55,000 "Non combat troops" will remain in Iraq? What's a "non combat" soldier.

Like many, I was inducted into the US Army but never actually saw combat. Did that mean I was a non combat soldier?

Back in the days of the draft there wee a few guys who were classified as conscientious objectors. They were able to prove to their draft boards and the Army that they had moral and religious scruples against all violence. Many of these guys were sent to work in hospitals and other civic activities for little pay. That satisfied their selective service requirements. Others were inducted trained and assigned to be combat medics. These were in the thick of battle. Some carried side arms for essential self defense, others not even that. So even these conscientious objectors were combatants. They were in combat.

I was given, like a couple of million others, a training over eight weeks that was called Basic Combat Training. I learned to fire, assemble, clean and maintain an automatic rifle. I learned hand to hand and bayonet combat techniques. Every soldier save these few conscientious objectors got this training. Even in Army clerk school we were assigned, carried and trained with rifles, and we did physical training to maintain our physical capabilities.

So, President Obama: What the heck is a non combat soldier?

Y0u used to say that the US presence in Iraq was illegal. Now you mush mouth with stories of non combat soldiers.