Deployment length

[kjsdf]

Hi guys. So I've heard some conflicting information on the length of time physicians are sent on deployments. I've heard that they last for 3 months only.

Is this true?

Also I've heard that some specialties rarely deploy. Is this also true?

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[jabreal00]

Hi guys. So I've heard some conflicting information on the length of time physicians are sent on deployments. I've heard that they last for 3 months only.

Is this true?

Also I've heard that some specialties rarely deploy. Is this also true?

It all depends on one's specialty and branch. Right now deployments Army wide are for 9 months for active duty. Most hospitals find a way to split the deployments to 4.5 months. Surgeons (general surgery based and orthopedics) tend to deploy a bit more frequently but they are usually 3-4.5 months. Internal medicine based and all other primary not as often as surgeons but can go up to 9 months (especially if one's losing station cannot afford to split the deployment). My wife is Air Force doc and she went for 6 months with no split offered. The Navy I know does not deploy as often. I don't think pathologist deploy. There aren't too many ophthalmologists who deploy as well. Everyone else in whatever else specialty should expect to deploy once in at least three years of their payback time, that is a guarantee. Especially as Afghanistan presence will be there to up at least 2016 and most likely Kuwait will be a recurring rotation for Iraq.

 

[notdeadyet]

OP- the three month deployments you're referring to might be the ones that Army Reserve and National Guard deploy...


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[Homunculus]

Hi guys. So I've heard some conflicting information on the length of time physicians are sent on deployments. I've heard that they last for 3 months only.

Is this true?

Also I've heard that some specialties rarely deploy. Is this also true?

like most things in the military, yes and no. a lot of things can be true for some, and not for others. what has been said is correct. 90 days is reserve component. active duty deployments depend on the situation-- 9 months is supposed to be the max, with the chance to have them split if everyone is on board with it. there's also a tail end "stabilization" kind of thing where even though you may come back from deployment, you may be stuck with the unit as they re-integrate. so you may be back in the US but you still aren't home.

in regards to specialties-- in general primary care and surgeons deploy more, and funky stuff like path not so much. this has changed though with the brigade surgeon nonsense and even highly specialized people can be potentially tasked for 2 year rotations doing medical admin.

--your friendly neighborhood getting ready for another deployment caveman

 

[sonofva]

like most things in the military, yes and no. a lot of things can be true for some, and not for others. what has been said is correct. 90 days is reserve component. active duty deployments depend on the situation-- 9 months is supposed to be the max, with the chance to have them split if everyone is on board with it. there's also a tail end "stabilization" kind of thing where even though you may come back from deployment, you may be stuck with the unit as they re-integrate. so you may be back in the US but you still aren't home.

in regards to specialties-- in general primary care and surgeons deploy more, and funky stuff like path not so much. this has changed though with the brigade surgeon nonsense and even highly specialized people can be potentially tasked for 2 year rotations doing medical admin.

--your friendly neighborhood getting ready for another deployment caveman

How many does that make for you?

 

[Homunculus]

it'll only be my second. i did a year back when it was fashionable and before the 9 months and split deployments became so common. i only have 1 probably because i was safe for 3 years during fellowship. otherwise i'm sure this would be #3. they said they'd give new residents and fellows a year after graduation to solidify skills, and that they would not deploy us prior to boards. my boards are next nov, so no and no for those two "rules."

and to top it off, deployments and BDE surgeon slots are from different masters, so they don't count for each other. so i may come back from deployment and the next summer go to a BDE.

