Safety Inside/Outside Wire - Re: Peoples Attitudes/joining

[GO!!!]

Just to clarify something here, my statements are not here to bash or trivialise anyones contributions to the CF. We require CSS to do our jobs, they are an integral part of the team.

I'm saying that while you may have a 1 in 20 chance of becoming a casualty as a combat arms soldier outside the wire, it's probably more like 1 in 3000 for the guys inside the wire.

If we are going to be honest with potential recruits, current soldiers and their families, we owe it to them to make them realise that only a small fraction of troops deployed overseas have any contact with the enemy, and that this is completely intentional, acceptable and normal.

We are'nt doing anyone any favours creating any "mystique" around what trades and positions do what. Different jobs, different levels of risk.

 

[scoutfinch]

While not the case for Canadians in A'stan, the majority of American casualties in Iraq are combat support.  A convoy of trucks makes an easier target with less bite back than a Marine or Infanteer.  I will post authority for this position later as I simply do not have the information in front of me at this time. 

That being said, our pointy end of the stick is the end taking the thumping thus far.

edited to add:  there is civilian insurance coverage for Canadian soldiers.  SISIP is underwritten by a civilian insurer and provides coverage to the extent of $400,000.  I believe the insurer is Manulife Financial and I stand to be corrected on policy limits.

 

[Samsquanch]

The proof is in the pudding. Your chance of being killed overseas is extremely slim (one in a few thousand) if you are the holder of a job that does not actively patrol or attack the enemy, and remains inside the wire

Go!!! What about outside the wire. #'s

 

[GO!!!]

Go!!! What about outside the wire. #'s

42 killed as of now.

If you have hard numbers of how many infantrymen* are in pointy end jobs (don't post it), and have been since 2002, divide 42 into it.

Suffice to say, you are safe inside the wire.

*edit: infantrymen and their attached cbt arms - not all casualties have been infantrymen - caught me Vern!

 

[armyvern]

42 killed as of now.

If you have hard numbers of how many infantrymen are in pointy end jobs (don't post it), and have been since 2002, divide 42 into it.

Suffice to say, you are safe inside the wire.

Go while I agree with your inside/outside wire observations. Your formula above doesn't quite work out to a true ratio. Not all 42 "outside wire" have been Infanteers, so to figure out on the infantry side, you'd actually be dividing by a number smaller than 42...by a tiny bit. Other than that; you are indeed much much safer inside the wire.