How many military members actually see combat?

I was in the Army back in the 80s. I was in Eco Company 227th Aviation Battalion 1st Calvary Division as a 67V helicopter repairman. We were a forward support unit and I trained to fight Russians during the cold war and I never saw combat however, we almost had to deploy to south America to fight the drug cartels and capture Noriega. All the C-130s were loaded up, we all got a ton of shots, made up our last will and testiment and just on the runway for 61/2 hours when it was called off and the Marines were sent instead.

Everyone contributes as directed. A military member does not get to pick and choose assigned duties. In today's environment no matter what AFSC/MOS/RATE you hold circumstances may require the unlimited liability clause may apply.

WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seth, wake up and smell the coffee. Your selection of jobs are three of the most dangerous. Let me shut up.

In today's asymmetric warfare, anybody can see combat or can be stuck on the FOB. I started off in the FA & deployed with an armor unit. They made us in-lieu of combat MPs. We ended up assigned to the Marines in Fallujah. We saw quite bit. While visiting BIAP, we met other FA types there & they told us they had been in "combat". Really? Sat on BIAP, eating Burger King, going to the pool every day, & shooting artillery into Fallujah from there. We did not have kind words for them. We were used to the Marine FA on Camp Fallujah having mortars hitting all around the gun batteries while the crews did counter-battery, killing the people who were trying to kill them. Now that is seeing combat. And even many truck-drivers got more trigger time than many infantry as well. It's all on the unit & the job you are doing.

Not sure about today’s troops but Vietnam 1% was average that were involved in direct combat with enemy. This does not mean everyone in country was in the rear with the gear away from threat. Just they were not involved in direct combat. Without support personnel no weapons or ammo or fuel or food or parts. This coming from helicopter door gunner CC FE that knew without team we all would fail in mission.

The percentage of infantrymen who see real combat anymore is less than 1%. There are zero conflicts with infantry up front anymore it’s all SOF. So IF you are lucky enough to be ATTACHED to SOF, and IF you get to go on missions with them, you’ll only be pulling security for them. It’s no longer a man attraction to go combat arms.

Of course a war could break out at any time, but that’s the current reality.

Everyone and anyone in the military may or maynot see and participate in combat. I didn't see it for most of my career, but I did serve in Iraq. I was a supply sergeant and left the FOB just about every single day on mounted and dismounted patrols. You cannot tell people wanting to sign up that they might not go to a combat zone because they might actually go. The needs of the military must be met, and its a part of the job they sign up to do. Best to tell the truth, and simply say it is a possibility that you'll go. You know the deal, Fun, Travel and Adventure awaits you when you join.

you're not accurate when it comes to the 3 MOS listed, 88M truck drivers constantly go in and outside the wire, medics and infantry LIVE outside the wire.

This can't possibly be a serious question, can it?

My truck company (Medium truck) did line haul missions JTF 6 and DLA, but we a company commander who would look for those kinds of missions.

A good portion of 88M (truck drivers) are in support units in Support battalions and go where their brigade goes, generally to one of the manuever training centers (JRTC, NTC), or if the Bde depolys to Afghanistan or some joint training exercise.