--your friendly neighborhood you can love the army but it will never love you back caveman

 

[camtheman77]

I just got back and the IM doc that we had a attached to our battalion did a 4.5 month rotation then someone relieved him. Our GMO was there the whole time which was 9 months. The FST team, which had 2 surgeons on it was stuck for a whole year so it depends. But from what our doc told me, its under 6 month rotations

 

[jabreal00]

I just got back and the IM doc that we had a attached to our battalion did a 4.5 month rotation then someone relieved him. Our GMO was there the whole time which was 9 months. The FST team, which had 2 surgeons on it was stuck for a whole year so it depends. But from what our doc told me, its under 6 month rotations

That is correct. Anyone attached to the unit as a Brigade or Battalion Surgeon goes the entire time. The same applies to surgical specialties. If organic to a forward surgical team then the deployment cannot be split. The majority of docs deploying are under PROFIS (Professional Filler System) assignment. The deployment is still 9 months but HRC allows this to be split between two people from that region and/or hospital. It's a little bit of leg work as memos need to be signed and it's ultimately approved by the commander in theater. Some have been pricks and denied a split. Most allow it.

 

[DD214_DOC]

From my understanding, 4.5 months for PROFIS. 9 months for anything else.

 

[peanutsss]

....

 

[ProudMD]

I believe for the Army, the regular deployment length is around 9 months. However, during times of need (such as the heights of the Iraq/Afghanistan wars), physicians deployment tours have been as long as 15 months. Basically, the standard deployment length can be extended depending on the needs of the Army. I would imagine that it is similar in the other branches.

 

[Kingfisher]

Navy:
Ship - length of deployment varies with ship schedule. You could be out for a week or two to almost a year. If the ship is operational then expect to be gone nearly 65-80% of the time. Sometimes the ship is in the yards "getting repairs/maintenance done at specific facilities" and you may not get underway for years.

Shore - current op tempo is low and IA tours are few and hard to come by. When things are ramped up we were sending folks on IA to support various places across the world for 9-15 months. There have been a select few (ie Mercy and Comfort) that were for 6.

Squadron - think ship schedule as you are there to support aircrew to ships or marine batallions.

With the Navy it's not always the length of tours but frequency of the time away. Sometimes I would rather just be gone for the longer periods then have family life frequently disrupted.....in for 1 week, out for two......in for 3 weeks, out for six weeks....in for four weeks, out for ten months.

 

[notdeadyet]

Also, during time of war you will have docs from one service filling spots for docs of another. I remember stories of docs from Navy doing longer Army tours when slated for those roles.

 

[backrow]

Also, during time of war you will have docs from one service filling spots for docs of another. I remember stories of docs from Navy doing longer Army tours when slated for those roles.

Yep, but you never hear of the opposite: Army filling someone else's shoes... sure would love to give some Army folks the chance "give back" to those other services 🙂

/a little sarcasm (the Army docs have enough pain dealing with their own service, probably enough to make up for us filling some of their billets)

 

[Doctor Bob]

they said they'd give new residents and fellows a year after graduation to solidify skills, and that they would not deploy us prior to boards. my boards are next nov, so no and no for those two "rules."

I'll be interested to see what they do with me when I finish up my fellowship. I have 2 years left on my payback (my fellowship is civ deferred) so if they left me alone for the first year, then they'd have a narrow window to send me over before my 6-months-from-separation time starts. The AirForce is a little friendlier on that front... when they want to be.

 

[Gastrapathy]

The E9 who sent me off to live the army life thought he was so clever. Kept calling it a navy appreciation tour. No, the Navy sent me off with the Army, shipmate. Why would I appreciate a girlfriend who dumped me so I could see for myself what I'm missing. I was better off with neither relationship thanks.

 

[Ziehl-Neelsen]

Yep, but you never hear of the opposite: Army filling someone else's shoes... sure would love to give some Army folks the chance "give back" to those other services 🙂

/a little sarcasm (the Army docs have enough pain dealing with their own service, probably enough to make up for us filling some of their billets)

I knew a couple of Army staff at WRAMC that were tasked to the Comfort in 2010 when it sailed to Haiti to perform humanitarian relief in the wake of the earthquake. In a way it was crappier than a combat deployment: "The USNS Comfort ships out from the Port of Baltimore in 2 days--be on it. By the way, we have no idea how long the deployment to Haiti will last. No it doesn't affect your scheduled deployment to Bagram in May. Sink their bones to Davy Jones, hooray!"

