How many military members actually see combat?

Obviously you’ve been underwater too long.

Somebody has been feeding this Navy recruiter a pile of BS. These are the MOSs who have always been out in the fight. Not the opposite. Many more jobs too. In today's wars, many people with non-combat jobs still end up getting pulled to do combat missions out past the wire. The only service who seems to wimp out is the air force. They have their MOSs who go out with the ground units but for the most part, their people tend to remain FOBITS. The other services are much more respectable in this role And for those us who have been in direct contact with the enemy, we do look down upon those who have never engaged the enemy. It's like training for the Olympics & never getting there. Those who have brought the hurt to the enemy are the real champions.

Wait... You are a Navy recruiter who has no idea about the Army, but you are advising others as to 'their' direction in life... In the military (pick a branch), providing half of the information that is half-right is 100% wrong. It's time to extract that lump on your shoulders from your rectal backside. Quit telling HALF of the equation and include "practical probability" into the discussion. Speak proudly about that which you are versed and redirect those conversations which you are "less-than-educated" about.

Integrity if non-recoverable once lost.

I served 31 years in the Infantry & Special Forces, and I served with the USMC and USN Corpsman, in Vietnam, and other locations. The brunt of combat is done by the foot soldier. While they are part of a large team, they conduct routine combat patrols, small to large combat operations all of the time, on a daily basis. You will hear them joke about it because they don't talk seriously about combat. Combat in the cities and villages is more difficult with the world of IEDs, booby traps, and other dangers. I served three years as an enlisted Infantryman and 28 years as an officer. That is the way it is.

I’m a Vietnam Vet who retired the same yr the Berlin Wall fell. Not long after, the Middle East lit up and my wife (Navy Line) was deployed to in-kingdom Saudi. She had just moved out of Kobar Towers when a Scud took it out.

In today’s conflicts with the advent of vests, IEDs and all, there are really only a few “safe” places—shipboard and Air Force bases from whence bombers and drones are launched in the US.

Although, there is a Marine Reserve Center that, not long ago, found out it was in the line of fire.

Oh, that's rich. Popeye must have got hit in the fantail aboard the Love Boat. Stop by the Army recruiting office. Ask to speak with a Combat Infantryman or a Combat Medic. Same with the Marines, remember their Corpsmen are Navy, if you were unaware of that. It sounds like you are very new to the military and recruiting. Attempt to learn actual facts before spouting BS. You may be surprised that if you know what you are doing some of the other service recruiters will steer members to you for specific jobs or training.

Depending on the operations that are assigned you never know. we had every branch to include coast guard assigned to my little old infantry COP in Kherwar. Low level voice intercept and joint communication teams gave us navy and air force augmentation along with coast guard personnel. the coast guard guy they gave us was the coolest. Only one who sent a care package after his rotation home. None of the other short stay personnel did that. coasties got class

If you don't want to see combat. Stay home and become a librarian.

When you are in a combat zone, there is no magic bubble protecting cooks, medics, mechanics, clerks or other non combat arms MOS's. Be honest with recruits. You ALL go to basic or boot camp to learn how to be American fighting men. THE BEST IN THE WORLD.

Infantry never leaves the base? That person is wrong and it's not hard to tell. If they F'd up and are on extra duty then 'boredom' would be a way to keep them on base. Medics always go when a convoy is going outside the wire. I can't remember the number of missions I've been on and the companies we went with had at least 2 medics per platoon.
We are all trained as soldiers first and then our job. Infantry is a different thing.