Deployment and Family

[37isntOld]

In the process of hopefully joining the RAF Reserves and discussing 'deployment' with my wife (+ we have a 5 year old little girl who I am extremely close to). As you can imagine this is a difficult issue to tackle and it raised some basic questions that aren't really explained properly on their website:

1) Are you away from home on pre and post deployment. (e.g. do you live at home and just train during the week?)
2) Do you see your family on pre and post deployment? (obviously depending on the answer to question 1)
3) Is the longest deployment 6 months? (Is this the longest I can expect to not see my wife and kid?)
4) How soon after signing up can I expect to go on deployment?

All and any help with these questions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[Tocsin]

As nobody's replied yet, I'll have a stab...

Firstly, things will change a lot over the next couple of years, so remember that any replies you get will be "what has happened" rather than "what will happen" - no plan survives first contact with the enemy

Pre-deployment training (PDT) depends a lot on the job and who you're working with. It will include a lot of doing stuff to tick PDT boxes, possibly some courses to get you fully up to speed, and some exercises (especially if working with the army). First two are working week, and possibly home at weekends, exercises maybe not. If all goes according to plan, a few days at home before jetting off.

Normally 6 months (used to be 4 ) but you will no doubt have read about extended lengths for the final two Herrick (Afghan) tours.

How long before first deployment depends on your role, but at minimum 18-24 months unless you have significant previous experience - and note my "firstly"!

Over the years I've had about one month (i.e. the minimum legal notice), about three months (to include significant PDT) and "can you get here tomorrow?" (for a UK-based tasking).

Hope that helps - feel free to come back with more questions, but I'm on the Goat only every couple of days...

 

[37isntOld]

Thanks Tocsin,

Thanks Tocsin,

I really appreciate the detailed response and taking time out to try and help me, you're a star. Basically I'm applying for the RAF Reserve Photography role as I have 17 years under my belt as a professional photographer and this sounds like a dream job to me. I have a long way to go yet as I've only just had my AST date confirmed. But I think I'm OK medically (better had be!) and I can beat the fitness test run time and press-ups etc. (still training hard to ensure this is not an issue for me.) so as you can see I'm right at the start of the process! Basically with no family or friends in any of the armed forces ever my wife and I know absolute zilch about what I'm getting into. 'The great unknown' is freaking my wife out but she's promised she'll support me if I sign up. So as mentioned my main concern is that I disappear out of my little girl's life ... and this would be too cruel as we're so close. I can live with 6 months away (and like you say the final two Herrick tours are extended ... 9 months possible! Ouch.) in the grand scheme of things this is not too long. I believe bridges can be rebuilt after this but if longer then it may permanently damage my family? (I'm telling you all this just so you can understand and give straight answers ... I hope you're still awake?) Working during the week and getting weekends off in pre-deployment sounds reasonable ... do you stay at the barracks weeknights? (sorry not sure if barracks is the right word?) Plus with it being a photography role do you have any idea if I would be on those 'away exercises' you mentioned?

This may seem a stupid question to you - but like I say I know bugger all about the armed forces - do you get to go home for post-deployment?

Finally - I appreciate that situations can change at the drop of a hat and plans can evaporate but just hearing about what 'has been' or your personal experiences helps a lot ... not to mention as a newbie I find this fascinating.

Again ... thanks

 

[Max Reheat]

I know nothing about the photography trade but I'd very much doubt you'd be hit with a six month deployment. Its normally the regiment and police types who end up with that length of det. 4 months is the normal max length for a lot of trades.

Post deployment depends where you've been. If its Aghan for over 30? days then its a night in Cyprus for decompression before heading back to the family, otherwise its straight home for post op leave. Other trades may differ but thats been my experience and what I've observed others doing.

 

[Climebear]

I know nothing about the photography trade but I'd very much doubt you'd be hit with a six month deployment. Its normally the regiment and police types who end up with that length of det. 4 months is the normal max length for a lot of trades.

The movers, clerks and PTI I'm deployed with are all on 6-month tours.

 

[techie_tubby]

Your timetable during PDT will depend where you do it and your location from home. For example if you live on Scotland and get out on a course at Honnington near Norfolk or St Mawgan down Cornwall way then getting home at weekends could be difficult.

Also be aware that your deployment might not be Afghan you could get the Falklands, Minhad, Al Udeid or somewhere else in the Middle East. This will affect what PDT you do and also could mean different tour lengths, for example a tour in Minhad for me is 4 months but I'm not sure what your trade will be.

 

[Stevienics]

As we move into the next few years you will also see many localised deployments to meet MACC needs (flooding etc) as well as reinforcement for FTE positions for people themselves deployed to operational areas. It's all part of the "Whole Force" concept which seeks to integrate the reservists and auxiliaries into the bigger strategic picture, which they are most definitely not at present. Think 1 in 8 reservists deployed away from their normal lives for up to 12 months (all activities found), and you won't be far off.

