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"&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;There is a difference between a TDY (Temporary Duty Assignment), and a &amp;amp;#34;Deployment.&amp;amp;#34; On average, Air Force personnel deploy far less than Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines. In January 2015, the Air Force changed the way they deploy their troops a second time in less than ten years.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;A &amp;amp;#34;TDY&amp;amp;#34; is a temporary assignment, usually to attend a school, conference, temporarily help a unit which is undermanned, or participate in an exercise. When the mission of the TDY is complete, the airman returns to his/her permanent duty assignment.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;A &amp;amp;#34;Deployment&amp;amp;#34; is similar to a TDY, except the member deploys to be part of a specific operation, usually a combat operation overseas. Like a TDY, when the deployment is finished, the airman returns to his/her permanent duty assignment. The Air Force deploys people to areas such as Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kosovo, and Bosnia for on-going contingency operations.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Under the Air Force&amp;amp;#39;s AEF (Air Expeditionary Force) concept, the Air Force&amp;amp;#39;s goal is not to deploy individuals and units for no more than 90 days in a year. However, the Air Force has a long way to go to meet that goal for personnel in many specific jobs. Most Air Force deployments last between 60 and 90 days.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;New Standardized Deployment Cycle in 2015 to Reflect Critical Combat Needs&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Air Force&amp;amp;#39;s Air Expeditionary Force Next system is designed to streamline the process for deploying Airmen, keeping them with their units and standardizing dwell times - doing away the TEMPO BANDS listed below:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In addition to deploying multiple Airmen from the same unit together, the AEF Next system will move to standardize dwell ratios, or the ratio of time Airmen spend deployed versus time at home station. Most Airmen will serve in a 1-to-2 ratio; six months deployed followed by 12 months at home.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Under the new system, Airmen deploy not only with members of their home station unit, but they also will leave in more standardized time frames, which builds structure into deployments and could make it easier to operate in the AOR.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Tempo Bands System (for Historical Purposes)&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In the past (2009 until 2014), Airmen deployed as individuals or small elements via &amp;amp;#34;tempo bands&amp;amp;#34; based on Air Force Specialty Codes. Those Airmen converged in downrange areas of responsibility from bases across the Air Force.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The band decisions are made by matching predicted deployment demands for Air Force specialties against the number of airmen available to deploy in that specialty:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Band A.&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00A0Those in Air Force jobs assigned to Band A can expect to deploy 6 months every 24 months. Some of the career fields that have already been placed in this band include\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/air-force-enlisted-job-descriptions-3344295&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;fuels&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/air-force-enlisted-job-descriptions-3344371&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;paralegal&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;,\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/6f0x1-financial-management-and-comptroller-3344374&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot;&amp;gt;finance&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, and\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/air-force-enlisted-job-descriptions-3344265&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot;&amp;gt;safety&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Band B.&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00A0Airmen in Band B can expect to deploy 6 months every 30 months. So far, no Air Force career field has been placed in this band.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Band C.&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00A0Those in Band C can expect to be deployed for 6 months every 24 months. Band C includes\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/air-force-enlisted-job-descriptions-3344401&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot;&amp;gt;medical personnel&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;\u00A0(except\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/air-force-enlisted-job-descriptions-3344354&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;6&amp;quot;&amp;gt;behavioral health&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;), &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/2s0x1-supply-management-3344303&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;7&amp;quot;&amp;gt;supply&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;,\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/us-air-force-space-intelligence-field-job-3356663&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;8&amp;quot;&amp;gt;communications&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;,\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/1w0x1-weather-air-force-enlisted-job-descriptions-3344269&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;9&amp;quot;&amp;gt;weather&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;,\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/air-force-enlisted-job-descriptions-3344337&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;10&amp;quot;&amp;gt;public affairs&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;\u00A0and\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/air-force-enlisted-job-descriptions-3344296&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;11&amp;quot;&amp;gt;logistics planning&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Band D.&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00A0Individuals in Band D can expect to be deployed for 6 months every 18 months. Band D includes include\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/air-force-enlisted-job-descriptions-3344307&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;12&amp;quot;&amp;gt;aerial port&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;,\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/air-force-enlisted-job-descriptions-3344306&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;13&amp;quot;&amp;gt;vehicle operations&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;,\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/air-force-enlisted-job-descriptions-3344305&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;14&amp;quot;&amp;gt;traffic management&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;,\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/air-force-enlisted-job-descriptions-3344311&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;15&amp;quot;&amp;gt;vehicle management&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;,\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/air-traffic-controller-usaf-enlisted-job-descriptions-3344252&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;16&amp;quot;&amp;gt;air traffic controllers&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;,\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/air-force-enlisted-job-descriptions-3344375&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;17&amp;quot;&amp;gt;OSI&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;,\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/air-force-enlisted-job-descriptions-3344354&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;18&amp;quot;&amp;gt;behavioral health&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;,\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/1c3x1-command-post-3344254&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;19&amp;quot;&amp;gt;command post&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;\u00A0and\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/air-force-enlisted-job-descriptions-3344383&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;20&amp;quot;&amp;gt;civil engineering&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;br/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Band E.&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00A0These folks can expect to deploy six months out of every year. Band E includes &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/air-force-enlisted-job-descriptions-3344373&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;21&amp;quot;&amp;gt;contracting&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;,\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/air-force-enlisted-job-descriptions-3344396&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;22&amp;quot;&amp;gt;intelligence&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;,\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/air-force-enlisted-job-descriptions-3344250&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;23&amp;quot;&amp;gt;airfield management&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;,\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/air-force-enlisted-job-descriptions-3344341&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;24&amp;quot;&amp;gt;security forces&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, and\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/air-force-enlisted-job-descriptions-3344255&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;25&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Tactical Air Command and Control&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. While technically in Band E, special operation fields (\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/air-force-enlisted-job-descriptions-3344253&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;26&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Combat Controller&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;\u00A0and\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.thebalance.com/air-force-enlisted-job-descriptions-3344268&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;27&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Pararescue&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;) can expect more frequent deployments (although usually shorter in duration) for specific special operations missions.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Air Force also has a program where volunteers can sign up to fill short-falls in upcoming AEF deployments by putting their name on the &amp;amp;#34;Enabler List.&amp;amp;#34;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Tempo Band method was difficult to operate due to the high tempo of the military in general since 2001. However, it may work again as operational needs decrease in the future.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<https://www.thebalance.com/deployment-time-of-the-u-s-air-force-enlisted-by-rate-4053128>