What percent of the army actually gets sent into battle?

Question

What percent of the army actually gets sent into battle?

Answer 1

To include the infantry, medics/corpsman, armor, artillery, combat engineers, and aviation it totals to about 10% of all troops stationed in a combat zone that actually participate in battles. That is why, to most combat veterans, that there is a vast distinct difference between war verses combat veterans. The other 90% have it pretty easy as compared to those already mentioned but remember this, without that other 90% supporting the combat units those units would be so ineffective that they would be worthless. That is why all of our armed services highly promote team work in their training. The best units that I ever served with were the First Cavalry Division ( Airmobile ), the 75th Ranger Regiment, and Fifth Group Special Forces ( ABN). A lot of us referred to support personnel as REMF's but when it came right down to it we needed them more than they needed us. Don't get the impression support personnel don't take casualties either. They are subject to sapper, rocket, ground, mortar, air,, etc attacks also. That is why EVERYONE is given Basic Combat Training. Your job, no matter what your MOS is, is a basic rifleman when needed. I hope that this answers your question.

Answer 2

Being sent into battle is probably not a huge number.  However, I am part of a transportation company and we could be attacked by insurgents when we are in route.

Answer 3

50% of the army has been deployed to Iraq/Afganistan. Now not all of those go off the FOB into combat so I dont know about the percentage to combat experience

Answer 4

The number is very very low..

Lets assume that 1/3 of the Army is infantry or combat MOS's..Out of those I would say 1/3 see actual combat during a time of war in which battles are being fought..I am not speaking about now in Iraq or for the passed 3 years in Iraq..That is another story..

And out of those 1/3 who see combat I would say about half actuualy fire or engage the enemy in what we would consider battle..

I am speaking about soldiers who get into a battle zone and not those sent to a war zone.

Answer 5

Good answer, Purple Heart!  My husband was a medic and got a silver star for, when all his unit was put out of commission, managing to get

whatever that was jammed unjammed and to kill the people trying to overrun the position.  He refused to pick up the medal ( they had to mail it to him) and he said, " I was no hero, I was just trying to stay alive." Whenever he saw an army recruiting office, he would grab my arm and drag me across the street.