Ever since I heard about the possible 9 month deployments starting in 2012 I have been thinking about it. I even had a friend ask me if it would help us with wanting to stay in the Army for the 20 years. I have read a lot of different opinions about it on blogs and Facebook pages too. Would shorter deployments really help? Would things be easier? What if 9 month deployments meant no R&R? Would that hurt people?
I think back to 2006/2007. This was during our first deployment that went from 9 months, to 12 to 14 and then ended at about 15. It was horrible! I think more than it being over a year was the fact that the date kept changing. I thought Ben would be home in June so in April I ordered a pretty summer dress. The very next day it was changed to September and if you have ever lived in Germany you don’t wear a summer dress in September there. The time between R&R and when he got home was 11 months, for others it turned out to be 13 months. That homecoming was something else. It was the end of a very very long and stressful road.
As we got ready for our second deployment less than a year later, the Commander kept telling us over and over that 15 months was not going to happen again. That he was 95% sure this deployment would be a year. In the end it was 11 months long. We had R&R 8 months in.
So when I think about 9 months being the standard I have mixed feelings. I would miss R&R because the two R&Rs we have had were so special to us. But also having gone 8 months before R&R hit, I know I could handle it. Especially if that meant my husband was home and not having to say goodbye again after two weeks. I know others have a very hard time after R&R getting back into deployment mode. On the other hand would soldiers be allowed to try to come home for a birth? In my experience the coming home for birth thing just depends on the unit. Some are allowed to try to come home for R&R, some are not and some choose not to.
I think a lot of us are wondering too if 9 month deployments would make the Army deploy units more often, as if 12 months home was not too often. They say they are trying to get 24 months in between but not sure how much they would work towards that.
I know that having shorter deployments would help overall. But I am not going to assume that a 9 month deployment would be a walk in the park. Especially if they happened more often. However I would much rather see this being talked about instead of the 15 month deployments that happened a few years ago.
I agree with you. I guess you could describe my feelings on it as not excited. I think it is a step in the right direction, but it doesn't solve much.
I feel this way because my husband's second deployment was 8.5 months (no R & R). I had a 4 month old when he left and 13 month old when he returned. He still missed a ton being gone less than a year, and seeing how our child grew put that into perspective for me. We always take R & R after the midpoint of a deployment, but as you cross the 8 month mark not seeing someone it feels like forever. It will be good now because at that point you can start getting ready to have them home for good, but for children not seeing a parent for 9 months is hard still (especially if there is no skype like on my hubby's last one).
I like the break R & R provides, but I like a shortened deployment too. I think that before people get excited they should remember there will still be struggles for military families and especially children even if it is 9 months.
I think I'm just not too excited either way, b/c deployments suck
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I think most would prefer the shorter deployment. I feel for you no matter how long the deployment! Especially when you have a child. I sure do appreciate the sacrifice for sure! Thanks for your cool posts!
I was torn on this too….We have done a 6 month deployment (Bosnia in 99) and that was easy, once I was getting really tired of being alone, i was getting ready for him to come home! A 8 month (OIF in 03) and that was hard only cause the last 2 months were filled with "your going home/ no your not" but doable. And several 12/15 months ones. I think 9 months will be a welcomed change, I just don't understand how we are only getting 12 months off now, how are we to get more time off with shorter deployments.
I was browsing and came across your blog..
I love it.. I am an Army Wife as well..
Simply Sami
Simplysami.com/Blog
I am a little worried about the 9 months deployments. I mean, we all (or most of us) know we can pull off 9 months without seeing our husband, but what about dwell time? They try to keep up a decent dwell time schedule, but will it be feasable? Also, let us not forget about the neverending schools and trainings our men go through during "dwell" time. I would hate to have 12-15 months of dwell time, but spending half of that "family" time by myself because the army yet again sends my husband to several 2 or 3 months long courses/classes/trainings.
The year before my husband deployed he spent a total of 5.5 months training of attending special training. Those 5.5 months are accetable if you have 18 months of dwell time (or more), but are inacceptable if they boys are only home for 12 – 15 months.
For logic reasons, I find it hard to believe that deployment time will be shortened and dwell time extended.
I guess we will find out at the end of 2012 when the first people return from a 9 months long deployment.
yeah i was tossing in my head about this too, i still dont know what to think. no RR just doesnt seem fair .