User blog comment:N7EagleEye/New Mass Effect 4 Details/@comment-71.93.187.249-20130704122154

The most logical explanation here is that he simply meant the main character won't be an established military character to start off like Shepard was. Doesn't mean he's going to be a runt with no fighting skills, just different backgrounds. Maybe a drifter type character who starts off with an establishable background who has his own ship and crew, maybe like Mal in Firefly, and gains more support and prowess throughout the story. You can still have an impact on the universe without being the archetype military soldier shepard was, and you can still have fighting abilities if you're not one as well. Just ask all of those mercenaries, assassins, and bounty hunters we see so much of in the ME universe.