How can I volunteer for a deployment? What are the pros & cons of volunteering?

There’s no volunteering. Your unit deploys, if your unit isn’t deploying then you aren’t deploying. What you can do is go to a highly deployed unit like 82d, 101st, 3ID, or 10th mountain. Really, any BCT in 3rd Corps or 18th Airborne Corps.

Honestly, if you wait long enough, you will deploy. Especially if you end up on Bragg. That being said, you can submit this RFI thru your Chain and S3. You can look at MOBCOP (from a government computer only). There are a number of ways.

The PRO: People will treat you a little different (for the better for the most part) when they learn that you've deployed. You get the experience.

The CON: You could very well end up deploying with a unit that is not your own and they suck. Loss of limb, eyesight or life (but that's the nature of the game we play).

Be patient, young Padawan. You stay in long enough....you'll end up on a plane going somewhere.