Posted on May 4, 2014
SFC Bde Mobility Nco
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I think being non deployable is the worst thing in the Army. Nothing worst than watching your Soldiers board the plane to deploy and you are in the rear.
I used to work for a SFC that was non deployable and couldn't even wear her vest lol. I was like seriously, why are you even here? Why are you training us on anything and will not be there when it matters the most?
In my eyes if you are non deployable i don't see why the Army doesn't start a chapter packet on the SM or Leader and send them to the house.
There is another way for the Army to downsize right there.
I think you shouldn't be able to get promoted either. Deploying is the biggest and main part of the being a Soldier. Going to war when needed. If you can't go to war or the freaking field for a field problem then why should you be promoted?
Posted in these groups: Imgres DeploymentStar Promotions
Edited 11 y ago
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Responses: 190
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SGT Kristin Wiley
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SFC Thomas,

I completely understand where you are coming from. I am currently stationed in Hawaii and I have seen numerous O-5 and below, as well as E-8 and below with no deployment patches. I find it very frustrating when these individuals are made our leaders when they do not understand the true concepts behind deployments.

However, I would be hesitant to condemn non-deployable soldiers. While I am not 'blacklisted' as being non-deployable, I am suffering from a chronic multi-symptom illness from my service in Iraq. My medical condition continues to deteriorate, but our medical system will do nothing for me. They will not even send me to a MEB for retention evaluation. I do not think I should be deployable or even in the service at this point, but our messed up system allows my mistreatment to continue. Non-deployable in my experience can mean two distinctly different things 1) You are overemphasizing an injury/illness to avoid a deployment or 2) You are truly injured/ill and are getting fucked over by the Army medical system and not being process for MEB. The least amount of Army bullshit I have experienced is when I was deployed. I honestly want to deploy right now in order to get away from the bad leadership and medical mistreatment I am currently experiencing. I'd rather suffer with less bullshit deployed; then be made to suffer due to negligence in garrison.
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SFC Senior Human Resources Supervisor
SFC (Join to see)
>1 y
What I find interesting is the number of people who were still effective leaders in the first few deployment cycles into OIF/OEF that had no prior patches because they came in mid-90s or later... did they somehow not understand the concept?
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
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Being non-deployable does not make one less of a soldier or a leader. A soldier can be non-deployable because of an injury received on one or more previous deployments. Does this make their experiences count less because they cannot currently deploy? Does this mean they can no longer be a leader - a combat leader yes, but we still need installation and other TDA staff. I think you need to take in the bigger picture to appreciate the fact that there is a role for everyone in the service, we don't forsake our own.
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SSG Broadcast Nco
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This idea of non-deployable, non-promotable, or flagged, is assisted by the ERB. But, Soldiers who have issues that cause them to be unable to go on deployment may stem from troubled units, and issues beyond the uniform. There may be instances of 'skipping' or 'ducking', but they are so rare that it makes me laugh. I've seen a former General's daughter deploy twice, and other Soldiers disappointed that they did not make the battle roster. Just because a Soldier may have a 'slick sleeve' does not equate a problem Soldier.
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MAJ Teacher/Coach
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I couldn't agree more. If you can't deploy you are of no use to the military.
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LTC Paul Labrador
LTC Paul Labrador
11 y
So a senior and very experienced neurosurgeon who does highly complex surgeries every day in garrison but has a non-deployable profile is of no use to the military....? Really???? You may want to re-think your position.
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CPT Company Commander (Hhc, Cyber Protection Brigade)
CPT (Join to see)
11 y
Agreed.
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PO2 Corey Ferretti
PO2 Corey Ferretti
>1 y
Wow MAJ (Join to see) this is a post i would not expect from an Officer. In the fact that your mentality i would consider toxic. I was Active for 10 Years did 4 deployments spaninng 5 countries. Due to circumstances on my deployment to Iraq i ended up non-deployable. I loved the Navy but was Retired due to the way the Navy was going. I was Good at what i did and due to a "leader" with your mentality when i brought my issues to him. I was told you need to hide this you are not needed and will be booted. This delayed my treatment and probably extended my recovery. I hope you have a great mentor who you can run this by who can help open your eyes little better. Because this is not the mentality i would want in a Junior officer i was working under. I am happy to See LTC Paul Labrador does not share your point of view.
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SSG John Erny
SSG John Erny
>1 y
1LT Craig Thompson, LTC Paul Labrador, CPT Eric Dunn, PO2 Corey Ferretti,
That all depends,for example: you broke your leg on a training jump doing your job. You will recover from the injury in 8 weeks. Should a career soldier have their chances a promotion ruined for doing their job. The military has for the longest time viewed enlisted soldiers as expendable. It is time to re-think that. The military is going to have fewer soldiers and have to do more with them. Now of the injury is on permanent profile can they be used as an instructor, are they a subject matter expert. I have seen soldiers in the late 80's that fit that bill. The Army used them to fill a "REMF" slot freeing up able bodied soldiers to do other things.
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SSG Interception Analyst
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SFC Thomas,

I really hope you have a specific group in mind, like legitimate malingerers. Because some folks actually go through MEBs and take P3 profiles in order to continue contributing to this great nation, not to mention WTU Soldiers.


