend is his parachute. Air force planes are used for student jumps. Careful control is always exercised to minimize the possibility of injury. More jumps and these men will receive their paratroopers badge. This is the prince who can afford so to cover his country with troops for the defense. As at 10,000 men descending from the clouds might not, in many places, do an infinite amount of mischief before a force could be brought together to repel them. Touchdown and success. Only four more to go for the winds. Any kind of war weapons and machines are very important. The man himself remains the essential element of success in combat. The infantryman however armed, however transported whatever his mission is the key to any combination designed to gain that success. He fights over any terrain in any climate and under any conditions imposed by man and nature.