Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 5/27/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello Colonel,
   This may be out of your area of expertise, but I thought of all the experts on the panel you may be the most likely to know the answer to my question.  Do you know how often, if at all, and for what length of time Coast Guard pilots are deployed?  Thanks for the help.

Sean

ANSWER: Dear Sean --

The Coast Guard rarely deploys from their United States missions.  However, they do deploy when there is a US disaster and they are needed on location.  Also some Coast Guard units will deploy into theater, if we have a coastal defense mission that the Navy and Marines cannot handle.  Those deployments are rare, but do happen.

This document can help you find out more about the various missions for the Coast Guard, and where they exist.  http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/jfq_pubs/0518.pdf

You may also be assigned to a unit that trains our allies how to guard their own coasts and waterways.  These assignments are typically in South and Central America, but could happen in Asia and elsewhere our assistance is requested.

An in-theater deployment will last for just over a year.  A training deployment could last for up to a year. A regular mission deployment outside the US could last up to three years, but you would most likely be an accompanied tour, meaning you could take your family there with you at government expense.

Please write back if you have other questions.  Good luck to you.





---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the information Colonel.  I'll be sure to look it over.  In the mean time, I'm not sure if this makes a difference, but my question was specifically geared toward deployments as an officer, and more specifically, a pilot.  Some research I've done states that pilots rarely deploy. Just thought I would ask, in case it made a difference.  Thanks again for the help.

Sean

Answer
Dear Sean --

The Coast Guard rarely deploys, and they rarely have enough pilots, so between the two, pilots usually do not deploy involuntarily.  However, it is not impossible to have an involuntary deployment, and you would be compelled to deploy, if it did happen.  If you absolutely never want to deploy, you should not join any of the military services.  Not even the Coast Guard.

Good luck to you.