What is likely to happen to a 68w (health spec) who enlists in the army now?

68W Health Specialist...otherwise known as the Combat Medic....

They can go anywhere...to any unit servicing combat arms MOSs. Does it mean they engage in combat...not necessarily so but they can. If your friend is wanting to know more now, do a google search for Monica Lin Brown. She's a perfect example.

If he goes regular army, there is no way to tell where or in what unit you would end up in. At least in the national guard, a recruiter can guarantee you a job with a certain unit as long as a slot is available. If he doesn't want to deploy, he could try and get on with a unit that just got back from somewhere.

68W can be assigned anywhere and at any installation whether overseas or stateside. Odds are that you will be assigned to a unit that will deploy. Cush jobs are being reserved for those that have deployed once or twice and need a break.