How Long Are Marines Deployed for?
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Marine Deployment
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A common question among people considering serving in the military and families of people serving is just how long are U.S. soldiers and Marines expected to serve in an active combat area on a deployment to a far-flung location?
Typical Deployment
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The answer to this question very often is "it depends." Depending on the role, rank and assignment of a Marine and the needs of the Marine Corps at the time, virtually any Marine unit could be assigned to any location at almost any time. Some Marines never actually see deployment to a combat zone during the course of their service.
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Types of Deployment
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There are several types of deployment in the Marine Corps including combat, floats and relief efforts.
Combat
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Throughout 2008, during U.S. combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, a typical deployment was between seven and nine months. However, depending on what role a unit was serving, deployment could last up to a year.
Floats
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Marines are often assigned along with sailors to service aboard Navy ships. These ships may be en route to a drop-off point or assigned to particular areas around the world, either in port or at sea, in reserve for use if needed. Some of these Marines and sailors may never see active combat on a float, but they could be ordered into an area if needed.
Relief Efforts
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Some Marine units are deployed in relief efforts in a time of natural or other disaster. U.S. Marines were deployed in this capacity following the December 2004 Asian tsunami and in 2005 following Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast.
Other Assignments
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U.S. Marine units are consistently assigned to locations around the world such as Germany, the Philippines, South Korea and Japan. They may not be deployed as we understand it in a combat context, but they are assigned important national security roles worldwide all the time.
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