Do you consider going to Korea or Okinawa, or going on a ship, a "real deployment"?

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 May 2018 20:14:04 -0400

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made May 1 at 2018 8:23 PM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Tue, 01 May 2018 20:23:12 -0400

Korea is not a deployment, neither is Japan. Ship duty, however, is a form of deployment. Those vessels can be directed into combat operations at any time as needed.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2018 9:01 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 May 2018 21:01:03 -0400

Combat deployment? No. Deployment? Sure. Enjoy your career, better things to worry about.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made May 1 at 2018 9:03 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Tue, 01 May 2018 21:03:32 -0400

You are ‘shipping’ out? That is a deployment.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2018 10:23 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 May 2018 22:23:07 -0400

Your asking Army guys who typically never see a ship is your first problem. What your describing sounds like a 31 meu (Marine expeditionary unit). I went to all those places, including em/disembarking the USS Essex multiple times my first deployment

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made May 1 at 2018 10:53 PM

SSgt Dan Montague — Tue, 01 May 2018 22:53:32 -0400

I have done several MEU's in my career. Yes if we are lucky we hit several libo ports. However, keep in mind that several times MEU's have been called ashore to fight, provide aid, be QRF, train other forces, reenforce embassy or evacuate them... the list goes on. Also there are chances a MEU will get extended at the last minute for several months. Happened to me in '03 and happened to the 22nd after 9/11. Plus, mail SUCKS on ship.
Oki, kinda the same. We were ready to go at any time for any mission in the Pacific area.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2018 3:44 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 May 2018 03:44:33 -0400

I consider it a deployment but not a combat deployment.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made May 2 at 2018 7:24 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Wed, 02 May 2018 07:24:11 -0400

Since technically the word deploy means "move (troops or equipment) into position for military action.", whether you move to Korea, Okinawa, Germany or aboard any of the fighting ships, you are being deployed. Nothing in the term itself means that it's a combat tour.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2018 8:05 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 May 2018 08:05:58 -0400

Having spent eight months on an LPD doing "Gator Squares"...and twelve months downrange in East Afghanistan...I'd definitely say being on board a ship is a "deployment". In many ways, I found the year in the 'Stan a bit more bearable; at least we could generally sleep most nights, eat at regular hours when not on mission, and work out without waiting in line during down time. As far as risks go, true enough...you're unlikely to take direct fire out at sea these days, but the sea herself is no picnic. For my guys working the flight deck at night, on Nods...imagine walking around spinning rotors in the pitch black for eight hours; in some cases, after standing by all day on the deck in a Crash & Smash suit in 100 deg weather, or needle-gunning. Oh yeah-then there's the Iranians. They like to come out and paint you, but of course you can't fire first...even if you could, a few .50 cals and maybe a MK-38 seem inadequate against some of the surface to surface stuff they're carrying. VBSS? Wouldn't call them "combat missions", but if the merchant vessel you're boarding is actually transporting illegal cargoes and doesn't want to roll over easy...well, there's a reason they go over armed.

Now if you're on a carrier....nah, won't go there :)

Response by LT Brad McInnis made May 2 at 2018 9:22 AM

LT Brad McInnis — Wed, 02 May 2018 09:22:29 -0400

IMO, if you are away from home for an extended amount of time, you are on deployment.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made May 2 at 2018 10:43 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Wed, 02 May 2018 10:43:11 -0400

The Navy calls it a deployment- the Army calls it a PCS move. A deployment is going somewhere for up to 12 months outside a normal rotation and returning to your Home Station.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2018 10:47 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 May 2018 10:47:23 -0400

I went to Okinawa as a reservist for a few months for training so I do not consider it a deployment, I did like the time I spent there.

Response by LCpl Shane Couch made May 2 at 2018 11:07 AM

LCpl Shane Couch — Wed, 02 May 2018 11:07:37 -0400

I was stationed in Okinawa, wasn't a deployment for me. As far as I remember, going to Korea can give you access to joining the VFW, whether on deployment or being stationed there.

Response by Maj John Bell made May 2 at 2018 11:23 AM

Maj John Bell — Wed, 02 May 2018 11:23:08 -0400

Seriously? What's your definition of a deployment?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2018 11:32 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 May 2018 11:32:45 -0400

Sorry, not sorry.....but no. When i think of deployment, the first thing that comes to mind is bullets and incoming mortar rounds.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2018 11:39 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 May 2018 11:39:17 -0400

Shoot, in my day, “deployed” included a mandatory trip to the base barber!!!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2018 12:54 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 May 2018 12:54:12 -0400

Absolutely. Okinawa, between 1941-1945 and Korea from 1950-1953 though due to the continuing threat perhaps a couple of years afterward however once people started PCS'ing there ... ehhhh ....

