Posted on Jul 7, 2017
Would you look down on someone who hasn't deployed?
68.3K
1.05K
361
192
192
0
Would you or do you look down on people who have been deployed? I am honestly quite embarrassed to say that I have been in for almost 8 years and do not have a deployment.
Deployment
Military Career
Respect
Combat
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 248
123
123
0
In my mind there are folks who haven't deployed and then there are deployment dodgers who actively go out of there way to get out of deployments. I definitely look down on the latter.
(123)
(0)
LTC Philip Marlowe
Its seriously apparent PV2 Phillips that we see things differently. I suggest his predecessors, incl. Obama, Bush II, and Clinton, did significantly more damage to the actual effectiveness of the United States Military and its morale accordingly. Its apparent that you are simply not paying attention to the significant increases in Military Budgets for pay, services, new weapons systems and equipment, or the POTUS' goal of reducing our involvement in or completely pulling out of never ending conflict (e.g. Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan), improvements to the VA (undermined of course by previous administration's holdovers). However, be that as it may, at the end of the day, you will not convince me to even remotely agree with your thinking and I'm sure, nor I you. Ergo, I suggest we will simply have to agree to disagree. Again, thank you for your having stepped up to serve in the US Armed Forces...you did what many have not.
(2)
(0)
LTC Gene Moser
Captain, I can see you are quite conservative and that's fine. Let me clarify. To call somebody a liar one must be sure of oneself. Reading your opus I see a large amount of opinion in it, Opinion is just that, though some is based on fact and some is not. You may be a member of the Flat Earth Society, but that opinion is not based on fact.
(0)
(0)
PO3 Ted G
I actually tried to pretend there was nothing wrong with me so I could continue to go on patrol with my sub, it was not at all worth it. Once they have you cut open on the table there is no more lying and they will know if you can or can not deploy, in my case it was a hard NO. That said I remember that it was exceptionally dangerous for guys to be around women from a tender when it was going to deploy for two weeks because there were a lot of women looking to get pregnant to avoid going to sea for two weeks. You never know what people are willing to do to deploy or stay home, it is amazing. Given the choice today I would not go out of my way to avoid deployment, but I would not try to duck it either, it is at the end of the day your job.
(0)
(0)
106
106
0
The only people I look down on are shorter than me and even then I look up to quite of few of them
(106)
(0)
LTC Philip Marlowe
MAJ Jim Woods - A stroke of a marker on Kadena AFB (enroute to VN 1971) diverted me from Phang Rang, VN to Tak Li, Thailand. I regret not having served in VN simply because I wanted to know for myself what it was like; to have an informed opinion. I'm sure I didn't miss a whole lot - but I did miss enough to either concur or challenge opinions regarding the VN war.
(5)
(0)
SSG Carl Gamel
If you are a regular, that is a true soldier, then you are supposed to go were soldiers go, that is to the war zone. The National Guard main job is in their own state,unless it is a major war or National Emergency. If a "supposed " soldier, trys to get out of a deployment to a war zone, then he has cheated the Nation out of the money he has collected as pay and for his training. I do know that some soldiers will have MOSs that are not needed in some war zones, like Air Defence was not needed in Vietnam. But, if a soldier has a MOS, that is badly needed in a war zone ( I was a 64C, motor transport, when I re-enlisted to go to Vietnam, it had a VRB if 3, because there was a shortage of drivers in Vietnam), then he should go to the war.
(2)
(0)
SGT John Overby
SSG Carl Gamel - You must live in a vaccum space. Over the last 20 years the National Guard troops have been deployed all over the world including Iraq and Afganistan. We have had some local National Guard pay the ultimate sacrifice. All the bridges on I-840 around Nashville are named for deceased National Guard soldiers.
(3)
(0)
97
97
0
In today's military with about 1.2 million active, I believe there is a significant number who will never deploy because of job, critical assignment, or support personnel. I have never and will never look down upon a fellow member regardless of assignment or opportunity to deploy overseas in a war zone.Those not in zone are simply deployed throughout the world or at home doing what they do best defending the 99% of Americans not in uniform.
