An informed decision about how much risk you are taking on,
does not make you unpatriotic, sexist or greedy.
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom;
Total US casualties 5670 (10/07/01-9/28/10)
link
(260 self-inflicted)
Total US female casualties 130 (about 2.3% of all casualties) (as of 9/28/10)
link
-AD US Army is 13% female
link
-AD US Army officer corps are also 13% female
-AD US Army female officers serve in dangerous positions,
including Explosive Ordnance Disposal, and as MP's guarding convoys
(one of the most dangerous jobs)
Link
-Female soldiers do end up in combat, fight and win
Link
Not to be insensitive, but a little perspective:
-In 2008 the annual death rate for Operation Iraqi Freedom
and Operation Enduring Freedom was 1.6% (469 deaths/294,000 deployed theater wide.)
Link,
Link(obviously much higher and even more tragic for front line troops)
-In 2008 of the 1,683,144 in the US military there were 1,441 deaths (9/10ths of 1%)
link
-In 2008 the Domestic USA all 21 yr old death rate was about 1% 100/100,000
Link
(of those 20/100,000 are suicides)
- US Army reports 47/100,000 suicide rate
Link
My takeaway from all this is;
-My kid may be a little safer in the army than not.
-If he is forward deployed, his risk may double (+/-)
-If he is deployed, I am more concerned about
Suicide, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury's,
than being killed outright.