There are mobilizations for an MP Saudi Arabia deployment for force protection. Does anybody know is this is considered a combat deployment?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 13:43:02 -0500

Looking to see if this would be considered a combat deployment (ie combat benefits, combat patch, etc.), or classified similar to Kuwait.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2018 1:45 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 13:45:43 -0500

I would doubt it would be considered a combat deployment, they took Kuwait off that list several years ago. I would think you have to spend time in Iraq or Afghanistan or maybe certain countries in Africa to get considered a combat deployment. I know there is a list out there.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Feb 7 at 2018 1:51 PM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 13:51:30 -0500

I doubt it. We used to deploy to Saudi all the time. It wasn't considered a combat deployment back then, I don't see them changing the status now.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2018 1:51 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 13:51:44 -0500

I am not so sure about that. Jordans considered hostile fire location. There's a war in Yemen just south of Saudi Arabia so my best guess is that it would be. The S1 and S3 will know.

Response by SGT Christopher Hayden made Feb 7 at 2018 2:56 PM

SGT Christopher Hayden — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 14:56:52 -0500

Nope.

Response by SPC David Willis made Feb 7 at 2018 3:22 PM

SPC David Willis — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 15:22:47 -0500

It may be worthy of getting a shoulder patch, but I would recommend against referring to it as a combat deployment.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2018 9:24 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 09:24:42 -0500

SPC Biondo, the answer to your question is "it depends". If you support base ops (security forces and so..) it will be a regular mobilization with some percs (tax exemptions, hazardous duty pay, hardship duty pay). If you do other actions down range under the "advisory program", (south or north) it will be a combat deployment (by the nature of their mission sets).