(97)
(0)
SGT Randall Smith
I was stationed in Germany when I made Sgt "E5. with in two months I requested transfer to Vietnam. I knew I would never make E6 in Germany and that was my goal.
When time to re-up came I thought long and hard about it. I was considering it but had to say no. I was promised I could go back to Germany but I knew what would happen within a year. And I was Not going back to Vietnam. Having to use equipment I had never seen sucked. The jungle scaired the devil out of me. Getting wounded once was more than enough for me. Having to work with men who came in under project 100,000 was enough to scare you. They were not allowed to have weapons, many could barely read or write. Most were put to work filling sandbags for the bunkers. We had some guys that did two and three tours, they liked it. I was smarter than that. I don't know how some of the new guys can do several tours and know they are going to be sent back.
When time to re-up came I thought long and hard about it. I was considering it but had to say no. I was promised I could go back to Germany but I knew what would happen within a year. And I was Not going back to Vietnam. Having to use equipment I had never seen sucked. The jungle scaired the devil out of me. Getting wounded once was more than enough for me. Having to work with men who came in under project 100,000 was enough to scare you. They were not allowed to have weapons, many could barely read or write. Most were put to work filling sandbags for the bunkers. We had some guys that did two and three tours, they liked it. I was smarter than that. I don't know how some of the new guys can do several tours and know they are going to be sent back.
(3)
(0)
SFC Jeff Orlowski
It is the "Luck of the Draw." Less than 5% of our society chooses to join our military. Nothing is said to those who make this commitment. But here we are almost chastising someone who makes such a great commitment, but is never deployed. What about the other 95% who never even give it an option; unless it is as a last resort.
(2)
(0)
MSgt Kerry Lundy
SGT Randall Smith - All these years and all the times I have been on this site you are the first I have seen to acknowledge Project 100,000. I have talked about it before and people would look at me like I was crazy. For those of you who are not familiar with project 100,000 this was a government program where each branch of the military had to accept 100,000 persons in mental categories who would normally be disqualified from military service. People who could barely read and write their own names but the Air Force had them trying to perform maintenance on specialized vehicles. Vehicles that cost in the neighborhood of $100,000 per copy and this was in the 1960s.
(1)
(0)
SPC Michael Terrell
SFC Jeff Orlowski - Even worse are those who brag about not serving, then give some lame excuse. One magazine editor told me that he could never serve, because he was Diabetic. Most MOS would not have that restriction. I had five, 4F ratings when I registered for the draft, yet I was drafted after being told that I could never serve. I was told that I was on my way to Vietnam. When my orders came through, it was for the Cold Weather Research Center at Ft. Greely. My MOS was Radio & TV Broadcast Engineer, and our broadcast facilities in Vietnam were sitting ducks for missile attacks.
I received a TV transmitter at Ft. Greely from Vietnam for parts. It was full of bullet holes. The staff on duty had all been killed. Several of my friends at Ft. Greely had served in Vietnam. They wanted to go back, because they said it was safer to be out on patrol than risk dying from the cold, on a daily basis. A simple fall on ice could kill you, and you couldn't find cover from the high winds, or snow that covered the second story windows some days. I was told by someone who had never been there that it was a 'Country Club' Army base, unlike when his friend served in Germany. His friend was there in 1952, and at the largest AFRTS station in the network. His only danger was getting into a bar fight.
Also, our military personnel die from accidents, unrelated to combat, yet they are essential tasks to be where we need to be to win battles with minimal losses.
We are given our assignments, and anyone worth their pay does a good job to complete it, and make it home in one piece. It takes a team to win.
I had one jerk bragging about his 'daddy' winning WWII, and anyone not on the front line was a REMF. Everyone laughed at him as I pointed out that his 'daddy was useless without the others supplying him with everything that he needed to survive, from toilet paper to bullets. My vision has always been poor. I could hit the targets, but not spot anyone in camo. I was assigned to what I could do, and I received a Letter of Commendation for it.
