How long is the average soldier staying in Iraq for?

Question

I was told up to a year, is it more or less? If I were to get deployed to Iraq for the average amount of time needed, would I get deployed again?

If so for the same amount of time?

Thanks.

Answer 1

They just changed the rules about this...I attached a link that explains it all. Here is an exerpt from the article that answers your question but it would be better to read the whole article:

"Until now, the Pentagon's policy on the Guard or Reserve was that members' cumulative time on active duty for the Iraq or Afghan wars could not exceed 24 months. That cumulative limit is now lifted; the remaining limit is on the length of any single mobilization, which may not exceed 24 consecutive months, Pace said.

In other words, a citizen-soldier could be mobilized for a 24-month stretch in Iraq or Afghanistan, then demobilized and allowed to return to civilian life, only to be mobilized a second time for as much as an additional 24 months. In practice, Pace said, the Pentagon intends to limit all future mobilizations to 12 months.

Members of the Guard combat brigades that have served in Iraq in recent years spent 18 months on active duty — about six months in pre-deployment training in the United States, followed by about 12 months in Iraq. Under the old policy, they could not be sent back to Iraq because their cumulative time on active duty would exceed 24 months. Now that cumulative limit has been lifted, giving the Pentagon more flexibility.

The new approach, Pace said, is to squeeze the training, deployment and demobilization into a maximum of 12 months. He called that a "significant planning factor" for Guard and Reserve members and their families."

Hope this helps. My husband left for Iraq this week. Stay safe and hope for the best for you and your family.

Answer 2

my husband was a reserve soldier that was called up to go active duty in Iraq from 2004-2005. He ended up being there for 14 months total. While over there he signed up to go active duty instead of staying in the reserves. He has been active duty for alittle over a year and is going back to Iraq for a year next month. You never really know how long you will be over there or how long you will get in between deployments...my husband got about a year in between deployments. Usually no less than a year but it can always turn into a year and a half, two years, etc. There's no way to know for sure. The military is always changing things. when we first moved here there were rumors of an impending deployment in Sept 2006 then it changed to rumors of a deployment in feb 2007 then the family support group called a meeting to squash the rumors about the feb 2007 deployment and then less then a month later they confirmed that the so called rumors were in fact true. My husband always says he never knows for sure if he will be going somewhere until he's actually on the plane going there because plans get changed so much in the military.

Answer 3

1 year

Answer 4

Well, my friend was in Iraq for a total of 3 months every time he went.

Answer 5

My cousin was told a year, and ended up staying for about 3.

Answer 6

It all depends. Paratroopers and other light infantry who are on their fourth and fifth tours are NOT going for a year.

Most people who have done year long tours are on their second or third...

Answer 7

It would really depend on how long the president wanted to keep this war going on.

Answer 8

1 year first stay. 1 year second stay. 1 year third stay...to long to be away from home

Answer 9

Sounds like a OPSEC violation...stop asking questions

Answer 10

A lot of them stay for the rest of their lives. They must like it there.