Combat Duty vs Non Combat Duty

My question is, Does combat duty make ones service to their country better than those who have none?
I was Active Army for 8 years (1987-1995) and in the Colorado Army National Guard for 12 years (1995-2007). I did everything that was ever asked of me, but was never deployed to a combat zone. When people (both civilian & military) ask when I was in Iraq/Afghanistan & I tell them I never deployed there, I always get the same reply, "Oh" and the conversation stops.

 

yes.









jk. It's not your fault you have done your duties perfectly, but were never sent into combat.

 

Being a veteran myself I say no to your question. Even though you never deploye din support of combat operations, you knew the possibility of combat when you swore in back in 87.

 

Very well said.


However I have to be honest. My best friend Gavin is getting sent into combat in 5 days. My other friend Alex is staying put in georgia for a long time and will never see combat.

I do find myself respecting Gavin more for it. I know it may not be fair to alex, and the rest of the servicemen, but for some reason combat brings am involuntary higer level respect from me.

With that said, If anyone tells me they served, no matter where or doing what, it makes me very proud to know them and demands utmost respect from me

 

See...if Alex wasn't doing whatever it is he does in GA...then Gavin wouldn't be able to execute the mission at the pointy end of the spear. That is oversimplified- but the military is a HUGE machine. All the parts need to be there.

When I'm not at a training command I'm as busy if not busier than most other units/services as far as real deal executing the mission...but haven't and will not ever see a day of combat....and there are plenty of folks who have been to combat and disgraced them selves.

It's all about what "you" did...Not about what job or where ...but how you personally acted imho.

 

I say no....you got to figure less than half of our active duty and reserve components actually serve in a comabat function. At lease in the Air Force it takes like 70 people to support one fighter jockey....Think how many career fields or MOS' actually are combat functions. Somebody has to support out warfighters. Bottom line is you served and less than 1% of the US population raises their right hands to take the oath.....don't let anyone downgrade your service combat proven or not.

It's another thing if you tried to actively avoid going to a combat zone.

 

I agree. I know its not fair, but I am just giving my honest thought process on the matter.

It helps that gavin is an Army Ranger and Alex is infantry

 

I think you'll find that that some folks will look down on the fact that you didn't deploy to Iraq / Afghanistan. It's typically from the same ones that would put their previous deployments in their signatures here at TW.

The fact that you didn't deploy doesn't mean that your service was any less important than a grunt in Baghdad. I was in the Army for 5 years (99-04) and never went to OIF or OEF. I did deploy to "other" places at "other" times - what I was doing was just as important as the guy in Iraq.

 

I say no as well. As a vet that served in Vietnam younhave my respect. It does take all of the armed forces to support a mission even if most are not deployed into the theater of operation.

 

no - as someone who served you shouldnt even be asking this question...we all know that without every other MOS the infantry could NOT do their job, even a grunt will tell you that. i get the same response even though i did serve in iraq except my conversation goes more like this -

"did you go to iraq/afghanistan?"
"yeah"
"how was it, was it as bad as its made out to be?"
"i dont know, i was on a base the whole time fixing helicopters"
"oh, ok"

...i still worked my ass off 12 hrs a day 7 days a week in the ridiculous heat so the grunts could do the job they needed to do. our base still took incoming mortar/rocket fire, civilians just dont understand the way the military works.

 

I think you should be very proud of your service. This seems to be a never ending debate. There seems to be a different percieved level of "respect" for service contributed...

I've seen this on different levels as if there was a food chain for quality of service given.

I've seen military members who served but didn't deploy, give civilians who never served a hard time about not serving...

I've seen military members who deployed but never crossed the wire, give shit to military members who served but never deployed...

I've seen military members who did cross the wire, give shit to military members who deployed but never crossed the wire...

So am I suppose to believe unless your in the "trenches" on a daily basis your service isn't valid...

I think this all BS...All served under the same oath and all enlisted for different purposes.

Did some put their lives further on the line...YES...but that is the job they asked for...Like you said, you did everything that was asked of you...Thank you for your service...

 

Another way to look at this is is a cop any less of a cop if he's never had to draw his weapon in the line of duty?

 

X1,000,000

Do you think ANYBODY is working without the finance guy doing his job without deploying(yes I know admin folks deploy too)

 

My answer is no for many of the reasons already stated here.

 

WOW! Thanks for everyone's input. I know the negative comments I shouldn't bother me, Pat, but unfortunately sometimes they do.

 

Im saying yes.

Ive been to Iraq in a non combat role, Al Asad, haha. I have more respect for Marines who have been in combat then us who were in the wire the whole time.

 

Damn good post, SS. X10000000000.

 

Well to clear up about the services, we all have some combat roles, even the Coast Guard. I catch shit from the other services for being in the Air Force or CHAir Force as some call it, including myself at times. But heres the thing, I can have a Soldier or Marine give me crap about my branch and thats cool, I take it in stride as I drive out the gate to do convoy duty and they stay in to do there job. Its all good. Cause I know if I wasnt doing it they would be the first in line to take my place. I have been "In Lieu Of" with the Army, I have worked for and with the Marines at Al Asad and flown in their CH-53's, all due respect to those guys but they are fucking crazy! and great shots while airborne with a 50. I have worked a with Army Airborne Unit, those guys are great and I keep in touch with a few of them. I worked with the Navy SeaBees yesterday, now thats a group I love to work and party with, those guys just dont stop working or partying. Hence the motto "We Build, We Fight, We Drink All Night". So as I said Im Air Force but have a Navy Acheivement Medal and an Army Commendation Medal. So if there is a branch that doent have a combat role please tell me what it is so I can join LOL. When Im getting shot at the last thing on my mind is what unifrom the guy next to me is wearing, and God Bless all who serve in or out of the wire or in or out of the states.

 

Hahahahaha nice reference!

 

I couldn't of said it better myself. Just putting on the uniform means you are willing to lay your life on the line for our freedom.