Military how long is a tour

Individual and Family Counseling : Professional counselors will provide confidential short-term counseling services, information, and referrals. Life skills classes and groups are generally offered. Family Advocacy Program : Assistance is provided for situations involving child abuse, child neglect, or spouse abuse.

Classes and groups geared toward preventing family problems are generally offered. Confidential victim advocacy is generally offered. AFAS is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to help relieve financial distress of Air Force members and their families and assist them in financing their higher education goals.

Active duty and retired Air Force members and their dependents are eligible for AFAS assistance, as are the dependents of deceased Air Force personnel who died on active duty or in retired status.

Reservists and National Guard members serving on extended active duty over 30 days are eligible as well, but assistance is limited to emergencies incident to or resulting from the applicant's active duty tour. Often in times of stress, it is best to get spiritual support. Take advantage of military chaplains and enlisted religious support personnel, who are there to help and serve military members and other authorized personnel.

It is a unit centric program, guided by a Command Team that reinforces the relationship between the unit and the services relevant to the unit, the unit members, and their families. The primary goal of UPFRP is to empower Marines and family members, providing them the opportunities to not just survive but to thrive while taking on the challenges of the military lifestyle. It may provide financial assistance for a variety of valid needs, ranging from the costs of setting up a household to disaster relief.

However, the Relief Society does not assist with the purchase of nonessentials, nor does it supplement the income of persons who habitually live beyond their means. Interest-free loans, grants, or combinations of loans and grants may also be approved. Emergency transportation : Food, rent, and utilities.

Help when disaster strikes Personal needs when pay is delayed Essential vehicle repairs. Education loans for family members : Visiting nurse for mothers of newborns, and housebound retirees. Layettes for qualified families and "Budget for Baby" classes. Budget counseling. Thrift shop. Active duty members, activated Reserve and Guard members, and their family members are eligible to seek legal aid and assistance from any military installation where there is a legal assistance office.

A Legal Assistance Officer provides counseling and assistance with personal legal problems, claims services, and trial defense services. Legal advice and assistance available. Wills, powers of attorney, and bills of sale. Domestic relations adoption, separation, nonsupport Change of name, notarizations, civil rights, depositions.

Citizenship, immigration, and passports. Damage to personal property. Referral to civilian lawyers when appropriate. For more on legal assistance, see Military Law. American Red Cross : The American Red Cross aids sick and injured service personnel and their families in times of peace and conflict. It also provides social welfare services to needy military personnel and their families.

The American Red Cross works closely with all services in providing and assisting in programs relating to the health, welfare, recreation, and morale of military personnel and their families. American Red Cross services are provided by paid and volunteer staff at offices on military bases and in civilian communities through local American Red Cross chapters.

Look in your local phone book to find the chapter nearest you. Some of the services provided by the American Red Cross are:. United Service Organization USO : USO , a private civilian organization, offers centers away from military installations for the relaxation and recreating of service members and their families. Many of the USO centers have snack bars, game rooms, reading rooms, travel and tour centers and other recreational facilities.

Some USO centers are located in major airports and provide sleeping berths for adults and children who are awaiting flights. The USO also works with the Armed Forces to provide live entertainment shows for installation and hospitals in the United States and overseas. Many USO's also offer discount tickets for plays and movies, and can recommend places to stay overnight. The USO now includes help for military personnel and family members with various social problems such as drug abuse, family troubles, and financial stress.

Local agencies deliver WIC benefits to participants. WIC helps prevent malnutrition in low-income pregnant females, breastfeeding mothers, new mothers, infants, and children up to the age of 5 years old who are at risk due to inadequate nutrition. The Plan My Deployment website offers comprehensive information and resources for every phase of the deployment cycle. Generally, deployment means a scheduled time away from the normal duty station, usually outside of the United States.

Sometimes your service member may serve in dangerous situations, but they have intense training and are well prepared for the challenges they may face in their specific mission. The deployment cycle starts when a service member is notified of a deployment and extends through any predeployment training, the actual deployment, and reunion and reintegration.

Every deployment cycle is different, but here are some general things to know:. Soldiers can deploy in large or small groups or even individually.

Many soldiers will do predeployment training at large training centers such as the National Training Center, the Joint Readiness Training Center or at specific training centers located at bases across the country. An average deployment cycle will include months of training at their home base and at these specialized courses.

Soldiers with specific skills may go individually or in smaller units. They will have different types of training requirements based on the job, their prior preparation and the location of the deployment. Learn more about Army deployments ».