I received a TV transmitter at Ft. Greely from Vietnam for parts. It was full of bullet holes. The staff on duty had all been killed. Several of my friends at Ft. Greely had served in Vietnam. They wanted to go back, because they said it was safer to be out on patrol than risk dying from the cold, on a daily basis. A simple fall on ice could kill you, and you couldn't find cover from the high winds, or snow that covered the second story windows some days. I was told by someone who had never been there that it was a 'Country Club' Army base, unlike when his friend served in Germany. His friend was there in 1952, and at the largest AFRTS station in the network. His only danger was getting into a bar fight.
Also, our military personnel die from accidents, unrelated to combat, yet they are essential tasks to be where we need to be to win battles with minimal losses.
We are given our assignments, and anyone worth their pay does a good job to complete it, and make it home in one piece. It takes a team to win.
I had one jerk bragging about his 'daddy' winning WWII, and anyone not on the front line was a REMF. Everyone laughed at him as I pointed out that his 'daddy was useless without the others supplying him with everything that he needed to survive, from toilet paper to bullets. My vision has always been poor. I could hit the targets, but not spot anyone in camo. I was assigned to what I could do, and I received a Letter of Commendation for it.
(4)
(0)
35
35
0
Let's be honest. People do look down on those who haven't "been there" yet, and always have since before you or me served.
Having said that, you serve at the pleasure of the officers appointed over you, and whether you go or not is not your decision to make. Even those who find assignments to "hide" in, had their orders approved by someone.
Let me tell you a story. When I was a brand new E-2, I reported to 3/3 Inf, fresh back from the Gulf War. Me and two other graduates were the first assigned there since, and the only ones without combat patches. We heard it to no end, especially from PFCs who had been in the Army only a few months more than us. Ironically, the few Vietnam vets still around were some of the few who put the harassers in their place.
Over time, more and more noobs showed up, and not having deployed became less of a novelty. By the time I had been in four years, Soldiers who had been to the Gulf were a shrinking minority; now they are rare indeed.
Someday in the not-so-far future, Iraq and Afghanistan vets will be a shrinking minority as well.
This will pass... and you will very likely get your chance to "see the elephant".
In the meantime, be professional, became an expert at your field, and do your part to train for the next conflict that comes our way.
Having said that, you serve at the pleasure of the officers appointed over you, and whether you go or not is not your decision to make. Even those who find assignments to "hide" in, had their orders approved by someone.
Let me tell you a story. When I was a brand new E-2, I reported to 3/3 Inf, fresh back from the Gulf War. Me and two other graduates were the first assigned there since, and the only ones without combat patches. We heard it to no end, especially from PFCs who had been in the Army only a few months more than us. Ironically, the few Vietnam vets still around were some of the few who put the harassers in their place.
Over time, more and more noobs showed up, and not having deployed became less of a novelty. By the time I had been in four years, Soldiers who had been to the Gulf were a shrinking minority; now they are rare indeed.
Someday in the not-so-far future, Iraq and Afghanistan vets will be a shrinking minority as well.
This will pass... and you will very likely get your chance to "see the elephant".
In the meantime, be professional, became an expert at your field, and do your part to train for the next conflict that comes our way.
(35)
(0)
1SG Steven Malkowski
I had over 30 years service from 1977-2010. 2 1/2 years active in Germany then the rest Guard time. Volunteered for a MFO mission to the Sinai after 9/11 when it looked like my unit wasn't going anywhere. Then volunteered for Afghanistan in 2008 but blew out my ACL in my civilian job just before leaving and was put on disability for 9 months. Never had a combat deployment. It's my one big regret about my service that I was never in the box. No right sleeve patch, no CIB. I talk to my son who spent 15 months in Kirkuk, Iraq and ask him "What did you do in the war son?"
(1)
(0)
1SG (Join to see)
1SG Steven Malkowski and your service was no less honorable than your son's was. Tough break with the ACL. How is it now?
I tore mine at the end of my 08-09 tour in Iraq and I haven't been the same since.
I tore mine at the end of my 08-09 tour in Iraq and I haven't been the same since.
(2)
(0)
1SG Steven Malkowski
It's about 90%. The doc at the time said that was the best it would be. I rehabbed like crazy to get back up to speed. Just bothers me once in a while now.
