Deployment length by aircraft type?

[bravodelta79]

What kind of deployment lengths you guys are seeing based on the type of aircraft flown? I understand that everything varies, but I am just looking at what you have done or heard from others to see ballpark numbers.

Thanks for the help!

[Low_Level_Hell]

Flying for the Army I was deployed the first time for what was said to be a 6-10 month deployment which was extended to 15 months, then a year after I returned to the states I was deployed again for what was said to be a 12 month deployment, which again was extended to 15 months. I'm still in Iraq by the way on month 14, and they tell me i'm going home in Feb.

[PGT]

Sorry no numbers but I constantly hear that Fighters in the USAF have the longest deployments (vs. tanker, bomber,etc.)

[bravodelta79]

I hear the opposite as fighters doing 30-45 days as opposed to 3-6 to more months for others.

I'm sure they are all totally different. Thanks for the info!

[Mike Lewis]

I know it used to be (around ten years ago) that the Rivet Joint (RC-135), AWACS (E-3C), and Joint STARS (E-8) guys were pretty much on continuous deployment. That is, these were assets in high demand that were always on the road, because there aren't enough to deploy to any one theater for long periods of time.

My friend was a JSTARS crew member, and he was gone all the time, to Korea, to Bosnia, to Saudi Arabia, to Red Flag exercises, etc. at about 3-weeks at a stretch.

I don't know if that has changed or not, but as far as I know, these minimal assets are still in high demand.

[JEP]

Originally Posted by bravodelta79

What kind of deployment lengths you guys are seeing based on the type of aircraft flown? I understand that everything varies, but I am just looking at what you have done or heard from others to see ballpark numbers.

Thanks for the help!

In the Navy, easy.....AS long as the carrier is out. Generally 6 months.

[Hacker15e]

F-15Es and F-16s deploy for 120-day rotations. My last deployment to Afghanistan was closer to 140 days with ADVON and such. AEF rotations are known long in advance, so you know generally when you'll be going and when you'll return.

F-15Cs deploy...well, nobody really knows what they do.

A-10s are "supposed" to be on the standard 120-day rotations, but the last two cycles to Bagram have been 179-days.

[Hacker15e]

Originally Posted by bravodelta79

I hear the opposite as fighters doing 30-45 days as opposed to 3-6 to more months for others.

I've never heard of deployment cycles that short. Back in the late 90s, there were 90 day deployments, but that's it.

Fighter guys certainly go on 30-45 day TDYs...out to exercises like Red Flag, Maple Flag, WIC Support, Combat Hammer, Combat Archer, etc...but those are all in the CONUS (except for Red Flag North and Maple Flag) and aren't considered "deployents".

[staplegun]

Originally Posted by JEP

In the Navy, easy.....AS long as the carrier is out. Generally 6 months.

Ha!

Both of my cruises on the USS Enterprise were 8+ months!


Of course, that was a long time ago, when all we had to worry about was keeping the world safe for democracy...


Kevin

[bravodelta79]

Thanks for some more info, gentlemen.

Hacker: The info I was talking from was the Toledo ANG's F-16's. I get their local news station and thought the last one talked about "after a 45 day deployment". However, I can't seem to find any news article online anymore. I could certainly be wrong. It happens enough. (Ask my wife!)

Anyway, thanks again for the info.

[USAFplt]

in the kc-10 community we are doing 60 days (not bad at all!)

C17s here are currently deployed for 180 days

[bravodelta79]

Thanks, USAFplt! I like the av too.

[Hacker15e]

Originally Posted by bravodelta79

Hacker: The info I was talking from was the Toledo ANG's F-16's. I get their local news station and thought the last one talked about "after a 45 day deployment". However, I can't seem to find any news article online anymore. I could certainly be wrong. It happens enough. (Ask my wife!)

May have happened, but what you should take away from the discussion is that overseas rotations in general are NOT that short -- that ANG rotation (who knows where it might have been to) is the exception and not the rule. It costs several million $ just to move a squadron to and from a deployed location, so when they do it, they're going to keep them there long enough to get their money's worth.

[bravodelta79]

Yeah, that's what I figured. And who knows where they went. I certainly wouldn't bet a paycheck on my recollection of it. It's incredible what it costs just to move eight F-16's or whatever around the world.

Merry Christmas, Hacker15e.

[GalaxyIFE]

Well, the C-5 doesn't deploy. Instead, it's feast or famine...home a lot or gone a lot. You are also at the mercy of possible AEF deployments, but these are few and far between. I've been in for 15 years with one deployment...and that was to Germany for 90 days...I know; the horror. I have done plenty of time in the desert though...just no more than a day or two at a time.

[bravodelta79]

Thanks for the info, Galaxy. I've been trying to get in contact with Wright-Patt here in Ohio to apply for a pilot position to fly the C-5. No luck. It seems a lot of these bases are very elusive for outsiders to get any info.

Thanks for sharing!

[GalaxyIFE]

PM your information and I will get your info to someone up there. I know they are having some "issues" so that might be some of the problem with getting in touch with folks. Yeah...it is kinda a "good 'ole boys" deal...

[bravodelta79]

Thanks, GalaxyIFE! You have a PM.

Fly safe and keep the rubber side down.

[HerkEng]

C-130s, the units are gone constantly and the members rotate in and out. The "standard" is four months on, four months off, but I never had one that short. Most of mine have been 6-8 months there and 2-4 months home then off again for another rote.

[bravodelta79]

Herk -- are you AD or Guard/Reserve?

Thanks for responding!

[frog_flyer]

Originally Posted by bravodelta79

Herk -- are you AD or Guard/Reserve?

Thanks for responding!

Abilene, TX = Dyess AFB = AD

[bravodelta79]

Originally Posted by frog_flyer

Abilene, TX = Dyess AFB = AD

Gracias!

[ian]

kc-135s are on the 60 day rotations too

[bravodelta79]

Thanks, Ian!

[ian]

Originally Posted by bravodelta79

Thanks, Ian!

np