How many military members actually see combat?

As a former USAF nurse, I would argue Navy, Air Force and Army medics have seen combat and routinely see combat in war! During wartime, medics, nurses and doctors are constantly asked to go out beyond a safe base hospital to help pick up injured with rescues and evacuations and even rescues of downed pilots or hostages. Every Special Operation unit whether SEALS, Rangers, Combat Control, Special Forces have medics assigned. Every entry of Marines in the first wave of combat in every war has gone with Navy medics! Too bad every Army, Air Force and Navy recruiter can’t visit US Navy Hospital San Diego. The most impressive part of US Navy Hospital San Diego is the rotunda filled with the names, awards and narratives of medics who have won Medals of Honor, Silver Stars and Bronze Stars in combat! It is difficult to leave the rotunda without tears streaming down your face after reading just one or two of the narratives to understand how much medics have given and contributed to treating the fallen and injured in all the US wars!

Infantry and combat medics are not the only ones to see combat. Why do you think they made the CAB? I have talked to mechanics who were forced to go out and run convoys and patrols. Always remember that everyone's primary job in the Army is low level 11B infantry, your secondary job is what AIT school you went into. If not, then why all the ephesus on BRM and throwing a grenade? The true infantry 11B's get the specialized combat skills that all the other skills do not get. While I was in the Air Guard and deployed to Kirkuk and Sather AB BIAP, I never left the wire. But, I do know that Air Force EOD, as well and the other EOD services, did leave the wire regularly. Beside, yes those with transportation jobs have to go ourside the wire, otherwise, who will get equipment for spot A to spot B?

Actually you do leave the Base frequently in those MOS's you mentioned. Prior to my USAF days / years I was a 19E and then a 19K (Armor / Tanks) in the Army and when we weren't in Garrison doing Tank stuff or other Base duties & details, we were out in the field on maneuvers or gunnery. Also, many of those MOS's you mentioned do get deployed to FOBs or special assignments in hostile or combat areas. Hope that helps some.

What do you do, other than recruit? Navy even goes outside the wire.

You are not even anywhere near close.

Infantry and line medics are almost guaranteed combat in a combat theater of operation. Support Tripp’s can also see combat in the Army and Marines depending on where they are located. Any unit can be engaged by rocket fire.

As a crewmember on Ch-47s one of our primary missions was deliberate ops with the infantry. We ran 8 crews at night and 4 during the day and were never at a loss for work. In fact, we were handing off missions to other units because we had too many requests to keep up with.

Well I'll tell you that I didn't see combat but my younger sons did, one was there from the get go, he enlisted in the US Marines, did 3 tours out there, the youngest did 2 tours as well, if you have a young possible recruit just tell them that there is a possibility, 50/50 chance, if the recruit wants to be in the mix then send them to the US Marines/US Army, if they are interested in a secure job then give them a choice of a job they can see as a job they could use in civilian life after their time in military service

Not as many see combat as should. Since we are talking about combat -- those are the first people to see it.

God damn son? Are you like brand spanking new, like born yesterday or just a dumbass? How in the world do you even think that infantry and medics never leave their base? Do you assume admin does all the fighting and infantry does security?! You just made the Navy more laughable and proved the Marines are truely the men's department of the Navy. Good lord, this question is so stupid that I think you must be lying about not wanting to lie to others. You're big draw is that unless someone wants to be a Corpsman (Navy Corpsman and Army Medics go on patrol and into combat with infantry and other units that go outside the wire) that the Navy DOESNT generally see combat. The job of the infantry is to win wars you ignorant slut and the medics/Corpsman do their best to keep those who are fighting alive.