How many military members actually see combat?

link for casualty report for wars. https://fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL32492.pdf

I was in the Infantry for 12 years, that is all we did was go out and try to bring the fight to the enemy, whether it was The Taliban, Al-Qaeda, or the Iraqi Insurgents. Nowadays you are less likely to deploy than when I was in. I have been out for 7 years now.

In Viet Nam all who served in country at one time or another saw some form of combat! Myself first Rocket attacks second ambush on convoy third bunker guard + tet offensive 1968

Your lying if you tell them that statement

Infantry lives on the battlefield

Actually seeing combat has a lot to do with the world political-military situations, your Service, and your MOS/AFSC. Three mostly fictional examples from my Air Force experience. Capt Bart, 2d Lt Jim, and 2d Lt Al.

All tree officers entered pilot training in summer 1969 and graduated in July 1970. Bart had previously served as an F-4 Navigator/System Officer and flown combat missions over North Vietnam. Jim and Al were ROTC graduates. Bart did very well in pilot training and was assigned as an F-4 pilot after graduation. He went to his fighter qualification school and was subsequently assigned to Thailand. Jim graduated in the middle of the 88-officer pilot training class and took a C-130 with orders to Clark AB, PI, after training. Al graduated 87 of 88 and took a B-52. This worked out okay for Al because he was assigned to Barksdale AFB, LA, which was fairly near his wife's hometown. Bart flew combat missions over North Vietnam along with other types of F-4 missions. After a year in Thailand, Bart had earned a pocket full of Air Medals, a DFC, Vietnam Service Ribbons, and an assignment as a T-38 pilot training instructor at Columbus AFB, MS, which was near his hometown. Jim completed C-130 training, but the Squadron he was going to at Clark was closed, so the Air Force sent him to a Squadron at Langley AFB, VA, instead. Al became a nuclear war qualified B-52 co-pilot. Unfortunately, Bart's career ended abruptly when a maintenance malfunction caused his T-38 to flip over of takeoff killing Bart and his student. Sad death for a combat hero. Jim continued as a C-130 copilot, upgraded to aircraft commander. When the squadron at Langley closed, he took an assignment to Columbus AFB, MS, to reach T-37s. He continued his Air Force career serving in operational and staff positions, advancing to Lt Col, and retired. He never saw combat. He was too late for Vietnam and too senior for DESERT STORM. Al's B-52 Squadron deployed to Anderson AFB, Guam, and he flew missions over North Vietnam bombing Hanoi from high altitude. SAMs were launched at his aircraft, but none ever hit. He saw combat without a doubt. After that deployment, he returned to Barksdale and continued his career. He advanced to B-52 aircraft commander, instructor pilot, evaluator pilot. He also served in staff and headquarters jobs, always sticking close to the SAC and bomber community. In 1990, Al was selected for Colonel. When DESERT SHIELD started, he was selected as the Operations Group Commander for the Expeditionary Bomb Wing in Southwest Asia. He actually led one bombing mission into Iraq as part of the Shock and Awe campaign. After the short Iraq war he returned to the US and was moved to a Wing Commander job. Unfortunately, he didn't make Brig Gen and retired in 1996.

Why don’t you just look at the history of your own service beach. Check the history book for COOK, 3rd class Doris Miller who was awarded the Navy Cross. Lots more like him.

PO Crotser, First, thanks for what you are doing. It is important work.

Honesty is indeed the best policy at all times. Keeps with the Honor, Courage and Commitment watchwords.

About 1 in 5 in the Army and Marine Corps serves in combat arms. The rest are in support services. About 10% of those actually see combat on average. However, in times like these with multiple tours to Afghanistan, therre is a lot more chance for infantry/medic and truck drivers to go on patrol or even just working with training locals to get shot at. So that 10% figure is probably more like 50% these days. (So, 20% are in combat arms, 50% in combat~10% overall). Realize that some artillery, armor and such may not deploy, while others may deploy multiple times.

Be well, and stay safe.

You are in Sales dude. A Salesman. Earn to sell your product fairly and cleanly. What are the benefits of your service? What are the facts of your service? Don’t you have a bad ass elite fighting force called
The Seals? What is the difference between a Green Beanie and a Delta Force, a Red Beanie, and a Seal? Challenge the immature head up their ass young wanna be into being the best, if they can hack it, if they got the stuff. Learn to sell your service salesman.

Served in the Army twice 2001-2004 (13B Cannon Crew Member) and 2006-2009 (25B Information Technology Specialist). First deployment to Iraq was March 2003 with 4/42FA 4ID. I spent most of my first tour in Iraq kicking in doors, doing TCP checkpoints, and mounted/dismounted patrols throughout Ad Dor, Iraq. We also provided parameter security for operation Red Dawn. In December 2003, we were the soldiers standing guard as the media arrived.

I left the Army and got my degree in Information Systems. I reenlisted in the Army as a 25B. Second Tour in Iraq was in 2008 and went to Tikrit. I never left the FOB. Hell I rarely left my office.