I suppose that the Navy could have assigned them duties onshore instead of aboard warships but they likely would have demanded combat roles.
Their actual deaths weren't as cleancut as in the film but still a very absorbing true life story.
I watched this movie May 19th on you tube. I had seen it before at lest 10 years ago. I did some internet research back then and watched a documentary about The USS Juneau around that time. I almost didn't watch it again because I knew the 5 brothers died in the end.
With that in mind, this time I wondered if the sinking rowboat scene and the others swimming back for one brother was a premonition or just to reinforce the fact that the brothers always stuck together. The film's ending was certainly glossed over to support the war bonds effort, no question about that.
On a different thread on this board posted by user powersroc and titled "The Other Brothers" he gives the name of a book by Dan Kurzman: Left To Die,The Tragedy of the USS Juneau. User SealordJohn gives a link to a documentary transcript at http://www.simonpure.com/left_print.htm. Gut wrenching read if you haven't seen it before.
Not trying to be hateful towards you, but when you have taken the oath of service, you then take orders. I doubt if you can demand an assignment. Movies often show that kind of bravado.
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In real life, I have a newspaper clipping with photo of my aunt winning the Miss War Bonds award in 1944 in her hometown in Ohio. She was one of 10 children and had 4 brothers drafted into the service, but in different branches.