Skip to main content
What are your chances of acceptance?
Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
Loading…
UCLA
Loading…
+ add school
Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

Which Military Branch is considered the safest?

Hi everyone, I'm weighing in the idea of enlisting after finishing high school. However, safety is a big priority for me. Anyone know which military branch is generally considered to be the safest to join?

a year ago

Safety is indeed a major consideration when deciding to start a career in the military. It's important to keep in mind that no branch of the military is inherently "safe" or "unsafe" - each comes with its unique risks and opportunities for safety training. However, if we're comparing potential deployment to active combat zones as a determining factor for safety, some branches might experience lower levels of combat exposure, on average, than others.

The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard are two branches that are often considered lower-risk due to fewer active combat missions. They primarily focus on supporting roles like technology, logistics, and home defense.

- The U.S. Air Force heavily emphasizes technological and support roles, and therefore has a wider variety of non-combat roles compared to some other branches. These roles often involve things like intelligence, cyber operations, or mechanics where personnel is more distanced from direct combat.

- The U.S. Coast Guard main mission falls under maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and maintaining navigation systems - tasks that tend to happen away from typical combat zones. They aren't typically considered part of the Department of Defense under normal circumstances (they fall under the Homeland Security), which can also shift their operational parameters.

It's crucial though to remember that each individual's experience can differ widely due to occupational specialty, deployment details, and other factors regardless of the branch they join. I would recommend sitting down with a recruiter(s) to discuss your concerns and goals prior to making any decisions on enlistment. This way, you can get a better understanding of what to expect from each branch and find the best fit for you.

a year ago

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.