How did you deal with your first deployment?

Like a Boss!

Edit: Ok that really didn't answer anything. Basically I was scared crapless and reacted to save my buddies and my life. I just wanted to get back home in one piece. Just listen to your NCO's, keep an eye out for everyone and everything, and DON'T TOUCH THINGS ON THE GROUND UNLESS YOU PUT IT THERE! Oh, and don't eat every meal at the DFAC. You get fat like that....One Tubby Tubby....Two Tubby Tubby! Hope that helps.

My first deployment was Desert Shield in August of 1990, there wasn't much to do during downtime except read, play chess, and of course...play cards.

Well, I was excited, cuz we were getting in the game we were training for! Then, the deployments are long, and got longer in my time (80-13), and could be boring at times. Then in no time they can jump to exciting, adrenaline pumping, horrifying, and depressing; all in one day. I dealt with it/them, by staying busy. When I was not busy, I was getting ready, and when I was not getting ready, I was reading or writing; this was long before the internet and social media. SSG VNicia Young Air Assault!

There was a time when I (we) was first on line when missions (deployments) came up, then over time, while I never avoid any deployments (I say that because too many did avoid them), I was no longer racing to get to the head of the line, but I got on line.

In 33 years, and I spent over 30 months deployed in combat, and also many other months on the other operational and training missions. Not huge to some, I know, but still significant.

I only regret the impacts it had on my family, who were left waiting and worrying. When deployed, you are busy, the time flies by... For my wife and family back home, life goes on, time drags on, while they fear daily that someone in uniform will knock on the door one day.... I don't how they did it/do it. My part was clearly the easy part.

It helped that I wasn't a wet behind the ears private. Prior to leaving CONUS the NCO's got together w/the PSG and we put our input on what we would like to have or need. Since we we not an RA unit we had much more experience than most units. Once in country we started the crawl, walk ,run. We left the freezing Ft. Drum and got off the plane in Kuwait where the temp. was 110 in the shade (it was only May ! ) We were an Engineer Co. so we had all kinds of tools we packed. We took pallets apart and made furniture using the old nails. We started filling sand bags, we did patrolling and Infantry tasks to help get acclimated. We had to wait for our equipment to arrive at the port so we had time.

Best way I've found dealing with it was working out.. a lot.

There's always something to do. Facebook and Skype helps a lot. Should have no problem keeping busy.

kept busy and kept my head down... 

My first deployment I was a LCpl (2) weeks into the fleet I was deployed to Iraq Camp Cupcake, I spent less than a week there before hoping a ride to Al Qaim where I spent the rest of my deployment. The Al Anbar Pro. was the last stronghold so we where consistently attacked I saw alot and experienced alot as well. I grew so much during that deployment, so much so that when I came back my wife and family could tell. I wouldn't change anything...I actually enjoyed my time

Sleep keep your mind calm its what you trained for , over thinking is to be avoided . Know the mission ,focus on the preparations. And don't b s yourself , into thinking this is your chance to be a glory hound. Cause it's testing time ,you will either be a Go or No Go at this station , oh don't forget to point the business end of Your weapon at the enemy and breathe ,squeeze the trigger ,don't jerk it . After that let the battle come to you ...