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made May 2 at 2018 2:37 PM

PO1 Brian Austin — Wed, 02 May 2018 14:37:34 -0400

Since you can be gone up to twelve months, then yes, "going on a ship" is a "real deployment".

Response by SPC Nicole Holden-Kemp made May 2 at 2018 3:48 PM

SPC Nicole Holden-Kemp — Wed, 02 May 2018 15:48:07 -0400

If its an unaccompanied tour. Yes it can be counted as a deployment.

Response by SPC Nicole Holden-Kemp made May 2 at 2018 3:56 PM

SPC Nicole Holden-Kemp — Wed, 02 May 2018 15:56:17 -0400

I was at Camp Casey Korea (north of Seoul,) there were no families we did “exercises” all the time. We lived in barracks. It was NOT a combat tour, but we were deployed for 12 months.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2018 11:58 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 May 2018 11:58:30 -0400

I'd say going on a ship is much the same, whether it's war or peace time, so I'd call that a "real" deployment (or cruise, or voyage, or whatever Navy people call it).
I brought my family with me to Korea, so nope. Not a deployment. Just a different duty station.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2018 12:39 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 May 2018 12:39:22 -0400

If my unit packs up all our shit and leaves for 9 months it’s a deployment

Response by PO2 Anthony Burton made May 5 at 2018 12:48 PM

PO2 Anthony Burton — Sat, 05 May 2018 12:48:40 -0400

Yea and when we go on a cruise,we just hit ports and have fun.i think Korea would be a deployment don’t think Germany would be,just a military presence.im sure it’s different for SOF.

Response by SPC Rob Lewis made May 5 at 2018 1:45 PM

SPC Rob Lewis — Sat, 05 May 2018 13:45:21 -0400

If you are issued live rounds and protective gear. Your deployed

Response by MSgt Michael Lane made May 5 at 2018 2:28 PM

MSgt Michael Lane — Sat, 05 May 2018 14:28:20 -0400

When I was stationed in Texas we went to Camp Bullis so much I was thinking of doing a change of address. Once I came home from a 90 day deployment overseas and the next weekend yep 3 days in the field Camp Bullis.

Response by Sgt Shely Hanson made May 5 at 2018 3:26 PM

Sgt Shely Hanson — Sat, 05 May 2018 15:26:41 -0400

Maybe I am just old school, but PCSing to Korea, Germany, etc. is not a deployment. We called them short tours, unaccompanied tours, or TDY's.

Response by SSG James Clark made May 5 at 2018 4:43 PM

SSG James Clark — Sat, 05 May 2018 16:43:48 -0400

If your ass is in the grass and you can't go home than you are deployed! If you have barracks, housing, and go do some bedroom PT than you are stationed some place.

Response by SFC Gary Bilke made May 5 at 2018 8:28 PM

SFC Gary Bilke — Sat, 05 May 2018 20:28:00 -0400

On a ship , I can't say..
Ordered to South Korea , twice . 13 months the first time , One year the second time.
By gosh I was depoyed ,to use a non-Army term.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2018 8:53 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 May 2018 20:53:37 -0400

I've been to Korea three times and it's not a deployment. It's not even much of a hardship tour anymore.

Response by GySgt Joe Strong made May 6 at 2018 1:13 AM

GySgt Joe Strong — Sun, 06 May 2018 01:13:14 -0400

Okay, just as a Point of Order, as of this moment Korea is still a War Zone. Even the VFW acknowledges 30 continuous days or 90 aggregate days there for membership. It’s a deployment. Okinawa or Japan? If you slept in a barracks, not so much a deployment.

Response by TSgt Denise Moody made May 7 at 2018 11:15 PM

TSgt Denise Moody — Mon, 07 May 2018 23:15:22 -0400

No, going to Korea, or Okinawa, or Germany, or England, etc are overseas assignments. Then there are remote assignments, again not a deployment.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 14 at 2020 9:17 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 21:17:41 -0400

On a ship maybe, it depends on where you're going. Korea and Okinawa, Hell no. Kuwait's not even a real deployment and it's right inside Iran's taint.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 30 at 2021 1:21 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 13:21:35 -0400

Army or USMC? Both are deployments for Marines. Some get accompanied tours for 3 years, some get one year unaccompanied. Some are on Unit Deployment (UDP) for 6-9 months. MEUs are sea-based for at least 6 months. I can't speak to Army. Forward deployed usually means just that.