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

I never deployed in my three service. We should not be ashamed or looked down upon, since we all sign the blank check and will go to wherever they send us. No questions asked!

Who looks down on Gen Marshall of WW2 fame? War fighting is not all dust and blood. The Cold War was won by the R&D and Procurement folks out building the USSR.

SSG(P) (Join to see) That really depends. Today, as we are in another postwar drawdown (Yes, I know we still at war), it is more and more the norm. It is also rank dependent. In during the height of OIF and OEF... I did look down on any senior leader without a right sleeve patch. I knew Colonels who retired in 2010, 11, 12, 13, who had never shared the load... In our branches, no excuse for that unless you avoiding...

Look down upon for not deploying? Why? In WWII there were thousands of soldiers serving in CONUS who never went overseas, the functions they performed were just as important and valuable as those who did go abroad. The same applies to Korea, Vietnam, Panama, Grenada, Bosnia, Kosovo. Those were all hostile fire pay zones. Guard duty at Gitmo during Operation Sea Signal in the 1990's and dung this current Global Conflict, may not be viewed as a deployment in the same fashion as those who've gone to the sand pits. however those Soldiers Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen are also providing a vital function. It isn't so much that they are avoiding overseas duties as they have volunteered to serve our nation where the various Services deem their abilities serve the nation best. Similarly not all draftees during the Vietnam Era served in Vietnam, many served in Korea and West Germany as well as other locations globally & Nationally. They served, don't disparage them if their duties didn't take them to nasty places.

I'm a "Peacetime Marine" - I served from 1992 - 1997, and inactive reserves until 2000. There were deployments from my battalion, but most of us didn't go out at any given time. As a 2621, we weren't exactly priority, but we weren't barred, either. Closest I came was we WERE going to be going to an excercise in England between us, England, Denmark, and Norway, but Denmark and Norway bowed out, so it turned into almost a thirty day sightseeing tour of Royal Marine training areas.

Absolutely not. There's more to the mission than being in combat/down range. Training is essential while others fight it's important to be training and stand ready when the call to duty comes.

The fact that your an E-4 and a reservist, I wouldn't question it. If you were a Staff Sergeant with 8 years of active service and in a combat MOS, I would question it. Active duty guys don't look down on you because we know, well at least I know that your rotations are different from ours. Your good buddy, Just keep training and your call will come one day. Well maybe.

If the military gives you an MOS that limits your deployment with regular units or assigns you to instructor duty where you can't deploy that's not your fault and you have nothing to be ashamed of.

Those who deploy and have combat experience are always going to think of themselves as superior to everyone else that isn't a combat veteran despite whatever potential or demonstrated ability you might have to exceed their performance... It just is what it is. Some will act like they were out there pulling triggers and their only claim to fame is that they were in theater [but never saw hostilities]. If they want to thump their chest let them bask in their glory. It's a shallow one and fleeting. People eventually see through it -- especially if they are a shitbird in garrison. You just have to focus on your personal and professional development, being the best you can be, so that should you be called, you will fight like you trained and then you can have your share of the glory.

Now IF, on the other hand, you malinger and purposely dodge deployments, you should be ashamed because someone else is having to pull up your slack. Ultimately it is you that has to look at yourself in the mirror and you have to like what you see. Don't pretend to be something you're not.

It depends on the reason I had a soldier who was ashamed of the fact that he was leaving the Army after 3 years without deploying. He got sent to Korea right after OUST. When he rotated stateside they sent him to a unit that just returned from deployment. I told him that he did exactly what he was ordered to do and there's no shame in that. I told him that if he's really that embarrassed he could re-enlist. The guy did fulfilled his obligations as a soldier and he didn't need to prove anything to anyone. Now had he purposefully dodged deployment, that would have been a different story, but he never was given the order to go. I feel that your circumstances sound similar.

6.5 years in the Army going where they tell me to go never once deployed. If you performed your duties while in to the best of your abilities then there is no shame but if you actively tried every which way to get out of going then that's on you. A fucked up spine prevented me from going to Hood after South Korea and Had the Army start MEB process. If it wasn't for that I would still be in doing what I have known since I was 19.