Many Marine Corps deployments happen on Navy ships, or service members may fly to their deployment location. The majority of Marine Corps deployments include approximately one year of training followed by six to seven months of actual deployment time.

However, a significant number of Marine Corps deployments may be scheduled for one year or more. The Marine Corps prepares to support a wide variety of missions, often on short notice. Visit Explore Careers to discover opportunities that match your interests and skill sets.

To hear from service members about their own career experiences in the Military, visit Career Stories. First, candidates need to confirm the career field or military occupational specialty MOS they want are available by working with the service enlistment counselor at a Military Entrance Processing Station MEPS.

Thousands of different jobs are available, but not in each Service. Jobs are assigned based on several factors:. Potential recruits and parents should review the job categories in the careers section of this site and then discuss possible career paths with a recruiter.

It is best to ask a recruiter for specifics, or, if already serving, to speak with the command career counselor. Base Pay at each rank is the same across all Services, but many factors, including Special Pays, affect what a service member will actually earn.

For many service members, the Military serves as a foundation of skills and experience that translate into civilian careers. In addition to government programs that provide transition assistance , many organizations also provide employment resources and opportunities for those who are returning to civilian life. Service members usually receive a modest pay raise annually, to keep pace with the cost of living.

In addition, raises are received when service members are promoted to the next pay grade. This is generally associated with a new rank or the amount of time an individual has served. Time between promotions varies based on service member performance. The ASVAB test helps young people identify the things they're good at, areas of interest and potential job matches.

While boot camp varies in duration from Service to Service, the focus is the same: preparing recruits physically, mentally and emotionally for their future in the Military. Following Basic Training, service members receive advanced training in their specialty. A variety of training methods are used, including classroom instruction, field exercises and simulations. All Service branches offer the opportunity for higher education, both during and after service. Many military training programs count toward course credit , while some branches offer classes on base or online the Air Force, for instance, has its own community college.

In exchange for a service commitment, ROTC provides college scholarships and leadership training. Service academies offer another opportunity for young adults. These academies provide a strong college education with the discipline of officer training. The Military offers many educational benefits that service members can take advantage of during or after service. Once work or training is done for the day, however, a service member can do as he or she pleases.

Visit Military Life for more information on free time, family support and military perks. With installations all over the globe , it is impossible to predict in advance where a service member could be stationed. Following basic training , service members are given assignments based on Service needs, and their skills and training. As such, there are no guarantees a member will serve close to home.

They may also be deployed for support in noncombat areas or deployed domestically to help with disaster relief. Military housing varies by rank, location and family situation. New recruits typically start their military careers living on base. Here they have access to a supportive community filled with amenities and comforts of home. Service members who qualify to live off base are given a Basic Allowance for Housing BAH as part of their compensation.

Active-duty service members receive 30 paid vacation days each year as an employment benefit. On top of this, the Military provides a wide range of recreational activities for service members and their families to enjoy on a daily basis. When your deployment is finished, you will be able to return. Some employers are also known for having military-friendly policies.

Following boot camp , most Service branches allow new service members a short break to spend time at home. After that, service members generally spend another six months to a year in advanced training for their occupational specialty before deploying overseas or stateside. There are many ways that parents of service members can find support that they need. These include listening to stories from other military parents , joining well-known parent-to-parent networks , and also exploring parental resources provided by the Services.

Options like Space-Available Travel allow troops to fly at no cost on regularly scheduled military flights, provided there is a seat available. This is a great, inexpensive way to get to a destination. Family members are also welcome to visit their service member on base. In addition, service members of the Reserve and National Guard are often allowed to serve close to home.

Even while deployed, service members will usually have access to postal mail, email and phone service even while at sea. While communication may be restricted during certain missions, modern technology makes it relatively easy for families to keep in touch. If there is a family emergency and you need to reach a relative in service, you should contact the American Red Cross Hero Care Center , which can relay messages to U.

Military and service academy minimum entrance age requirements are 17 with parental consent or 18 without parental consent. Visit Eligibility Requirements to learn more. Visit What To Expect to learn more about what you and your child might experience if he or she decides to join the Military. X Tap to Close What can we help you find? Main Menu ESC x. Cadet Paige Herbst. Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Abdallah. Petty Officer 2nd Class Cody Greer. Corporal Brooke Dieters.

Sergeant Brian Threat. What is the difference between officers and enlisted service members?