 

[Tocsin]

I really appreciate the detailed response and taking time out to try and help me, you're a star. Basically I'm applying for the RAF Reserve Photography role as I have 17 years under my belt as a professional photographer and this sounds like a dream job to me. I have a long way to go yet as I've only just had my AST date confirmed. But I think I'm OK medically (better had be!) and I can beat the fitness test run time and press-ups etc. (still training hard to ensure this is not an issue for me.) so as you can see I'm right at the start of the process! Basically with no family or friends in any of the armed forces ever my wife and I know absolute zilch about what I'm getting into. 'The great unknown' is freaking my wife out but she's promised she'll support me if I sign up. So as mentioned my main concern is that I disappear out of my little girl's life ... and this would be too cruel as we're so close. I can live with 6 months away (and like you say the final two Herrick tours are extended ... 9 months possible! Ouch.) in the grand scheme of things this is not too long. I believe bridges can be rebuilt after this but if longer then it may permanently damage my family? (I'm telling you all this just so you can understand and give straight answers ... I hope you're still awake?) Working during the week and getting weekends off in pre-deployment sounds reasonable ... do you stay at the barracks weeknights? (sorry not sure if barracks is the right word?) Plus with it being a photography role do you have any idea if I would be on those 'away exercises' you mentioned?

This may seem a stupid question to you - but like I say I know bugger all about the armed forces - do you get to go home for post-deployment?

Finally - I appreciate that situations can change at the drop of a hat and plans can evaporate but just hearing about what 'has been' or your personal experiences helps a lot ... not to mention as a newbie I find this fascinating.

Again ... thanks

Some good answers already given - there are three main kinds of RAF deployment:

1. Flying Squadrons - go for short periods (think 1-2 months), not likely to have reservists currently.

2. Formed Units (e.g. an RAF Regiment Squadron) - 6 months (used to be 4), will have reservists embedded.

3. Individual specialists (e.g. medics, intelligence analysts, movers, phots?) - anything from a few weeks to 6 months, depending on the requirement. (A few senior officers do up to 12 months, to keep continuity - not an issue for us workers).

I hinted (badly!) that it is unlikely you will get through the training process in time to get the formed unit deployment to Herrick, so ignore the 8-monthers. Also, anything over 4 months you will get an R&R (rest and recuperation break back home) sometime during the deployment.

Also, the RAuxAF operate a better version of the "intelligent mobilisation" process than the TA (in my opinion) - you will be informed in good time of opportunities to volunteer for mobilisation, rather than told to go. The mobilisation itself will be compulsory, as this gives you some protected employment rights. (All this is normal business, unless the sh1t really hits the fan, of course).

Pre-deployment, you will get a room in the block on your assigned RAF station, but will travel as needed for courses, so distance to home (a) from your station, and (b) from course/ exercise locations will determine if you get home for weekends.

Post-deployment - decompression as mentioned above if coming back from Herrick, then hand in some kit and go home. At some point you go to an interview/ "everything alright?" session, and then back to work/ normal life.

I also had no previous military experience when I first joined - about the only thing I couldn't ever get used to was an evening meal at 5pm

 

[37isntOld]

You guys are the best.

You guys are the best.

Some good answers already given - there are three main kinds of RAF deployment:

1. Flying Squadrons - go for short periods (think 1-2 months), not likely to have reservists currently.

2. Formed Units (e.g. an RAF Regiment Squadron) - 6 months (used to be 4), will have reservists embedded.

3. Individual specialists (e.g. medics, intelligence analysts, movers, phots?) - anything from a few weeks to 6 months, depending on the requirement. (A few senior officers do up to 12 months, to keep continuity - not an issue for us workers).

I hinted (badly!) that it is unlikely you will get through the training process in time to get the formed unit deployment to Herrick, so ignore the 8-monthers. Also, anything over 4 months you will get an R&R (rest and recuperation break back home) sometime during the deployment.

Also, the RAuxAF operate a better version of the "intelligent mobilisation" process than the TA (in my opinion) - you will be informed in good time of opportunities to volunteer for mobilisation, rather than told to go. The mobilisation itself will be compulsory, as this gives you some protected employment rights. (All this is normal business, unless the sh1t really hits the fan, of course).

Pre-deployment, you will get a room in the block on your assigned RAF station, but will travel as needed for courses, so distance to home (a) from your station, and (b) from course/ exercise locations will determine if you get home for weekends.

Post-deployment - decompression as mentioned above if coming back from Herrick, then hand in some kit and go home. At some point you go to an interview/ "everything alright?" session, and then back to work/ normal life.

I also had no previous military experience when I first joined - about the only thing I couldn't ever get used to was an evening meal at 5pm

Thanks to all of you who replied ... every single response has been appreciated and more helpful than you may realise. To be honest your answers are actually better than I hoped too. Assuming nothing happens to me whilst on deployment this sounds less disruptive to my wife and daughter's lives than I first thought - so all good. Guess I best get studying for my AST tests next week ... with any luck I'll be joined up and taking pictures of you all before you know it!

Thanks again ... so glad I came across this e-goat site I tell you!

 

[37isntOld]

As we move into the next few years you will also see many localised deployments to meet MACC needs (flooding etc) as well as reinforcement for FTE positions for people themselves deployed to operational areas. It's all part of the "Whole Force" concept which seeks to integrate the reservists and auxiliaries into the bigger strategic picture, which they are most definitely not at present. Think 1 in 8 reservists deployed away from their normal lives for up to 12 months (all activities found), and you won't be far off.

Just googling MACC and FTE! Thanks for the thought out response and giving me something to look-up and hopefully learn some more about the RAF world.

 

[Stevienics]

Just googling MACC and FTE! Thanks for the thought out response and giving me something to look-up and hopefully learn some more about the RAF world.

I will save you the bother my friend.

Read this.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...hment_data/file/28394/futurereserves_2020.pdf

 

[37isntOld]

I will save you the bother my friend.

Read this.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...hment_data/file/28394/futurereserves_2020.pdf

Will read it now thanks.