How many months should a Soldier be deployed from his family,if for 1 yr how many months home b4 deploy again?

Question

I've been a PROUD Army wife for 12 years and we have 1, 10 yr old son,for the past 5 yrs my husband has been deployed 7 times for 6 months at a time. The unit goes to Iraq 6 months there and 4 months home. By the time they board the plane from Iraq to the States they already have orders and a report date to return back to Iraq. I was wondering what the public thought about Soldiers and exactly how much they're expected to sacrifice for the country? I'm also courious to know how much does the public think that Soldiers should or deserve to get paid? I think most people would be shocked to know that a Manager at MC Donalds with 2 years into there job makes more than a SFC(Sergeant First CLass)/E-7 with 20 YRS IN THE ARMY. Whether I was a military wife or not to me that's just sickning. The public has a HUGE misconseption about military pay & benefits, yes we get housing but do they make it public they charge us on average $900 per month for a SGT, same as medical, we pay monthly.

Answer 1

How much they should be deployed and for how long is a difficult question. Really what the general public thinks shouldn't even matter. If you watch this area at all, they don't have much respect for us and seem to think we lead easy lives. We've been in for 18 years and he's deployed 3 times to the sandbox and had 2 unaccompanied tours to Korea. He'd actually be over there again right now, but he came down on Drill Sergeant orders. That's not easy duty either. The hours are crazy and there's days he never sees our daughter. It's alot of respondsibility knowing that these young guys will more than likely be in Iraq as soon as they're done with school. Everything you teach them in BCT matters. There's absolutely NO way to determine how much you make per hour. One can estimate at 40 hours a week, but there's usually much more to it than that. Right now, I'd estimate easily that my hubby is working 20 hours a day. His pay doesn't change....it's the same for everyone depending on time in grade and rank. As for our benefits, when it comes down to it, we get nothing in the end. The BAH only helps with rent and there's not enough housing on post. Our dental insurance leaves alot to be desired on the things that matter most. Sure we get free medical care, but it's not always the best care. I'm just saying all this because I agree, the public has alot of misconceptions about military life. For example....when my hubby retires, he'll only get 33% of his base pay, yet our Congress will retire at their FULL pay for life and never pay insurance. Military pays insurance when they retire and still have co-pays and everything else. This is the same Congress that just voted themselves another pay raise and battles over just how much pay raise the military should get ONCE a year, if at all. They don't pay to feed a family with BAS, they pay to feed the soldier only. They used to take BAS away when they were in the field....not sure that's still done. Despite it all, we love the military life. It's been rough and I'm sure there's more hard times to come, but it's a darn good life. We wouldn't change a thing.

Oh and for all those that think we're brainwashed, all I can do is laugh. It's pretty sad that our husbands (and wives) protect your right and freedom to think that. Maybe you should try just a month or even a week in our life. You might really learn something.

Thanks for the question!! God bless you and yours....good luck with the rest of your career!!

Answer 2

Is he a Marine? that sounds like a Marine schedule or Special Forces. Marines go for 6-9 months, then come home and go back again after only 9 months sometimes or a year. the army goes for a year minimum, than home usually 2 years, but sometimes only a year and back again. As far as the manager for 2 years at McDonald's thing, I don't know what McDonald's you are talking about because I make more than that and i am a SGT. E-5 that is. with 5 1/2 years in, getting ready for another raise. A SFC should make a lot more than that especially since he has 20 years in. My pay is equal to about 20 dollars an hour. I just figured it out, I make 3200 a month before taxes and medical and SGLI. That IS including BAH, but this is to be included in income, the person at McDonald's is not getting free housing, I am sure of that. You really have to add the benefits in. Also, medical is better, I don't pay for anything and my family doesn't either except the monthly, what, 35 dollars. As far as the deployments, I don't know if I think like the public, I probably don't, but....It was HIS choice to go into the army or whatever branch he is in, and you married him (I am thinking you either supported his decision or met him while in) so you should be somewhat okay with it, I do know it is hard. What I am saying is that it is our own choices that brings us into the military, even though alot of us can find higher paying jobs somewhere else and have some kind of stability, but we do it for the other soldier, I think. Also, not just anybody can put up with the lifestyle, it takes a stronger person to do this, the general public probably has never endured the hardships that you and your family have endured. (Not including those who have had tragic life events) You should be proud that you have done this for so long and I know these last few years have been hectic, but it will get better, he should be near retirement. Hang in there, and be proud.

Answer 3

I dont know how correct that is. That $900 a month or medical and all that. You never even see that money to begin with because it comes from extra pays like BAH.

As for deployments thats kind of weird that they have him on a schedule like that. I dont know whay his MOS is but I know with most of the Army they send us over there for a year so that we can get to know the locals and can establish the relationships between us and them. 6 months is def not long enough for that.

I like the fact that we go over there for a year. I know for me the rotation usually goes 1 year gone 2-3 years home.

Answer 4

they should not be charging you rent. unless you are living off base in a place that is more than your BAH. and your medical should also be covered unless you upgrade your coverage and even then it is very minial. my husband is an E-5 in the navy (seabees) we have enough to live for sure. if he was in the real world doing the same job, he'd being make a ton more!

Answer 5

Maybe your husband needs a real job.