Sorry to derail the thread slightly but how did deployments work during HERRICK? Was it like a 6 month deployment and 6 months off or a 1 year deployment etc.?
Depends. On the conflict, the role, the situation.
Some units ended up doing back to back deployments of Afghan due to the nature of their roles and the limitations of the equipment. If I remember correctly 3 months out, 3 months home, 3 months out etc etc etc.
Usually you would get 6 months predepolyment training do your tour of 6 months, then get post operational leave. Then rotate to other tasks while another Unit would be doing predeployment and Ops or depending on your unit go back into predeployment training and start again.
Things would differ slightly with different packages and training for battle casualty replacements.
Same with deployments for exercises and roles, you might be in a role that requires to to attach to different fighting companies that deploy through the year. You could return from Norway with Zulu company in the start of the year for example, then return home, few weeks tasks then have to attach to Yankee Company for a trip to Jordan.
How this changes with the new FCF setup, I’m not sure.
Yeah makes sense, any chance to get some combat with bad people would be a good opportunity.
I guess fighting in different environments on different missions would be interesting? Say one deployment back to desert type fighting in the Levant, or maybe more jungle warfare in East Asia, compared to just spending 8 months in the desert.
The Jungle is an incredible place to soldier, it really tests anyone’s soldiering abilities. It’s a very labouring and intense environment to work in. You either love it or hate it. I loved it, it was tough soldiering, but with the added benefit of more time getting your head down, because it’s incredibly difficult to operate in the jungle at night.