(2)
(0)
31
31
0
Dude, you should feel blessed that you've somehow avoided a deployment in that long. I've got friends who've been gone more than they've been home. My wife will have a total of 18 months deployed in her first 4 years once this deployment is up. While it's great to put your skills to use in the "real world" type experience, it's also a real pain in the ass for many reasons. You fall behind on schools, you miss out on other opportunities, miss out on family stuff, etc. While it's a thing to be proud of if you've done it, it's not the end of the world if you haven't. I respect anyone who puts on a uniform every day, whether they're stateside or some awful hole on the other side of the planet.
(31)
(0)
SP5 Michael Cates
Luck is when opportunity and preparation criss/cross! We are who we hang with whether we are in civilian life or in the service!!!
(1)
(0)
SGT Christopher Hayden
CPT Bob Coleman Where was I complaining? I simply said to take advantage of the time you aren't deployed, Bob.
(1)
(0)
28
28
0
The only way I could ever look down on someone who hasn't deployed is if that person made it their mission to NEVER deploy. Otherwise, I don't care if they deployed or not.
(15)
(0)
SGT F Dan Walker
Agree, however there is that crud about "Weekend Warrior" which still sticks with me. It's something that continues to hit me and it's been there since back in the early seventies. I was 'originally' classified as 4-F...."4-F is a classification given to a new U.S. military registrant indicating that he or she is “not acceptable for service in the Armed Forces” due to medical, dental, or other reasons." A decade, or so later, I was able to secure enlistment with the APG into the USN-R. After eight years with a P&NA (twice) for AK1 and the "MothBall" of VP-93, I was looking to continue and was taken on board with MiANG as 31F. We were scheduled to relieve 'active duty' personnel (31 SigBn) in the second go -Sandbox OIF- and "trained-up" @ Ft. Riley.....during which I became a 'Med-Hold' for Asthmatic condition; and 'flat footed'. Never got send over, but keep busy On-Post. Though it was fought to be sent, it was not to be and then to be sent to Home Station and be ousted as "Medically Unfit for continued service" was truly disheartening.
Sorry for the rambling-on, just wanted Thank You for your support and thoughts on this subject.
Sorry for the rambling-on, just wanted Thank You for your support and thoughts on this subject.
(0)
(0)
15
15
0
It depends on a number of factors really. Have they been a victim of luck and/or circumstance? Then no.
Do they think they're hot snot when they're really just a cold booger on a stick? Then yes, probably so.
Have they been hiding by their own choice in non-deployable assignments? Then yes, most definitely.
I don't think there's a blanket answer for this.
Do they think they're hot snot when they're really just a cold booger on a stick? Then yes, probably so.
Have they been hiding by their own choice in non-deployable assignments? Then yes, most definitely.
I don't think there's a blanket answer for this.
(15)
(0)
PFC Anthony Bruce
This exactly. I had an E5 recruiter try to bust my balls and say I didn't have a Purple Heart and wanted to see my DD-214 to prove that I did. Once he saw it he then got stupid and started bragging he had been a recruiter since Afghanistan kicked off and was learning on staying there so he didn't ever have to go to war. Took everything I had to be the bigger man and walk out of his office with out busting his face for that one. Yes I know I would have sent to jail but I would have done it happily over that shit.
(1)
(0)
15
15
0
I would say its nothing to be embarrassed about. True a deployment patch is often viewed as an indication that a soldier knows what right looks like or has completed some sort of right of passage but not many soldiers get to pick their deployments. You should look at like your time hasn't come yet but when the nation calls you will be ready. Not everyone career is identical. Hold your head up like a true American Soldier and wait in line... dont let anyone take what you have worked for this long away from based off of something that is outside your control.
(15)
(0)
10
10
0
I always resented those who were able to go but found a way out of a deployments. During Desert Storm I saw single parents, female soldiers get pregnant, and of course physical problems that suddenly appeared as the deployment approached. It put a strain on units to replace those who shouldn't been there in the first place if they were not committed to serving their obligations fully. Someone else had to deploy in their place.
(10)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google