There was a battle in either World War 2 or Korea where British soldiers fighting which was called the battle of the ASdmin Box because all of those fighting were clerks admin staff cooks etc. When my ex served in his third Ireland tour he was 20yrs old although he was in the Royal Engineers he had to "do" infantry tours. Patrols around the Bogside consisted of mechanics,cooks, carpenters a blacksmith and assorted other clerks pay clerks etc.Even the padre went out on patrol that tour. Bottom line here in the UK is you may have a "trade" but first and formost you are a soldier.So you go were you are sent.
Over here we have still have the saying Lions led by Donkeys first used in WW1 but applies to troops today.Some of those who sit out the various conflicts in the safety of the MOD in Whitehall certainly come to mind when thinking of Donkeys. Note I say some not all.
Maureen