Why do potential military enlistees...?

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They ask because they are trying to weight the benefits of the military against the risks. Unfortunately, the age of John Kennedy's, "Don't ask what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" is over. It has been replaced by, "don't ask what you can do for your country, but what you can get out of it with minimal effort".

Regarding MOS's not seeing combat, even an Admin Specialist can end up in a combat zone. You don't have to be an infantryman to get blown up by a mortar or IED or to end up in a combat situation....Show more

Because being sent into combat is scary. Plus, it's a logical question. I know several military people who have been in the military since they left high school and never seen combat. It just takes a little bit of luck and the right job. For example, my husband just got a job that should never see combat. If he sees combat, the war is probably already lost.

It's also logical to think that a branch like say the Navy shouldn't see combat because we're fighting in sand, not water, right? I of course know plenty of Navy people who have been to Iraq, but it's still logical to think if you don't know.

There are plenty of things you can do to help with the war effort without stepping into combat, what they don't realize is that the recruiting just isn't there for those jobs right now....Show more

Combat is a relative term. I think when they ask about being sent to combat they're not asking if they're going to be shooting at people and getting shot back at. I think combat actually means a war zone in this case. I do think it's a silly question though. I'm going to go interview at McDonald's and ask, "I'm not going to have to deal with hamburgers am I?"...Show more

I just posted something like that, and to be honest I just want to know. I want to see combat, so I am wondering if I should go cavalry scout instead of combat engineer. Then again i am asking about two MOS's that should see combat, and I want to know how much I will see. If i was scared to see combat, I wouldn't think of enlisting....Show more

they ask this because they are ignorant and don'y have a clue what they are really getting themselves into, and just for the recruiter to tell them "of course not, thats a non combat job, you have nothing to worry about" when there actually is no such thing, because anyone regardless of their job can be put in a spot where the bullets are flying. most potential recruits don't know that...Show more