# Combat Position with Lowest Death Rate **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 22, 2003, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/combat-position-with-lowest-death-rate/163350 "2003-03-22T13:01:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gaijin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/838e76/32.png) [@Gaijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaijin)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/combat-position-with-lowest-death-rate/163350/1 "2003-03-22T13:01:17Z")
After being immersed in non-stop war coverage, and hearing about the casualties caused by helicopter crashes and, so far, two combat casualties, I got to wondering… Which combat position in the armed forces has the lowest death rate? I’m not just talking about divisions, like infantry and armor etc, but the specific MOS’s, like cavalry scout, combat engineer, etc. Of all the jobs that involve you getting shot at and/or shooting something at someone, which is the safest? ---
**Author:** ![ChalkPit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@ChalkPit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChalkPit)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/combat-position-with-lowest-death-rate/163350/2 "2003-03-22T13:27:24Z")
WAG: It wouldnt be much of a combat position if it didnt involve risk. The lower the risk level you go in ‘combat positions’, the less likely that position has of being categorised as a combat position. I think that makes sense - kinda. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/combat-position-with-lowest-death-rate/163350/3 "2003-03-22T13:44:20Z")
How about Brigadier General in an infrantry division? 'Course that may not count as “combat” exactly… I was all ready with an answer until I saw your “combat” qualifier. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/combat-position-with-lowest-death-rate/163350/4 "2003-03-22T14:31:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Balthisar \* > How about Brigadier General in an infrantry division? 'Course that may not count as “combat” exactly… Yeah, I was gonna say “Commander-in-Chief: we haven’t lost one in combat yet!” but then I decided not to. _Or did i?_ ---
**Author:** ![Gaijin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/838e76/32.png) [@Gaijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaijin)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/combat-position-with-lowest-death-rate/163350/5 "2003-03-22T22:46:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ChalkPit \* > \*\*WAG: It wouldnt be much of a combat position if it didnt involve risk. The lower the risk level you go in ‘combat positions’, the less likely that position has of being categorised as a combat position. \*\* This I understand, but I’m sure that some positions have higher death rates than others. For example, I think it’s a safe bet that those in the infantry get killed more often than those driving around in a mobile shield with a 155 calibre barrel on it. And the men dropping bombs on Iraq from planes right now seem to be pretty safe. Meanwhile, the 2 combat casualties were marines, on the ground. Does anybody know which MOS has the lowest death rate? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/combat-position-with-lowest-death-rate/163350/6 "2003-03-22T22:56:41Z")
I too would guess artillerymen, but I’ve found no statistics. It also matters which army you’re in. American tank crews were virtually invulnerable in the first Gulf Was, Iraqi tank crews were not. ---
**Author:** ![Gaijin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/838e76/32.png) [@Gaijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaijin)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/combat-position-with-lowest-death-rate/163350/7 "2003-03-22T23:51:35Z")
Ack, ya got me, I should have been more specific. Which combat position has the lowest death rate in the _American_ Army.