Wednesday, April 4, 2018

A to Z Challenge - D is for Deployment



Deployment refers to activities required to move military personnel, equipment, and materials from their home base [my son was stationed in Gulfport Mississippi] to a specified destination, either in the theater of operations (overseas) or within the United States.

The first time my Navy son told me he was deployed “to Virginia” I thought - Virginia?  Deployed?  But yes, even within the US, it's called a deployment. 


The US military has more than 1.3 million men and women on active duty.  Somewhere between 150,000 and 450,000 are stationed overseas in more than 150 countries.

The average Army deployment can range from 12 months deployed, followed by 12 months at home station assignment, to 12 months deployed and 24 months at home.


The below links include maps of deployments in 2017.  Obviously, not all deployments are listed.

http://www.visualcapitalist.com/u-s-military-personnel-deployments-country/

http://www.businessinsider.com/us-military-deployments-may-2017-5/#heres-a-look-at-some-of-the-most-significant-deployments-for-american-soldiers-2


Deployment pay

https://www.thebalance.com/united-states-military-pay-charts-3346234

A servicemember deployed to a combat zone receives "combat pay" (officially called "imminent danger pay") at $225 per month.  Working in a combat zone also triggers a tax advantage in locations designated "Tax Exempt" areas. Earnings received while in these specific combat zones are excluded from federal taxable income.  If the servicemember spends a single day in the combat zone, pay for the entire month is excluded from taxable income, plus he/she receives the additional $225 in combat pay for that month.

Military members with dependents also receive "Family Separation Allowance" (FSA) of $250 per month anytime they are away from their families due to military orders for 30 days or longer.

https://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/special-pay/hazardous-duty-incentive-pay.html
 

Servicemembers who perform hazardous duties such as parachute jumping, demolition of explosives, handling toxic fuels, flight deck duty or experimental stress duty, etc, earn an additional $150 per month.

For more information
https://www.military.com/deployment
https://www.military.com/deployment/deployment-overview.html


What's next for E?
E is for Enlistment and DEP.  Who can enlist?  Would YOU qualify?  What happens when a person enlists?  Where do they go?  What is DEP?  Come back tomorrow and find out!

12 comments:

  1. Interesting information...I will surely check the entry for E.

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  2. My great uncle signed up for parachute jumping when he was in the service so he could get the extra pay. Weekends In Maine

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    Replies
    1. Sometimes I wonder if that small amount of extra pay is really worth the risks.

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  3. $225/month doesn't seem a lot for putting one's life on the line to keep the rest of us safe. But I guess they don't do it for the money.

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  4. Colin, it certainly isn't when you think of what the government pays civilian contractors for the same jobs. Will took over the job as armorer at his base because the civilian, who was making very good money, was so inept and took so long to repair weapons. He even wound up taking care of the SEAL team weapons who were based there.

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    Replies
    1. Will sounds like a great person to have on your team.

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  5. Dena,

    This was really interesting and I'm glad you laid this out like this for people to see.

    Thanks and thank you once again for your son's service.

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  6. I had no idea a service person could be deployed within the US (of course most of what I know about the US military comes from TV, so is probably wildly skewed anyway :)). All these details are fascinating.
    Tasha
    Tasha's Thinkings - Movie Monsters

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