How long should Air Force deployments be?

2015-07-14T16:50:46-04:00

So I have noticed that other branches have a pretty set average deployment time. It can always get longer but with the few exceptions never shorter. What does the community feel about the Air Force being all over the place with the length of their deployments should they have a more set in stone length? Why or why not? What would the effect be on morale and families? Please keep in mind that this is a hypothetical question in order to hear opinions on the matter and I'm leaving my thoughts out of it. I have also included a survey but would love to see comments on the matter.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jul 14 at 2015 4:51 PM

2015-07-14T16:51:44-04:00

At least 15 months - or more. Joking... We are just jealous.

During the Surge, in our 8,000 person Brigade TF, the Army was on 15 months, the Marines 9, Navy 6, and USAF 90, 60, and even some 30 days.

We had USMC, USN, and USAF in our Army Brigade during OEF 06-8 because the Army was out of MPs who could come back (dwell time)... Everyone was on a different cycle, anyway, so it really did not matter. It was sorta like Korea, with units and people coming and going daily. Not the best way to do things, but the units (like MP Brigades, Engineer Brigades, etc.) outside of the BCTs are not on lifecycle replacement... so it is a different world.

I don't think anyone should deploy for 15 months, but is all relative. During Bosnia and Kosovo we thought 179 days were super long... The OEF surge requirements demanded 15 months. Early on in OEF, we had MP units replacing the units that replaced them. So, you would have 12 months BOG, and then back at HST for less 12 months. Crazy... Like a 12 month long shift and shift change.

I think the branches have to decide, based on the requirements, and their strength, how long deployments should be, with a focus on as short as possible, but not too short to create second and third order effects. Switching out too frequently can cause other issues.

If you research the military, and our deployments, you will find we are constantly changing, and adjusting to find the best solution to deployment times. I still think we are trying to figure this out.

There is a sweet spot. I think it is 9 or 12.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2015 5:10 PM

2015-07-14T17:10:02-04:00

As long as necessary, but every effort needs to be made to tie the deployment to an actual requirement. There are too many anecdotal stories of personnel showing up at deployment location and being told "why are you here?....well, we'll find something for you to do." The long lead time often contributes to the loss of the actual need.

Response by SrA Christopher Gatzka made Jul 14 at 2015 5:17 PM

2015-07-14T17:17:07-04:00

When I was in the typical norm was 6 months. However they did have a 1 year depending on the mission. When we had a 6 month we were also asked if we wanted to stay another 6 months. I'm assuming the majority vote was a no (But most likely might have been fabricated. I don't really know). I think 6 months is perfectly acceptable no one wants to be away from home for so long. But I chose No opinion on your survey because there has to be a purpose for a year.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jul 14 at 2015 5:47 PM

2015-07-14T17:47:33-04:00

I tend to think of things more in "Tours of Duty" than in Deployments, whereas a Deployment (or 2) will be part of a Tour of Duty.

Using a "first enlistment" as an example, a Tour of Duty would typically be about 2-3 years (assuming that School/Education/Leave takes up about 1 year).

So let's call it 30 months just for convenience. During those 30 months, what is an "acceptable" Deployment percentage? Is it 30%? 50%? More than 50%?

Let's use 50% for arguments sake (again). That would mean 15 months deployed AND work up, 15 months not.

So that would be a single 12 month deployment, or two 6 month deployments. The issue with shorter deployments is that "the steak is no longer worth the sizzle" in that we end up spending too much time working up to them, as compared to actually doing them. Now for high-tempo contingency operations (week on, week off, etc), that isn't the same thing.

Now, part of the USAF draw (Recruitment) is its operational tempo. So massive changes could be detrimental to the overall USAF culture.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Jul 14 at 2015 5:51 PM

2015-07-14T17:51:40-04:00

The Air Force deploys? :)

This guys says, "1 Month!"

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2015 7:45 PM

2015-07-14T19:45:58-04:00

Personally, I feel that the Air Force does an awesome job at everything they do. Their system is working... why change it.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2015 9:42 PM

2015-07-14T21:42:20-04:00

Everyone's job and mission is different. I don't think it would be as effective to have a set date. I know for my job our deployment isn't always a guarantee 4 months. Sometimes it gets extended since you're "replacement" didn't show or whatever the circumstance is or it gets shortened last minute and you're on the next jet leaving the following week. It varies on a lot of levels and we can't even get a set date for our 4 month deployment without it changing. Maybe if communication was better between the higher ups and us maybe.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2015 10:04 PM

2015-07-14T22:04:06-04:00

I have no idea what an AF deployment consists of (I have plenty of jokes I could make about swimming, movies, etc, but I really don't know) so I am not really qualified to say.

Response by CPT William Jones made Nov 6 at 2020 1:52 AM

2020-11-06T01:52:27-05:00

Any asignment outside the USA is a deployment regardless of hostile zone location or the NATO headquarters in Brussels. So adjust time for mission concerned and count length of each as is don on your DD214. Combat it other it all a deployment.