In trying to help the OP I wasn't expecting to start a bun fight over which cap badge the first boots on the ground wears. It doesn't really matter except to people who enjoy a bit of willy waving! However, as a general rule in warfare, it's a good idea to prepare your battlespace before committing the main body of fighting troops. To do this you need enabling support services providing the logistics, infrastructure and comms which ensure your fighters have what they need to achieve the task. Hence why Engineers, Loggies and Signals are among the first to be mobilised to a theatre eg Iraq, Afghanistan to set up at the start and to pack up when your leader declares the war is over. Haha, LOL etc
However, post Iraq / Afg, the mass mobilisation of UK forces to a major conflict looks remote in the foreseeable future ( mainly because we haven't got many people any more) so the model of smaller, focused, specialist deployments to areas such as Iraq./ Syria seems more likely.
Danny, I can't work out from your post if you actually want to be in a combat zone, or sit at home base and be referred to as a REMF (ask NFI, I'm sure he'll happily explain!), but all I'm saying is it would be a gutsy move to join up expecting to do a decent and worthwhile technical job, in the hope you'll never have to face angry people who want to kill you.
Just something to think about.
Good luck for the future mate, I'm sure you'll choose wisely and set yourself up for a brilliant career in the forces and outside.