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

I knew a guy who was sent to Korea right out of AIT, and was still there when he made E-7. He was a good intel guy, who had never deployed through no fault of his own. Years later, I was deployed to Afghanistan when a series of unfortunate events resulted in my Commander and 1SG being sent home. Our replacement 1SG turned out to be the wife of a friend of mine who I knew had never deployed. In fact, she had never even had troops before. She had been sent to a staff job as a young E-4 and was so good at it that she stayed in staff positions until she was an E-8. I couldn't believe that they were sending this person to lead us in a combat zone. As it turned out, she was an outstanding 1SG and I would have deployed with her again. Needs of the service always outweigh personal desires. These two examples are of Soldiers who never actively avoided deployments but due to the needs of the Army, managed to never go. I respected both of them immensely, and the fact that they didn't wear a combat patch never mattered.

I can definitely relate! This July will be 10 years since I've been in the military and I don't exactly feel shame as I have not been hiding from deployments but I have learned when to put in my two cents and in what matters. Therefore, if I was in a team meeting where the topic is in reference to actions or tasks in deployed environments I definitely look to those who have experienced this and will rely on them as they have first hand knowledge. Having not deployment myself doesn't mean that I won't learn from their experiences but I am cautious on what matters to address until I have the necessary information to make an informed choice. I am truly grateful for the diversity of knowledge that I have in the battle buddies around me and I learn something from all of them every day!

The hard truth is that those who do deploy cannot do so without the support of those who don't. Full stop. That said, EVERYONE writes the same blank check, and so long as you're willing to go if you're called upon, and not actively trying to avoid it, then it's not on you whether or not you ever do -- it's on the Needs of the Service.

I wouldn't worry it, unless you've purposely avoided assignments that would have had you deploying. Since that doesn't appear to be the case, sleep soundly.

Due to assignments, I've only deployed once since 9-11. That was to GTMO, with no combat patch authorized. So I'm wearing my combat patch from Just Cause which was 27 plus years ago. No one cares. Nobody will care in your case either.

I watched Operation Just Cause as well as Operations Desert Shield and Storm on TV during my Active Duty time. During Desert Shield I watched thousands go through our base in transit to the desert, and wondered why the hell can't we go? I volunteered for deployment when our squadron was finally tasked to provide personnel just prior to Desert Storm kicking off, but was denied since I held certification in a critical position, and even then they wound up in Qatar. If the military decides they are not going to deploy you there is nothing to be embarrassed about. Maybe you are confusing embarrassment with dissatisfaction of not being given the opportunity.

every job is important... no "I" in team

I'd want to talk to them to find out how they were able to pull it off.

SSG(P) (Join to see) I never deployed. Granted, was only in for 2 yrs before med discharge & served between GW1 & GWOT. Was in line to, but discharge happened before TDY did. I think, as long as you're pulling your wait & aren't obviously skating by, no one will really look down on you outside of glory-whores.

I served just after Vietnam and well before Iraq, and I've always felt "a little less than" a veteran who was deployed to a combat zone even though I know I'm not.

No, I don't look down on those who didn't deploy anywhere. In the first Gulf War, I was in Infantry Instructor at Ft. Moore (when it was called Ft. Benning) and where we were not allowed to volunteer. So, there are important reasons why people don't get deployed, after all we have other duty stations for good reasons that have to be manned as well. I did 1 year in Korea, 2 years in Panama (before the invasion) and 7 years in Germany, I didn't deploy to Bosnia however I was an instructor at Hohenfels for those that were being deployed and had to go to Hohenfels for training before they could enter Bosnia. I so badly wanted to go and conduct counter sniper operations and was yet again "NO". My duty was to train those that were going, the invasion of Panama I was on recruiting duty, during Grenada I was in Germany. I retired in 2000 and when 9/11 happened I volunteered to return to duty forfeiting any promotions while returning to active duty, my name and a whole list of others went on a waiting list.
So, when you see that someone didn't deploy there are valid reasons as to why
I myself feel guilt that I didn't deploy, although it wasn't for the lack of trying.