BellaOnline Forums News and Politics Veterans Combat Tour Length.

Okay vets, what's the ideal combat tour length? Why?

How long was your tour? How many did you complete (so far)?

Check out my article for some reference!

Here's a quick link to the combat tour length article:
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Does it really make a difference if a soldier spends 1 - 3 yr long tour, or 3 - 1 yr long tours?

That's a fairly simplistic example, but I mean, we are ultimately talking about the same amount of time spent in combat, just wording it differently.

Or did I misunderstand?

And I have another question, but it's pretty OT for this, so I'll start a new thread.

Ooh Jeff, that's a tough one.

You have to balance combat zone burn out vs experience. A new unit is not going to know routes or neighborhoods or the people who live in them. A burned-out unit is going to get careless. Someone who is not getting shot at can probably stay longer than someone who is.

I have done two tours outside the US. One was in a combat zone, the other was not (but not at a US military post, either). Tour lengths were four months and six months. Both times, I was a singleton, not part of a unit. Both times, my job was very computer-related. I never went anywhere "outside the wire". The worst was getting rocketed, but I never knew anyone who got hurt. I could have done both for 12 to 15 to 18 months. The only thing that accelerated burn-out was that work was 12-16 hours each day, seven days a week. But what else was there to do? Work, and eat, and sleep.

My husband is a better one to answer. He went to Afghanistan seven times, Iraq once, Africa once, and South America once. All of his tours were since 2003 and were six months in duration or less. He was usually outside the wire in full gear, and has been shot at. But he, like I do, loves getting out there. Maybe if he had spent a 15-month tour out there, he would hate it, but as it stands, he's ready to go again.

Trish,

Your post is perfect because it shows two totally different military specialties and outlines the optempo for each.

Thanks to you and your husband for what you do. And nearly 60 months of combat conditions for your husband is a record, me thinks. I haven't heard of anyone doing that many tours yet. I salute you both!

Jeff, he hasn't spent anything like 60 months anywhere. In fact, the last two were just command visits of a month each. The longest were six months each, and the average was about 3 months. I'd have to guess, but I'm thinking he's spent roughly 30 months max deployed.

As for deployments, I know some SF group guys (3rd, 7th, 10th)who are on their sixth 8-month deployment since '03.

And this Marine has been called up for his fifth combat tour. He's the one I feel for. He's IRR, so he hasn't completed 8 years, and is being involuntarily recalled to go again.

You sign the contract, and count down until the end, but that sneaky little clause obligating you to 8 years has bitten quite a few people now.

Ahh, yes...you sign the dotted line and do the time.

I learned a whole lot from that "marine" article you referenced, so thanks Trish for that. I may decide to do a full IRR article.

For the OEF ramp up, a very nice gentleman was assigned to my unit who had been IRR since the first Persian Gulf War. A long time. They gave him to us for a year, we spent time and resources getting him back into "fighting" shape and know-how, and when the order for Iraq popped up, his year was almost over and he couldn't deploy with us.

He filled a slot but was not deployable. What an idiotic situation.

Looks like the marines have squared that issue away.