>IMO there is a lot of variance due to country and time involved here.
>In the late 70's - think A-bombs and cold war - being in the military in germany might even enhance
>chances of surviving actual war scenario for a few H back then. Did at least in the branch I was stuffed in.
>Most of the country (Frankurt being rather high for not direct front line)
>was estimated to be mushroom country very fast in case of conflict.
>
>Chances of being sent elsewhere to fight: nil, that practice started after fall of wall in germany,
>so actual risc of soldiers same with population in general (back off Dragan!) back then.

Back then we had a kind of the swiss system, with "we're all the defense", so it was about the same here. Specially that the doctrine called for retreating into the mountains, which meant the flatlands (where I live) were considered indefensible - leaving me in the same pickle as you.

BTW, now that most countries have professional soldiers (american: troops) and no draft, how are these different from mercenaries?