Posted on Jun 2, 2015
How many military members actually see combat?
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I am a recruiter for the Navy and I constantly have "battles" with people who are interested in the Marine Corps and Army and I tell them that not everyone will see combat and that in fact if you are infantry/medic/truck driver you pretty much don't leave the base you're at. Is that a true statement? I'm not a huge fan at all about being a liar just to get people to join. Just trying to get my facts straight. Thanks
Combat
Recruiter
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 529
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I applaud you for your integrity. Thank you for your dedication I never desired recruiting duty because I wasn’t a used car salesmen and had to lie to fill a quota. If you’re asked about other services I would go talk to your fellow Recruiters and get their opinions on what they consider to be “combat”. As for the Navy our Mission is to go into “harms way” with a Vessel that has the potential for its own destruction. My first sea duty assignment was the USS FORRESTAL (CV/AVT-59) the very ship that Trial By Fire was made on and makes the Damage Controlman rating so important. In the Army or Marines every person is trained to be a rifleman. Onboard a ship it’s our responsibility as DCmen to ensure that everyone is trained as firefighters. Onboard a ship there’s no where to run. I’d call that “combat.”
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Now PO1 Seth! What rock did you lift up to get this comment.... you should have left this rock alone
:-(.
:-(.
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I hate to say this, but you are wrong in your thinking/assumption. Any soldier regardless of their MOS can be deployed to a combat zone. I agree with another post. You should sit down with ALL recruiters, including reserve and national guard.
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I am a combat vet from Vietnam and I have heard that less than 27% of the military ever actually see combat.
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That is definitely NOT a true statement! It does not matter what your MOS, RATE or TECH position is/are...it comes down to the need of the military in any branch you served. Some has spent their entire career not deploying or going into a hostile area while others spends theirs going from one conflict to another.
I'm SATCOM (Tactical) and saw combat in Desert Storm, Joint Endeavor, Constant Endeavor, Joint Guard, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
If you never see combat...I'm happy for you, but remember you may see combat operation regardless of your position.
As for infantry/medic/truck driver...keep you A/B/C bags packed and ready! I definitely saw these MOS down range (Infantry provides security, Medic because there's usually no hospital in combat zones and Truck drivers for Logistics runs as well as delivering our fighting resources).
I'm SATCOM (Tactical) and saw combat in Desert Storm, Joint Endeavor, Constant Endeavor, Joint Guard, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
If you never see combat...I'm happy for you, but remember you may see combat operation regardless of your position.
As for infantry/medic/truck driver...keep you A/B/C bags packed and ready! I definitely saw these MOS down range (Infantry provides security, Medic because there's usually no hospital in combat zones and Truck drivers for Logistics runs as well as delivering our fighting resources).
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If you do not know what combat medics do, you seriously need to watch "HACKSAW RIDGE." Then you will know the t truth. GOD bless all the Combat medics throughput history, no matter what side they are on. They go into harms way to save the wounded. Most of them have no guns with then. If not for them the death rate would triple, if not quadruple.
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Wow, I don't think that is a true statement but, what do I know lmmfao. If you want to see combat, I'd think you would have to be off your rocker lol. Seeing dead and wounded isn't a pretty sight...js.
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PO3 Kenneth Suvanto
This plane crash landed one day when I had FOUL LINE duty...I was in Crash and Salvage aboard the USS Coral Sea..it was enough combat for me, almost lol. Anyhoo, the second picture is a pic of the Marines coming back after the Mayaguez incident in which, they were ambushed. It was the last battle of the Vietnam War. I joked and coked with them the night before they shipped out. I found out they had just got out of bootcamp, and were sent to Okinawa, then our boat. These guys were literally shaking in their boots most of the night...I thought, what in the fluck are they sending these guys into combat, I know more about combat than they do, for Christ sake's! (That's what I thought anyway), I really felt sorry for them! Point being WAR is hell. P.S., I put the camera down and did not take pictures of the dead and wounded, that came back, out of respect for THEM.
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PO2 Steven Henry
Yes, you are right, seeing people die is not something I ever want to see again. However, you can't forget what you've seen during combat.
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PO3 Kenneth Suvanto
PO2 Steven Henry - Yes I agree Sir, you NEVER forget...it's ingrained into your soul.
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I volunteered, USAF [4 years] in 1966 expecting no combat but a support role dealing with electronics AFSC. In 1969 I went TDY to Vietnam to each English. One afternoon 'combat ' came to my classroom. 28 Purple Hearts (my team members) - bombs and weapon fire - my safe job was altered forever. My elder brother (Army, drafted [19 mo.] Korea, early 60s), and younger brother (Marines, volunteer [21 years] Gulf Conflict 90s) experienced none.
Each is different.
Each is different.
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When you get deployed, you get used how they need you. My son was on an artillery crew. When he got to Iraq, he patrolled 6 nights a week between his FOB and Baghdad. Survived 5 IED hits, earned his combat badge, for actual combat. Not sure about other branches, but just because you sign up for a job, and get trained for it, does not mean that's what the Army will use you for. His battery had 4 platoons, two of them never left the FOB, the other two patrolled the whole time. The luck is in the draw I guess which you end up doing.
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When I was in Vietnam 49 years ago the battle lines were nonexistent. Everyone in the field and the rear areas were subject to hostile fire.
That has not changed with more use of ieds
That has not changed with more use of ieds
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