<p>In Vietnam, the smart guys all joined the Navy to avoid being drafted into the Army. The Navy never had to draft anyone. However, during the Iraq War, there was a shortage of Army and Marines personnel, and a number of Navy and Air Force personnel were assigned ground missions inside Iraq. Because there was not a traditional front line, many non-combat service-persons died, including because of IEDs along roads. </p>
<p>I hope our service-persons are never put in that type of situation again. I simply wanted to point out that there are potential hazards with any position, even sitting at a desk at the Pentagon, during a terrorist attack. </p>
<p>(During Vietnam, I did hear about a guy who thought he was smart to join the Coast Guard. What he didn’t realize was the Coast Guard was assigned to operate some of the river gunboats that saw some of the worst action. Meanwhile, the National Guard was never sent to Vietnam. It was a good hiding place for the people with connections.)</p>