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
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 529
When a service member deploys there is no guarantee they will work in the MOS they joined for.
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PO1 Seth Crotser
I tried to tell kids that when I was recruiting. But just like most teenagers....they don’t listen
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Actually those three do leave the wire plus a couple others that you wouldn't think would, like computer techs
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April 06 to April 07, Tallil Iraq. I helped train the IA out of AnNumaniyah for 3 months, but for the rest of the time it was line haul. We never directly engaged the enemy with our rifles, and we never had a convoy hit with an IED. We did however take IDF at just about every base we RONed at. Kalsu, Scania, Taji, Anaconda, BIAP... I guess it depends on your definition of “combat”. Do rockets landing across the street from you count as “combat”?
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I recall hearing that for every person in actual combat there are 8 people supporting him/her
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I spent 22 months deployed as a medic, and can count the number of days I didn't go outside the confines of the wire... likely without taking my boots off. Even people in pedestrian roles like cook or mechanic were assigned down to the maneuver unit and frequently only saw a safe zone when they were in transit.
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CPL Chris Palmberg
To adapt the concept to a more appropriate context, ask yourself how many sailors don't go to sea... Most, if not all do. But the context of a deployment is different between a flattop and a tin can...
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As a cook I did convoys all the time. Had a IED blast hit me and my fellow non infantry people that infantry took on wounds
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As a retired Infantry soldier with 23 years and two wars on my record, I’m a bit confused by your question. Why would any Combat Arms Marines or Soldiers be deployed to a Combat Zone simply to sit on a FOB and wait for redeployment home? That would be like Police, but never letting them leave the Police Station.
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I may have Ben a combo geek, but my time running convoys and being convoy commander beg to disagree with your statement that only infantry/medics/truck drivers go outside the wire. The navy has its mission and the army/marines have theirs.
In the army, we are trained to be a soldier first and our mos (job) second. Similar to how marines are riflemen first.
Please no hate, just trying to make a point.
In the army, we are trained to be a soldier first and our mos (job) second. Similar to how marines are riflemen first.
Please no hate, just trying to make a point.
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Since Korea nearly every person on the ground or directly over it is subject to being hit by enemy fire. Rockets,ied,firearms etc depending exactly where you are will make a little difference in likely hood. My son dated a female soldier whose dad a “rear area” Ltc wAs nearly killed and fellow officer across table was killed eating in mess hall on a large base in Iraq. So all are subject at any time in country.
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