How likely is it that my Husband will get Deployed?

Question

My husband was in the active army 3rd ID Infantry and served one tour in Iraq. He came home in 2003 and transferred to a reserve unit in AZ. In 2007 he re-enlisted into a reserve unit here in Washington. So he has been there for a while now. I know a few individuals from his unit have been sent back to Iraq (or sent for the first time). He is one of the few guys in his unit who was ever in the active army, or who spent any time in combat. ANYWAYS, I am making myself crazy worrying about him getting orders. I know it's pointless to worry, and he is definately aware of the fact, although I think he plays it down to me to spare my feelings. I just wanted some info possibly from someone with some experience in the reserves??? To make it clear my husband knows and accepts his obligation to his country, it is ME who is worrying and thinking about it all of the time. Serious answers only please.

Answer 1

How likely is it?  Unfortunately very likely.  :(

I recommend getting yourself mentally and financially prepared for it.  If it happens, you'll be ready.  If it doesn't, you'll still be ready.  But it's better than not preparing and getting short-notice orders.

This is just the nature of the OpTempo beast right now.

~ArmyKim

Answer 2

Well, if McCain is elected...hes going to deploy the whole country and have 10year olds drafted.

Answer 3

i hope this don't sound harsh, but when you met him, i assume he was a solider, and i assume you know that means he deploys.  right now reserves are not gone as much as others, but it does happen.  my husband went in 04 to iraq, right before i knew him, he was a reservist.  it is a part of the military life that must be accepted.  my husband is now gone for the first tour since we met, and it drove me crazy at first, and it is hard, but you must make the decision to support him and show good face, at least to him, or get out of dodge.  i almost divorced my husband for leaving, i felt like he was just leaving us, but it isn't like that.  if he is over there worrying about you at home, he isn't going to be sa careful as he should, and you could lose him for sure.  anyways, he could, but don't live everyday worrying about, spend everyday loving each other, and cross that bridge when you come to it.  good luck sweetie.

Answer 4

It is not a question of if he will deploy but when. He will deploy. The way things look now it may be Afganastan before Iraq,

Answer 5

It's not unheard of, for guys to serve 2 and 3 tours of Iraq. The fact your husband was back in 2003 is a blessing.  Honestly it all depends, the Military is deploying individuals now. While in the Reserves his chances have defiantly shrank, he could still very well be deployed at a moments notice. Especially with his MOS.

Answer 6

Free29y, you are wasting electrons and everyone's time.

There is always a possbility of being deployed. This next election will not change anything in Iraq, regardless of who wins. We will be there for awhile and are going to see this through.

Its tough not to worry about deployments, but being in a profession of arms, it is something that is always lurking out there. In the reserve component, you will know ahead of time when their window of deployment will be open. It makes it easier to prepare, but not easier to deal with. Have a long talk with him about it and tell him exactly how you feel and what happens when he is gone. Have a good heart to heart, I know I have with my wife over this stuff, adn it helps that he knows exactly how you feel. Good luck, it is tough being a military family, but if it is your husbands calling to be in, gotta go with the flow.

Answer 7

Well he is infantry, so Im guessing its 100%.

Put it like this. My cousin was in infantry training after basic, and got orders to go to Afghanistan for a year before he even went to his first base. Infantry fights PERIOD. Its not a job for a family man,  

Answer 8

How long is he enlisted for? If it is for four years, then probably yes. If just two, he might get away with not not deploying as he's not active and would most likely know if there are any recent deployments coming up.

With that said, it also depends on who becomes president next years as well. Drop the chances some more if Obama wins for removing troops in Iraq, but not that much since he will also increase troops in Afghanistan. McCain on the other hand you can count on him maximizing the use of the military, possibly to the breaking point.