The demands from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as humanitarian and peacekeeping missions, have necessitated a deployment cycle that Service members continually rotate through. While many deployments are to combat areas, there are many that are not, such as Naval training and support deployments.
Understanding the stressors and experiences specific to each phase will help you to more accurately assess deployment-related health conditions and ask informed and relevant questions.
The deployment cycle essentially has three phases. Select each phase of the deployment cycle to learn more.
The Predeployment Phase begins with the announcement of deployment and ends when the Service member physically leaves.
The Deployment Phase occurs while the Service member is deployed away from home.
The Postdeployment Phase begins with the Service member's arrival home.
Keep in mind: Although all Service members and families in the deployment cycle face similar stressors, there are some stressors that are distinct to AC versus RC status. Select each component to learn more.
Active duty families tend to be closer to the support systems characteristic of garrison life in and around military bases or compounds. They are also potentially supported by a neighborhood of military families who make efforts to assist one another. However, some family members choose to move closer to their family of origin during deployment and will not have access to their military support system.
National Guard and Reserve families usually live in civilian communities often far removed from the sources of military institutional support or other military families.