I have a permanent profile for my right knee; it imploded during a run, got cadaver replacement. I've deployed four times, most recently OEF in 2012 attached to a recon scout platoon. However, since I have a P2 profile, I can never be a Drill Sergeant, which I consider my dream job. Does that make me a bad NCO, that although I can deploy I'm not good enough create the Army's future junior ranks?
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SFC Jeffrey Wade
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why stop at booting out the people who are non-deployable? how about those with low PT scores? they obviously aren't pulling their own weight and will only slow a unit down when deployed to war. Anyone who gets UCMJ action against them should be booted as well, obviously they lack discipline and have no place in the Military. Anyone who fails a NCOES school should be shown the door too, if they cant pass the schools they don't deserve to be in, show them the door as well. Anyone late to a formation, get them out! If your late in a warzone someone could be dead from it, get them out of the ARMY! (this was written with great sarcasm)
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SGT Healthcare Specialist (Combat Medic)
SGT (Join to see)
11 y
well,that is the way it is supposed to be, but big Army some how decided that we need those people for a war. I agree with you almost completely. The pt thing is a little rocky for me. That's why there is a minimum score, if they are barely passing they need to be put on a remedial pt program, but most people who barely pass the APFT are over weight anyways.
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SFC Cornelius Walsh
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Not trying to stir the pot too much more here, but according to your profile, you deployed once from 2009-2010. Why do you think that validity of service is directly correlated to downrange time if you've only been able to manage one year of deployment time since 1995?
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SFC Jeffrey Wade
SFC Jeffrey Wade
11 y
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SFC Bde Mobility Nco
SFC (Join to see)
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SFC Walsh
I have not finished my profile on rallypoint. I have been deployed 5 times and seen some of my leaders left behind while we went down range.
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SSG Jim Handy
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This cannot be a blanket policy that covers everyone. It has to be dealt with on a case by case basis. Most soldiers don't become non-deployable on purpose. If something happened to them while serving that MADE them non-deployable they deserve other options. If they are good soldiers with good records, there are jobs they can be re-trained in where they can still serve without deploying, and they deserve that option. If you are willing to kick one of your brothers or sisters to the curb because they became damaged while serving their country, YOU don't understand what it is to be a soldier and YOU are probably the one that needs to go. The military is a very large and complicated machine with many parts, and not ALL of those parts need to actually be in a combat zone!
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SGT Automated Logistical Specialist
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This is a very important issue but it should not be treated with a 'black or white' solution. Every case must be treated on its own merit. Their non-deployability does not prevent them from functioning in other areas. Yes the Army is all about training and implementing what we do in training on the battle field. If they cannot deploy to be in theater but still able to perform on their daily individual tasks, it goes to support the efforts of those on the front lines; that is what they called 'The War Effort' during World War II. It is the totality of various individuals doing their respective bits to ensure victory for all. They may not be deployable but if they are efficient in what they do...or what they get assigned to do, their efforts must be recognized. I have deployed two times and I can say there were some that were deployable but were not efficient in anything and were still able to pass the board and got promoted...Memorizing and spewing the memorized stuff...meanwhile, the colleague at the rear...the non-deployable was doing marvelously at his duties and got promoted. If you asked me, I would say the non-deploable fellow earned his rank. He worked for it. Some of the non-deployable statuses are of no fault of those SMs. It is just the way it is. Non-deployable status SHOULD not prevent anyone from being promoted, provided they meet all other requirements and earn their rank on merit. That's my take on this.
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SGT Donald Croswhite
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If you’re non-deployable you should either be chaptered or reclassed to noncombat arms MOS, based on your commander's decision. And yes, if there is a reason that you are non-deployable then you probably aren’t much use to the Army.
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SFC Bde Mobility Nco
SFC (Join to see)
11 y
Unless you are missing a hand or a leg. You need to be on the bird or in the field with your Soldiers.
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MSG Senior Brigade Career Counselor
MSG (Join to see)
11 y
To SGT Donald C, so sending them to the Career Counselor to reclass into a non-deployable MOS (interesting)solve what? DA PAM 621-11 by the way is a good reference.
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SSG Bas Ncoic
SSG (Join to see)
11 y
You really can not "blanket" a statement such as that. Alot of leaders get focused in on the "MOS" part of the job instead of the SM's contribution, and is this a short term Non-Deployable or perm???? Perm non I agree should not effect our gains and loss roster, and should be given the option to go to somthing that can still provide the skills they have learned. If a temp profile then is what it is...sm's get broke and can be fixed....
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SFC Cornelius Walsh
SFC Cornelius Walsh
11 y
How about the blind officer serving with Special Forces? Should his promotions and advancement end due to a combat injury? Even if he's not in the fight, he's been promoted since, and continues to serve within USASOC, and is a competitive runner.
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