I have a friend that I grew up with who just left for Iraq today for a 7month tour over there. I don't want a political debate or anything, just stats. I'm really concerned for his safety over there and what his family is dealing with right now.
2007-03-05 10:40:14 · 9 answers · asked by jon3484 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
There are currently 161,500 troops in Iraq. With the number of deaths figure about 164,600 total. With the about 20,000 injuries and 3,100 deaths the probability of being injured or killed as a troop in Iraq is about 14% The chance of dying in Iraq as a troop would be 0.0188%
2007-03-05 10:45:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
My nephew is serving in Iraq. He explained the risk to me this way.
The military is a risky job. Being in the war time military is even riskier. We have training accidents and equipment failures every day which can cost lives. Our @3000 casualties in Iraq is far less than what they were expecting for the initial assault. We can't forget that each casualty is a person not just a number. But we have to be prepared to take casualties if we are to live free and safe lives here.
I am sure someone else will provide exact stats but let me offer the following comparison: We lost 58,000 lives in Vietnam over 8 years. We have lost 3000 in Iraq over the last 5 years. We have maintained over 150,000 personnel over that same timespan. That equates to roughly a 4:1000 casualty rate. That is not substantially higher than training rates. I hate to see the daily casualty reports in the press but I believe they are being blow out of proportion. Of course, you would probably feel otherwise if your friend end up as the 1.
2007-03-05 11:00:35 · answer #2 · answered by TTU 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You're not going to get an answer to your first question. The second one depends on what your job is. If you have a combat MOS (like infantry) the odds of you getting injured or killed is higher than if you were, as an example, a clerk. Nothing wrong with not wanting to get hurt. When bullets start flying and bombs start going off, everyone gets scared. Everyone. At that point yo just have to fight hard and watch out for your buddies.
2016-03-16 05:14:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Last year the leading cause of death for US soldiers was - car accidents.
Think about it - so far over 1 million US service members have served in Iraq. Of that number roughly 3,000 have died.
This means that the chances of an 'average' soldier in Iraq of being killed are about 3 in 1000.
2007-03-05 11:20:45 · answer #4 · answered by MikeGolf 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honestly pretty low for dying. Lets say we have had 300,000 troops over there (very low estimate, but easy number) and roughly 3,000 have died....that is a 1% chance.
Its not safe by any stretch, but its not as bad as the media would have you believe. Our Brigade of 3600 lost 8 men. Thats 8 too many still. Pray for him and trust that his buddies and his training will see him through it. I'm looking at another year tour comingup this summer. I know that it is hard for my wife and family to sit at home and wonder. I always told my wife that it was easier for me becuase I knew I was ok at all times and she only knew for the 30 minutes or so we got to talk.
Avoid the news...its drive by, tragety TV.....not a real picture. Pray a lot, as for his safety and your comfort. And be proud of him.
2007-03-05 10:53:46 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Statisically, It's pretty good that he will come back in one piece.
If you look at the number of total deaths (accidental and War related) the deaths per 100,000 are around 120.
Compare this to the early 70s to 80s when the ratio was around 100 to 105 when it was only accidents.
http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/american%20war%20casualty.htm
http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/american%20war%20casualty.htm#t4
2007-03-05 10:57:47 · answer #6 · answered by Flip W 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, statistically, you have a higher chance of death by gunshot in Washington D.C. than you do in Iraq. Not only that, but more people die by illegal aliens in one year, than all the US deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan since we started all this fighting.
2007-03-05 10:50:14 · answer #7 · answered by pedohunter1488 4 · 6⤊ 0⤋
it really depends on his job. for instance, my hubby and i were both in iraq at the same time, i was an MP, my job was to patrol the streets of Baghdad for several hours. my hubby is Military Intelligence, his job was to sit at a computer in a "safe zone" all day and analyze information. obviously, my job was more dangerous than his and i had a better chance of being hurt. there really isnt any statistical data on this, its all a matter of what situations soldiers are put into.
2007-03-05 11:08:25 · answer #8 · answered by krystal 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
research the total number of troops over there and then devide it by the deaths ... probably 1 in 50 or so ...
2007-03-05 10:45:21 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