 

[backrow]

I knew a couple of Army staff at WRAMC that were tasked to the Comfort in 2010 when it sailed to Haiti to perform humanitarian relief in the wake of the earthquake. In a way it was crappier than a combat deployment: "The USNS Comfort ships out from the Port of Baltimore in 2 days--be on it. By the way, we have no idea how long the deployment to Haiti will last. No it doesn't affect your scheduled deployment to Bagram in May. Sink their bones to Davy Jones, hooray!"

That would suck.

Do you know if they were in "Mercy billets"? Many Navy docs are assigned to an MTF with an additional assignment to the Comfort or Mercy so they know to expect to go if it happens. Others are selected from the specialty community that needs representation.

 

[BigNavyPedsGuy]

That would suck.

Do you know if they were in "Mercy billets"? Many Navy docs are assigned to an MTF with an additional assignment to the Comfort or Mercy so they know to expect to go if it happens. Others are selected from the specialty community that needs representation.

The Haiti mission was a uniquely short-fused deal. My PD at the time jsut vanished with 48hrs notice. Very didferent form the other missions (like I went on).

 

[met19]

lots of doctors in the Navy are now being assigned a platform for deployment and train with them for a short period during the year but are at MTF's the rest of the time. if the team is called upon, they go.

 

[Kingfisher]

It won't matter if you are or are not assigned to a deployable platform in the Navy. If you on on their books, not in a training status, you are deployable. The op tempo is lower now but still possible to get pulled for deployment at almost any time. In all actuality everyone not in a training status is one earthquake, tsunami, or terrorist attack away from getting the call at all times. Just enjoy your family while you can, and if your number never gets called........happy day. 🙂

 

[BigNavyPedsGuy]

It won't matter if you are or are not assigned to a deployable platform in the Navy. If you on on their books, not in a training status, you are deployable. The op tempo is lower now but still possible to get pulled for deployment at almost any time. In all actuality everyone not in a training status is one earthquake, tsunami, or terrorist attack away from getting the call at all times. Just enjoy your family while you can, and if your number never gets called........happy day. 🙂

You describe that feeling well. I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop...

 

[TurtleDO2012]

Deployments seem to 9 months with the ability to split them into a 6 month and 3 month or 4.5 months each. Is there a difference between a 3 month, 4.5 month, or a 6 month length in terms of how soon they can turn around and re-deploy you?

 

[cgk]

It all depends on one's specialty and branch. Right now deployments Army wide are for 9 months for active duty. Most hospitals find a way to split the deployments to 4.5 months. Surgeons (general surgery based and orthopedics) tend to deploy a bit more frequently but they are usually 3-4.5 months. Internal medicine based and all other primary not as often as surgeons but can go up to 9 months (especially if one's losing station cannot afford to split the deployment). My wife is Air Force doc and she went for 6 months with no split offered. The Navy I know does not deploy as often. I don't think pathologist deploy. There aren't too many ophthalmologists who deploy as well. Everyone else in whatever else specialty should expect to deploy once in at least three years of their payback time, that is a guarantee. Especially as Afghanistan presence will be there to up at least 2016 and most likely Kuwait will be a recurring rotation for Iraq.

What do you think about the odds of deployment for a radiation oncologist?

 

[haujun]

my colleagues who is non-surgical sub specialist (AF) has been deployed for total of about 8-9 months.

 

[IlDestriero]

Deployments seem to 9 months with the ability to split them into a 6 month and 3 month or 4.5 months each. Is there a difference between a 3 month, 4.5 month, or a 6 month length in terms of how soon they can turn around and re-deploy you?

When I joined the Navy, splitting tours was routine. Then 9/11 happened and it became a thing of the past. I'm not sure if that was official policy or not, but I suspect that it was, and it makes a lot of sense to not allow splitting. I haven't heard that splitting deployments was allowed again, in the Navy.

