Aviation Deployment?

[VAmookie]

For those of you who have your wings, whats the deployment schedule/timeline like? Let me know, or point me to a website. I would assume its similar to the navy with sea duty and shore duty, but dont know much about either.

also, arent the deployment rotations fairly scheduled and routine? The ground guys are stuck in iraq till its time to bring them home, but arent aviators like SEALs in that they are just on 6 month or 1 year rotations?

 

[Rotorhead]

It varies, not always, and not necessarily. It depends on your aircraft and what coast you are on. For Helo bubbas, you can expect a six month deployment every 18-24 months (on the west coast). On the east coast it's the same if youre a 46 pilot. Otherwise you may only deploy once in a 3 year period if youre a huey, cobra, or 53 pilot.
Alot has changed since 9/11. "The norm" has gone out the window. Jet guys can expect to deploy about once every 18 months or so, for 6 months. Unless youre a harrier guy then it depends on your coast. East - same as huey, cobra, 53 guys. West coast - same as helo guys.

Theres more variables involved. But bottom line you can expect one to two deployments in your first tour of 3-5 years and can expect to be gone about 6-8 months from your sail date. You will also "work up" before the float for 6 months and can expect to be gone about half of that time as well.

Youre going to deploy (especially now) and youre going to be gone longer than youd like. Get used to it. And dont get married if you can help it!!!

 

[frogman]

still holds true?

For Helo bubbas, you can expect a six month deployment every 18-24 months (on the west coast). On the east coast it's the same if youre a 46 pilot. Otherwise you may only deploy once in a 3 year period if youre a huey, cobra, or 53 pilot.
Alot has changed since 9/11. "The norm" has gone out the window. Jet guys can expect to deploy about once every 18 months or so, for 6 months. Unless youre a harrier guy then it depends on your coast. East - same as huey, cobra, 53 guys. West coast - same as helo guys.

Is this an accurate picture of what is still happening? I've seen some posters on here suggest that most are deploying 7-12 months with maybe 6 months off (and the jet guys are spending a lot of that 6 months on work ups for the next deployment).

Anyone else able to give a picture of what the deployment cycle looks like for the different platforms/aircraft? I'm about to contract for air and head to Quantico in June.

 

[pyrator]

wow this isnt what i heard i would love to get more info on this...

 

[skidkid]

The short answer is noone knows right now, there is some indication that we might be returning to a more "normal" 18 months home 6 months gone but nothing is certain right now on the west coast it is working out to soemthing like a year home and 7 months deployed on the Skid side and I think the 53s. The 46s are falling into a more normal MEU cycle. Im not sure if the jet guys are stil playing or not I think they are mostly trying to keep someone from painting "NAVY" on the side of their hornets these days. Im jsut kidding I think their rotation has gotten right gentlemanly of late, I could be wrong though Jarhead or one of the other jet bubbas could probably answer that.

 

[Q-ball]

It all really depends on your community. Speaking for 53's, it's pretty much 6 or 7 months deployed followed by 6 or seven months at home. The reason being that nowadays most of the squadrons have more than 1 det out at a time.