"I need a corporal. You're it, until you're dead or I find someone better."
Rasczak was Rico's teacher in school and has become his commanding officer in the field. After Rasczak's corporal is killed he appoints Rico to the role. In his statement he is clear that this is war and and all that matters is that men are lead well, and if they are lead well there is a chance you will be killed doing it.
"Didn't they tell you, Colonel? That's what the Mobile Infantry is good for."
Carl has just told Rico that he makes decisions every day that send thousands to their deaths and this quote is Rico's response. Rico has gone from a boy who was only enlisting to chase a girl to a killing machine that knows his purpose is to kill and in the process his life might be taken, but he's never going to run away from the fight. He's going to follow orders and go into the battle.
"The infantry made me the man I am today."
Rico is told this by the man who is signing him up for boot camp. We see that he has a metal hand and as he rolls his chair to the other side of his desk we see that he has no legs. His statement is quite strange as we see that he can only be talking about how the infantry changed him internally as to Rico it appears it's taken more than it's given.
