I have been Marine Corps Infantry for 5 years and been to 3 units so I can give you a well rounded response to your questions.
As has been stated, no there is no airborne infantry except for your recon guys can get jump wings. We do have some high speed cool schools. I am a HRST Master, Helicopter Rope Suspension Techniques Master. So repelling or fast roping out of a helo, also SPIE rigging which if you don't know what it is you should look up.
Normal life:
Come into work at around 6. Go PT and get slayed by team leader/squad leader/platoon sergeant/first sergeant, whom ever feels like getting theirs that day. Shower eat and be back at 8.
Day possibility 1. Probably sit around and wait for someone to come up with something to do then go commence classes on anything and everything. Go to chow at 11 and if your lucky be back at 13. Start classes again and studiously take notes.
Day possibility 2. Go draw weapons from armory. Walk out to the field and start buddy rushing. Go to chow at 11 hopefully be back at 13. Continue buddy rushing, watch weakest kid throw up and laugh, continue buddy rushing or patrolling or field skills.
Day possibility 3. Clean, clean everything. Usually on Thursday.
Day possibility 4. Command realizes there is nothing to do and recognizes you have been working really hard lately and your tactics are looking solid. You have a formation and get off early (very unlikely but does happen)
Day possibility 5. Get ready to go to the field for an extended field op. Draw out all gear and run all over base making sure everything is prepped and ready.
Then at the end of the day at 1600 someone will remember something that didn't get done and you will be in a mad rush to get it done so you can get off of work for the day. So you will usually be off between 1600-1800 but will more commonly than you like to acknowledge go later than 1800.
We are usually out in the field for a week at least once a month. During a busy time we could be out for the whole work week, every week in a month. Or during a workup for a deployment you can be out in the field for a month or more straight.
You will miss many weekends and will come home very late at night more times than you can count. I don't want to say you cant do school online but I've never seen it done successfully. I have been trying. You definitely can't expect to do night school as you will not be home many nights and many of those nights you won't be home will be last minute things.
Deployments: I have been in high tempo deploying units. We do about 12 month work ups and deploy for 6-9 months.
If you have any more questions I would be happy to help you.
I concur with AKkeith, here's a take on infantry from a LAR standpoint. (Light Armored Reconnaissance) *LAR is more like an armored unit that happens to have 03's in it, not really a "infantry unit" per say.
I have been in for 5 years, 2 Afghan deployments, all with LAR. We are mounted, so that entails a lot of vehicle maintenance. Ramp Monday means working on the vehicles all day , usually a 0313 "crewman task " but if it needs to get done quick-fast, and you don't have a rocker, grab a wrench. The 0313's are either working on the pigs (vehicles), or working on gunnery at the ISMT, Dis/As'in the gun. The 11's will use the above format that AKkeith laid out. LAR also has a weapons platoon, one per company. That's where I have been for the last few years. they are broken up into a Mortar/AT section usually run by 2 Ssgt's (0369's) the weapons guys usually don't get the "luxuries, or protection" of a weapons company like a line Bn, most of the time we have to tag along with the scouts (0311's) and do 11's training. Under the right Ssgt's a weapons plt can be a haven. Mortars can always hone their craft, even without rounds (gun drills/FDC work) and Tow gunners (like myself) have the luxury of having to be in someones room "studying" armor ID. Live fire is almost non existent for us due to high round cost, unless in a work up for a deployment. The AT (Anti-Tank) section is pretty awesome, I have had some good work ups, mostly due to having an awesome BN gunner who can value a bunker-buster, or Javelin option.
Make contacts along the way, develop a good work ethic, accept school noms, and run with them. Once you show you are proficient with your job/mos, your unit will give you a little rope, so you can dabble into another (0916,0918, etc) I have been fortunate enough to be able to go to a lot of schools along the way, ISLC, MAI, Foreign weapons, TOW leaders, and lastly MCIWS (my pride and joy, it got me a job at the pool for the last year)
All of the above can be expected in some form or fashion. Its the United States Marine Corps son...Your experience may differ.
. There being no airborne infantry unit would not be a game changer by any means, but it would definitely be a plus.
