How frequent are deployments?

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I just comissioned last Friday and have a few questions about deployments over seas (Afghanistan, etc) and I keep getting different answers. For critical care nurses, how often and how long are they?

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Lunah, MSN, RN

14 Articles; 13,766 Posts

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Air Force? I think they are six months for you. But no one can really tell you how often you'll actually go, that is based on operations tempo or whatever you call it in the Air Force — how much medical support is required at the time.

Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

For all nurses in the Air Force, you're vulnerable to deploy for 6 months out of every 2 year period. The length is typically 6 months. Deployments are more rare these days, but ICU nurses typically deploy when their time comes.

Know that this 6 months on 18 months off schedule can be changed based on the whims, wants, and needs of the Air Force. They could deploy you more if other people are on physical profiles for injuries.

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