Military question?

Question

Does anyone know the odds of being killed in the military right now?
not an exact number, but I have three friends that are all going into the military within the next year, and of course i'm really scared for them... but I want to know, worst case scenario, how likely is it that they could be killed?
Two of them are going on active duty.
One of them is going into the army on active duty.
Another one is going into the Marines on active duty.
and the other one is going into the air force. not sure if it's active duty or not. But does anyone know, like how likely they are to be killed?

no guys, you don't get this. I'm not letting this interfere with our friendship. I support them 110% with their decisions to join the military, but of course in the back of my mind i'm going to be a little scared. Wouldn't you be if three of your best friends decided to go on active duty? even a little bit? I support them all the way, but of course i'm going to have that little bit of doubt in the back of my mind.

Answer 1

The odds are very slim. There have been 3,800 deaths in IRAQ. Something like 50% have been accidents not involving being shot or IEDS of the such.
Now there are 700,000 army personell
300,000 airforce
100,000 marines
not sure the navy size.

And in nearly 5 years only 3,800 have died in Iraq.

Now take into consideration, say in the army. There are 700,000 at any given time. That means that in 5 years, with attrition, retirements, and people getting in and out of the army. There have been MILLIONS of personel in the army.
yet only 3,800 have died.

I am not trying to make 3,800 sound insignificant, but it the grand scheme of things, it is a VERY small perecent.

Answer 2

That will depend on a LOT of different factors. If they are infentry in a combat zone there chances are not very good. If they are at a desk job in the states they will sooner die of boredome. There are hazards with every job also to take into consideration. There really is no way to know the military is all over the place there is a chance if if they are infantry troops they might not end up in a combat zone or if they are supply they might end up directly in the line of fire. Of course air force probably has the least probability of being shot at but there are some really risky jobs in the air force.

Answer 3

There are approximaltely 150,000 troops in Iraq. And there are about 5,000 casualties since May 2003.

5,000 / 150,000 / 4.5 = 0.74%

There is somewhere around a 1% or 1 in 100 chance that in a single year of military service in Iraq a member of the US armed forces will die.

Now, you have three friends. So, the chances that none of them will get killed are : (1 - 0.74%) * (1-0.74%) * (1- 0.74%)

= 0.97796

So a chances that at least one or more of them will get killed in one year of military service in Iraq are: 0.022 or 2.2%

2.2% is still not bad odds for surviving. But obviously if it's your life - they are still far too high. So to make a long story short - it's pretty dangerous.

Answer 4

Let's put it this way: odds are, they'll be killed driving a car in the US before they'll die in combat. Now, they are more likely to be maimed in combat, but hey, at least they'll be alive.

Let's be honest here: if you can't support their decision and only focus on the negative, you're letting your fear take precedence over your friendship. That means you're not being a very good friend. Let's try being a little more positive and hopeful, shall we?

Answer 5

The odds of this are very slim in respect to the national average of murders! In truth, the nation's capital has a higher homicide rate than our Soldiers, Marines, and Airmen currently serving overseas. I would feel very confident that they will be fine. With them just entering the military and the time that will elapse before and if they are to go overseas, the presence of a threat may be significantly lower.

Answer 6

it all depends on where someone is at. it doesn't necessarily have to be in a combat zone. people both military and civilian can die anywhere and from anything. Car crashes, IED's, etc etc so the answer to your question would be kind of hard to answer because there are no real set numbers to go off of etc.

Answer 7

more people died in 2005 in the US from car and care related accidents than have died in combat since the war began in 2001. More people died in 12 HOURS on the beaches of Normandy than have died over the past six years and both conflicts.

Answer 8

Usually in combat, and in combat zones

Otherwise you have to be attacked, but the military has radar. So they know in advance


BTW your being too negative,be more positive.

Answer 9

Very low. Why because were the best in the world thats why.

Answer 10

d