When I was in my teens my father, who had been a forced professional soldier in the Wehrmacht for 5 years, once told me: "If you ever get sucked into an armed conflict, DO NOT touch a weapon! Armed people get shot at first."
He continued with his advice: "Get yourself a useful defence tool that fits in your pocket!" And then he told me how he tackled and survived a war in which he had no particular interest.
Very early in his career in the army he came to the conclusion that zeal is far too dangerous. So each time he was lined up for promotion he stated that he wasn't ready. He explained that if a soldier just remains cannon fodder nobody cares. He was also fortunate enough to catch an officer stealing chocolate. The officer then traded his life for a seal, a truly magic seal, which became my father's escape tool. …
He explained that every railways station was controlled and travelling soldiers had to justify their travel. Even spot checks on the trains were not uncommon.
My father always carried a signed and sealed marching order away from trouble.
My father admitted to have fired a couple of shots but he missed the cow that he had earmarked for osso bucco.
Perhaps it was the cow that became the heroine of La vache et le prisonier
My father married my mother in 1944 and finished the war in peaceful Bavaria where he waited for the Americans to make him a prisoner of war. My eldest brother was born in November 1945. Daddy applied the hippie slogan Make Love not War well in advance.

Yeah

Unless soldiers are conscripts that is what they are trained and paid to do...kill! They know it when they sign up and join the armed forces, This is a wonderful thought...but not reality.

I would love for the ones who start/profit from war to be the ones to fight.