Question for military ATOT'ers

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brainhulk

Diamond Member
Sep 14, 2007
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if someone enlists, what are the chances he gets shot or hit by an IED?

IED.jpg
 
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keird

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2002
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KIA + wounded = casualties

casualties incurred since 11-Sep-2001 divided by what?

a. every person that was in or has since has joined the U.S. military
b. every person that deployed to overseas only
c. every time that every person deployed overseas
d. wtf?
 

Train

Lifer
Jun 22, 2000
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Depends on the time and place.

I was in Fallujah in 06 and 07. When I first got there a single battalion was encountering average of 100 ied's a day.

About 99% of them were discovered before anyone was in danger. Of the 1% we didn't find, about 90% of them did no human damage, either it wasn't close enough to the vehicle or the vehicle armor took the brunt of the explosion, with those inside usually suffering no more than ringing ears for a few hours.

The frequency of the IED's dropped dramatically in 07 and 08, to the point that when the Marines turned over Fallujah to local police and military, IED's were almost non-existent.

But that covers a specific time and place. Throw in all the various cities of Iraq, over 7 years, and it varies wildly. Afghanistan IMO varies even more, the amount of threats in each region can change dramatically over time.

It also depends on your role. I knew guys in intel or that were mechanics that never left the confines of a base. Other guys, like Motor T drivers, did so many convoys they have been hit by a handful in a few short months.
 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
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Better luck buying a lotto ticket.

I'm gonna agree with someone else that said that it varies depending on what you are doing and where, but say you get shipped to Iraq or Afghanistan and go out on patrols I'd be willing to bet your odds are much higher at getting shot (or at least shot at) or getting hit by an IED.
 

mizzou

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2008
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in world war 2 I think basically every front line combat soldier was wounded at least once...statistically
 

fire400

Diamond Member
Nov 21, 2005
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Take the picture off, please.

As of now, you are more likely to take the Middle East if you are Army or Marines, the two wars sugar-coat nothing. Airforce, Navy and National Guard, you will see the Middle East if are needed or your job requires you to be there. If you are infantry or ground assisted personnel of any kind, you will most likely see danger face to face if you are serving in the Middle East.
I.e., if you think you're going to 'medic' your way through the Army in combat-free-zones, that's obviously a misperception. You could be ordered to front-line-assist with recon and infantry to fight underground tomb-labyrinths that terrorists know better than anyone on Earth. You step out of the convoy, terrorists can smell enemy troops a block away. Expect rockets flying out of those tunnels? Hell yes...

If you are thinking about enlisting, the Marines no longer offer the popular 2 year "stay if you like it program" that everyone has been talking about for the past few decades. If you want to stay home, enlist in the reserves, but you are not ever promised non-deployment.

If you are afraid of dying in the Middle East? Just about nothing guarantees 100% safety. You are trained to fight, trained for your job and will await deployment to anywhere in the world you are called to serve.

And if you're hungry for military dicipline, but too chicken to enlist? Run 4 hours every morning, nonstop without resting, and no water in between. Join a martial arts club and get your tan belt. Memorize the M-16 components, go swimming for an entire week, nonstop and memorize the ranks. Basic stuff to incept your brain, then go to college and graduate, it will resemble advanced training in job class.
 
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