What happens to family when deployed?

[M4M203]

Hi I've been thinking about joining the military for a while now, probably the US Marines.

I was wondering though how is it determined if you will be deployed to a base out of the country like Germany or South Korea? When or if you get deployed to a base out of the country how long is the deployment for usually? What happens with family if your married? Does your wife come with you? lol Or is she not going to see you for months?

Thats the thing that worries me most is the stress on my family and not seeing them for months at a time. Minus going to war, if I join the military I know thats a possibility and I will do that for my country.

[85_305]

You want to join the Marines, but are on an ARMY site? Hmmm..
Well in my oppinion, stick with the Army. They can do anything the Marines can do but better.
But anyways...

Depending on your MOS, you can usually pick where you want to be deployed. You make a top-five list in Basic, and MOST of the time they will give you what you want. Especially if it's a base where people dont want to go to.

In the marines, deployments are 8-months (something i will admit they got right. Think: Troop morale)
Army is 12-15 months. Sometimes you get off early. Sometimes you get an extension. But with ANY of the Armed Services you can get sent home early or have your stay extended.

Elite groups such as Recon and Rangers only go for a few months at a time.

Your wife will come with you to most all of the duty stations. There are a few places she cant go (korea for one.. but there is ways to work around that if you really want). But she can't go on deployments.

But at your duty station, and even your deployments, phone usage, internet, and even mail are all allowed.l

[kmullins]

family will have to be without you for several months no matter what, so come to terms with that now. they can go to any base in the states with you, and most overseas, with the exception to a few like mentioned above. when you go to your base, you will have to apply for a home. the waiting list can be a couple of weeks to a year or more. family cannot come untill you have a home for them, unless they live offbase, you have to get permission to live offbase with them.

[hasan_the_mad]

Depending on your MOS, you can usually pick where you want to be deployed. You make a top-five list in Basic, and MOST of the time they will give you what you want. Especially if it's a base where people dont want to go to.

l

Pardon my presumptuousness, but I must add to that statement...
IF you pick posts that deploy, or have a high manpower need, you may get them.
Some examples are (Forts)Drum, Hood, Carson, Stewart, Lewis, Bliss, Bragg, or Campbell.
If you request someplace like Ft. Sam, or somewhere in Hawaii, you are probably going to be SOL.
Don't let that stop you though! You can make a family life pleasant no matter where you are, and the Army is becoming more 'family-friendly'.
Command-sponsored tours in Korea (i.e. your spouse goes with)are few and far-between; but that too is contingent on things such as your rank, MOS, family size, etc.
Have fun!