Would you look down on someone who hasn't deployed?

Did you fulfill you duties as assigned?

If so you have nothing to be embarrassed about.


One often finds oneself in a situation where one's duties are decided by others.

I wouldn't be embarrassed about your current situation. Years later, after you leave the military, it won't matter to civilians...they want to know, what have you done today? I've been out of the military for seven years now, and pretty much an unknown.

It depends on their circumstances. If they've had many opportunities and purposefully dodged a deployment, which I know some SNCO's that have, yes, I look down upon them.

If it's through no fault of their own, they've asked and been denied due to their position, or as in your case, haven't been in long enough to really have a chance, nope. You can't control what's out of your control.

You shouldn't feel embarrassed it's not in your complete control if you deploy or where. You do your job that's all that really matters. I have not deployed as well and would love to go I did deploy but it was a ship deployment. At the end of the day wether you been to combat or not is not a reflection if you as soldier. If you still want to deploy you might get your chance still judging by the way things are going. Just continue doing your job well that's all that matters.

There's plenty of Soldiers that have deployed and they are complete scumbags.

I spent 8 years and never deployed. 97-05. I wrote the same blank check everyone else did. The Corps decided I could best serve doing other things. I don't feel like I served any less. I am still a Marine.

SSG(P) (Join to see) John Milton's poem's last line applies - "They also serve who only stand and wait". Not everyone gets the call, and as long as you are willing, you are serving as you agreed to do. Keep your head up!

No as they earned the same title I earned (Marine) and went through the same Boot Camp hell I endured, We are brothers and sisters ti the end regardless of duty stations.

In the post-9/11 military, it can be easy to feel bad if you've never had a combat deployment, but for decades before 9/11 it was not uncommon for people to go an entire career without deploying. My ex-MIL retired as an E-8 and *almost* deployed once, which was called off the day before she was supposed to ship out. 25 years and she never once left our shores.

For me, it's all about willingness to do your duty when you are called upon. I've deployed a few times, but I would never look down on someone who didn't have the opportunity. I've also known people who would purposefully (never proven, but sort of understood) get on a profile to avoid deployment then miraculously get well just in time for a cushy TDY. Those people I have no respect for.

Bottom line, you don't get to decide whether or not you are called upon to go. As long as you are squared away for the moment that day comes you are alright in my book.

I was in for a mere 2 years but was deployed for 19 months. I went where the Army told me and did what they wanted me to do. Deployed or not, it is the same for you.