hello Wallabie
Never wondered why you just had to mop the barracks floor in the FAF - which is not one of the poorest in the world, I would assume (how many other european AF have been constanly involved in flying combat missons all around the world for the past 25 years ?) so yes, there was combat options in your conscription year, but it was not for anybody.
If the closest you have been to combat has been to watch Top Gun on your VCR, OK... so in that case maybe listen to other people with relevant experience - there are surely plenty of them in your company, just ask...
Bombing is more fun than air defence, because you kill bad guys in bigger numbers.