 

[TurtleDO2012]

On the Army side splits are allowed if you are going as a PROFIS, the request has to be approved by the commander your assigned to for the deployment.

I assume there is some sort of policy that dictates that when you deploy for a certain length of time that you will hopefully not be tasked with another deployment for a certain length of time.

I have heard you get a 1 year time period once you return that you shouldn't be asked to deploy again but my question when does that kick in? After being deployed for 3 months, 4.5 months, 6 months, or 9 months?

 

[MaximusD]

I deployed as a flight surgeon for just less than 6 months... Out and happily moving on with my civ career 🙂

 

[jabreal00]

On the Army side splits are allowed if you are going as a PROFIS, the request has to be approved by the commander your assigned to for the deployment.

I assume there is some sort of policy that dictates that when you deploy for a certain length of time that you will hopefully not be tasked with another deployment for a certain length of time.

I have heard you get a 1 year time period once you return that you shouldn't be asked to deploy again but my question when does that kick in? After being deployed for 3 months, 4.5 months, 6 months, or 9 months?

One's "dwell time" resets back to one year after being in theater for 90 days. Anything less than 90 days will not reset one's dwell time for Human Resource Command.

 

[jabreal00]

What do you think about the odds of deployment for a radiation oncologist?

Truthfully I don't know any radiation oncologists who have deployed. It doesn't mean they don't. I think radiation-oncologist have to do a transitional or internal medicine internship year. So they're on the hook to deploy as a GMO, similar to dermatologists.

 

[cgk]

Truthfully I don't know any radiation oncologists who have deployed. It doesn't mean they don't. I think radiation-oncologist have to do a transitional or internal medicine internship year. So they're on the hook to deploy as a GMO, similar to dermatologists.

what do you think about radiation oncologists being able to permanently stay at their initial duty station, and not touring around?

 

[jabreal00]

what do you think about radiation oncologists being able to permanently stay at their initial duty station, and not touring around?

Depends on the obligation time. If one owes 3-4 years then they'll stay at their initial assignment. If one has a long commitment (USUHS) or plans on staying 20 years then they should expect to have at least 2 moves from their initial duty station.

 

[cgk]

Depends on the obligation time. If one owes 3-4 years then they'll stay at their initial assignment. If one has a long commitment (USUHS) or plans on staying 20 years then they should expect to have at least 2 moves from their initial duty station.

What if you don't owe any payback time. A direct accession active military, fresh from a civilian radiation oncology residency. Can you still expect moves from initial duty station?

 

[Gastrapathy]

This unicorn exists?????

Tell us more.

 

[jabreal00]

What if you don't owe any payback time. A direct accession active military, fresh from a civilian radiation oncology residency. Can you still expect moves from initial duty station?

Typically there is an 8 year obligation (including both active and reserve) when joining the military, especially if there is any type of loan repayment. If one has a short obligation time (4 years or less) then they are unlikely to move. However once one stays 4 years or more the likelihood dramatically goes up.

 

[DD214_DOC]

FYI, ALL Army doc deployments have returned to 9 months in duration.

 

[sonofva]

FYI, ALL Army doc deployments have returned to 9 months in duration.

is this just for PROFIS docs, or operational docs too?

 

[WernickeDO]

Operational/GMO/FS here. My deployment was only 4 months but my unit was prepared to be out there for a full year. I had planned to be out there with them and there were no relieving docs. So per usual, deployment length depends.

 

[fernweh2438]

Any estimates for a deployment length of a primary care physician after HPSP with an active duty army officer as a husband? And to make things even more complicated, what if pregnancy/kids join the mix? How does that affect chances for deployment during pay back years?

 

[DD214_DOC]

9 months profis, possibly longer for other assignments. Having kids is irrelevant. You won't deploy pregnant, but after is fair game. Prepare hubby to be a single parent for a while.