Posted on Jul 23, 2015
Why is there such a huge disparity in deployment lengths of different branches? What is a suitable length?
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My last deployment before I retired was 15 months - with a 2 week R&R period. I missed the birth and birthday of my first child.
When I asked senior Army leaders they told me that it was "based on the needs of each service." Respectable answer, but, "Why does each service have vastly different needs when we are fighting the same war?'
Average deployment by branch:
Army - 9 to 15 months
Marines - 6 to 7 months
Navy - 6 to 7 months
Air Force - 3 to 4 months
When I asked senior Army leaders they told me that it was "based on the needs of each service." Respectable answer, but, "Why does each service have vastly different needs when we are fighting the same war?'
Average deployment by branch:
Army - 9 to 15 months
Marines - 6 to 7 months
Navy - 6 to 7 months
Air Force - 3 to 4 months
Deployment
Military Family
Military Career
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 17
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The differences between the services, when it comes to deployments, have always been a thorn in my side. Had to deal with them when I was serving in joint commands. Would have been much easier if everybody "played by the same rules".
I mentioned this before, in a different post about a similar subject, but it fits here, as well, so I'll say it again. When I was a battalion commander, we provided rotational MP companies to Honduras for 4-month deployments. Since a large part of the mission included security for Soto Cano AFB, we had 25-50 (can't remember exactly) USAF Security Force (Air Force MPs) attached to the company for the duration. The USAF and Army MPs did exactly the same jobs, lived in the same billets, ate in the same dining facility, etc., but the Army guys got $2.50 per day TDY and the Air Force got $27.50 per day. The reason for that was that the Army MPs deployed as a unit, whereas the Air Force SF deployed as individuals from various AF bases across the country. While I understood that, try explaining that to a pissed-off Army E-4 whose Air Force roommate makes $27.50 per day TDY to his $2.50 per day. Pure BS...
I mentioned this before, in a different post about a similar subject, but it fits here, as well, so I'll say it again. When I was a battalion commander, we provided rotational MP companies to Honduras for 4-month deployments. Since a large part of the mission included security for Soto Cano AFB, we had 25-50 (can't remember exactly) USAF Security Force (Air Force MPs) attached to the company for the duration. The USAF and Army MPs did exactly the same jobs, lived in the same billets, ate in the same dining facility, etc., but the Army guys got $2.50 per day TDY and the Air Force got $27.50 per day. The reason for that was that the Army MPs deployed as a unit, whereas the Air Force SF deployed as individuals from various AF bases across the country. While I understood that, try explaining that to a pissed-off Army E-4 whose Air Force roommate makes $27.50 per day TDY to his $2.50 per day. Pure BS...
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PVT (Join to see)
COL Jean (John) F. B. sir i dont understand it myself. What i mean is, why is there that much of a difference.
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COL Jean (John) F. B.
PVT (Join to see) - The difference was because the Army personnel were deployed as a unit and, therefore, entitled only to incidental TDY. The Air Force personnel were deployed as individuals (from various bases around the country), not as a unit, and therefore were entitled to the TDY rates for personnel in that status. Technically, they were supposed to pay higher rates in the dining facilities, however, local policy was not to require them to (technically a violation of the JTR/per diem regulations).
Like I said, I understood the difference, but it made no sense since the Air Force personnel lived in the same facilities, ate in the same dining facility, performed the same duties, etc., as Army personnel. If they had been require to pay the correct amount in the dining facility and ate all three meals a day, it would have evened out, but that was not the case, due to "local policy". I questioned it, but was over-ruled and told it was an Air Force call. Was not worth the battle that would have ensued if I had made it a "cause".
Like I said, I understood the difference, but it made no sense since the Air Force personnel lived in the same facilities, ate in the same dining facility, performed the same duties, etc., as Army personnel. If they had been require to pay the correct amount in the dining facility and ate all three meals a day, it would have evened out, but that was not the case, due to "local policy". I questioned it, but was over-ruled and told it was an Air Force call. Was not worth the battle that would have ensued if I had made it a "cause".
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SSgt Donnavon Smith
I had one trip (down South) and the Army guys were buttoned up in BDUs and our UoD was Civies. The Soldier hated us for it, but it was not our choice
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Army troops have practically no elasticity remaining in their sphincter before we even get involved in combat deployments. 12-15 months is par for the stretching. OIF-I we didn't even know when we were going home until very late in the deployment. Air Cav, baby. Embrace the suck.
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SGT (Join to see)
You put it perfectly... I was deployed during the surge, when our deployment went from 12 to 15 months just before hump day - oh the record low in moral sitting in Al Anbar province and get the stellar news from the big Army. Complacency sets in hard around 9 months IMHO, and after a year you are dead on your feet.. and you still have months to go.
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"Needs of the Service" is a cop-out answer. It is meaningless. You might just as well be told that the sky is blue or grass is green. What needs and how were they determined? There are rarely legitimate answers behind those questions. I suspect that the real answer is more along the lines of "Because we don't know how to do it any other way." and "We don't want to put the time or effort into doing it any differently - even if it would be better." It might even be an answer like "It was the only op order we could find to copy."
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