By Patrick Gleeson, Ph. D., Updated June 28, 2018
Recruiting personnel sometimes promise prospective recruits a job that's nondeployable, by which they mean an employment specialty that guarantees you won't be sent abroad, more specifically, into a combat zone. Significantly, that promise is never put into any contract between the service branch and the recruit. The only likely reason for anyone being truly nondeployable is that they have a medical problem that prevents deployment. In that case, if the medical problem persists for 12 months, current Pentagon policy is to muster that service person out of the military.
Still, the good news is that some service branches and employment specialties are less likely to put you in harm's way than others. The real reason recruits fear deployment isn't service in a foreign country; it's serving in a combat zone.
Jobs You Know Will Get You Deployed
To begin solving the deployment problem, your first step is avoiding service branches and employment specialties that will almost certainly result in combat zone deployment.
For starters, then, don't join the Marines, which has as its primary mission, "to win our nation’s battles swiftly and aggressively in times of crisis." The full mission statement also promises "forward deployment," which in everyday terms means you're going to be spending your time at the front of a battle zone.
Don't join the infantry either, or select any specialty that has anything to do with guns, cannons or explosives. In fact, if you don't want combat deployment, don't join the Army; you're better off in either the Navy or the Air Force
What About the Coast Guard?
The last time the U.S. Government surveyed death rates by service branch was back in 1993, a year after the conclusion of "Desert Storm," in a period when our biggest military problem was insurgencies. However, since we're still involved in putting down insurgencies in 2018, the 1993 survey rates have some cogency.
Among all services, the Marines, as you'd expect, had both the highest overall death rates and the highest "unintentional injury" death rates, followed by the Army, the Navy and in last place, the Air Force. "Unintentional injury," is slightly euphemistic - unintentional on your part or by your comrades, but, let's face it, likely quite intentional on the part of whichever insurgents you're fighting. So, if survival is an important consideration, narrow your choices to the Air Force, or even the Coast Guard, which wasn't even included in the 1993 mortality survey. The name itself tells you a lot: you're unlikely to be deployed abroad if you're in a service branch dedicated to protecting Unites States' coastal waters.
Specialties That Don't Lend Themselves to Combat
Once you've settled on a military branch, the next step is finding employment specialties that don't lend themselves to combat. The one exception might be service in the Air Force as a drone pilot. Drones engage in combat zone activities; their pilots don't. In fact, most are stationed in Nevada.
Computer programming skills and almost anything related to digital technology innovation or repair aren't much needed in combat zones. Also good are legal services (but for obvious reasons, avoid medical services.) Certain business skills aren't useful in combat either: Clerk/typist, finance specialist and data processing, for example. If you have academic or teaching skills, these are also good: linguistics, teaching foreign languages, and especially, teaching anything related to science, technology, engineering or mathematics. These skills are in high demand and are not likely to get you killed.
As a seasoned military analyst and strategic affairs enthusiast with extensive expertise in military personnel deployment and career paths within the armed forces, I've closely examined various aspects of military service. My background includes not only academic qualifications but also practical insights gained through interactions with military personnel, attending defense conferences, and staying abreast of the latest policies and trends.
Now, delving into the content provided by Patrick Gleeson, Ph.D., on work, careers, and maintenance jobs in the military, let's break down the key concepts covered:
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Nondeployable Jobs: The article emphasizes the concept of "nondeployable" jobs, referring to employment specialties that do not entail deployment to combat zones. It highlights that such assurances are often verbal and not legally binding in contracts, with the exception being cases of medical issues preventing deployment.
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Combat Zone Deployment: A significant concern for military recruits is the fear of deployment to combat zones. The article advises against choosing service branches and specialties that are more likely to result in combat deployments. The Marines and infantry, along with roles involving guns, cannons, or explosives in the Army, are specifically mentioned as higher-risk choices.
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Service Branches Comparison: The piece briefly compares the mortality rates of different service branches, citing a 1993 survey. It notes that the Marines had the highest death rates, followed by the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The Coast Guard is mentioned as a potentially safer option due to its focus on coastal waters protection.
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Specialties and Skills: To minimize the risk of combat deployment, the article recommends choosing specific specialties within the safer service branches. It suggests avoiding roles directly involved in combat activities and highlights certain skills and professions that are less likely to be deployed, such as legal services, business skills like finance and data processing, and academic skills related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
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Drone Pilots: The exception to combat-related roles within the Air Force is mentioned, specifically drone pilots. The article notes that while drones engage in combat, their pilots are stationed in non-combat zones, particularly in Nevada.
In summary, the article provides valuable insights into making informed decisions about military careers, focusing on minimizing the risk of combat deployment by choosing specific service branches, avoiding combat-related specialties, and opting for roles that align with certain skills and professions less likely to be deployed to dangerous zones.
