Normal length of duty station tours? - Military Moves and Relocation

my.hero's.mrs · 11-02-2009, 04:28 AM

I just asked DH this and he didn't know but it seems like people are always PCS'ing on this board. Maybe its just a big board.

So I'm curious. What is the average length of tour? Is it the same for all branches? 2-3 years overseas depending on if it is accompanied or unaccompanied. What is the CONUS length?

okasional.kajun · 11-02-2009, 04:43 AM

If you are overseas, its usually at least 3 years. If you are in the states, it usually 2 years. It depends on your SO's job also. My dad was in the army so growing up in the states, we moved every 2 years and when we lived overseas in Germany it was 3 years and when we lived in Japan it was suppose to be 3, but he extended to 4.
Now my husband and I live in Germany and our tour is going to be 3 years, but we might extend here as well.

my.hero's.mrs · 11-02-2009, 04:55 AM

So its not different for each branch? I don't know why I was under the impression that Air Force tours of duty are shorter.

~KittyKat~ · 11-02-2009, 05:22 AM

I thought it was 3 yrs stateside too

. But I do know some people that spend their entire career at one station...so I gues it varies.

Zoe · 11-02-2009, 06:02 AM

Ryan was at Bragg for 3 years and was supposed to be in Germany as a single soldier for 3 now he's gonna be here for 4.5 - (boo)

katiedelta3 · 11-02-2009, 06:07 AM

It varies but from what I've been told overseas are being 4+ now. I know they changed the typical accompanied length here from 3 to 4 recently. And it depends if the service member volunteered for it too, that's usually longer.

gunsgirl · 11-02-2009, 06:49 AM

it is different for each branch.

we are CG and the average ENLISTED tour length is 3 yrs- but we have tours that are, 1 yr, 2yr and 4 yr.

for officers almost ALL Officer billets in the CG are 2 yrs.

bluexwings · 11-02-2009, 06:51 AM

my fiancee was overseas for a little less than 2 years but he said you can request to extend it if you want. i think it varies depending on your job.

Amber · 11-02-2009, 06:53 AM

Depends on job and branch. If DH stays in, he is supposed to be attached to his ship for 5 years.

I don't know if either of us can take 5 years in this place, some ******* driver will probably kill us first.

bluexwings · 11-02-2009, 06:54 AM

on a ship for 5 years? do they really do that? i heard the tours are about 6 months to 1.5 year.

11-02-2009, 04:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
my.hero's.mrs Not even the Army can shatter my spirit. Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Italy Posts: 12,079 Blog Entries: 1 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 35% Longevity: 29%	Normal length of duty station tours? I just asked DH this and he didn't know but it seems like people are always PCS'ing on this board. Maybe its just a big board. So I'm curious. What is the average length of tour? Is it the same for all branches? 2-3 years overseas depending on if it is accompanied or unaccompanied. What is the CONUS length? __________________

11-02-2009, 04:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
okasional.kajun i'm an officer's daughter and a private's wife Join Date: May 2009 Location: vilseck, germany Posts: 1,872 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 92% Longevity: 8%	If you are overseas, its usually at least 3 years. If you are in the states, it usually 2 years. It depends on your SO's job also. My dad was in the army so growing up in the states, we moved every 2 years and when we lived overseas in Germany it was 3 years and when we lived in Japan it was suppose to be 3, but he extended to 4. Now my husband and I live in Germany and our tour is going to be 3 years, but we might extend here as well. __________________ [5.5.07/12.24.08/3.25.09]

11-02-2009, 04:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
my.hero's.mrs Not even the Army can shatter my spirit. Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Italy Posts: 12,079 Blog Entries: 1 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 35% Longevity: 29%	So its not different for each branch? I don't know why I was under the impression that Air Force tours of duty are shorter. __________________

11-02-2009, 05:22 AM	#4 (permalink)
~KittyKat~ Incubating... Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ft Campbell, KY (Clarksville) Posts: 6,012 Blog Entries: 4 Classifieds: (1) Activity: 82% Longevity: 16%	I thought it was 3 yrs stateside too . But I do know some people that spend their entire career at one station...so I gues it varies. __________________ Wifey to Ash029, Jen0201, CincoAF, KitKat78, SammaJamma, army mommy, Brighteyes1406, Melanie. & Twilliams

11-02-2009, 06:07 AM	#6 (permalink)
katiedelta3 <3 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Okinawa Posts: 5,157 Classifieds: (1) Activity: 93% Longevity: 17%	It varies but from what I've been told overseas are being 4+ now. I know they changed the typical accompanied length here from 3 to 4 recently. And it depends if the service member volunteered for it too, that's usually longer. __________________

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11-02-2009, 06:02 AM	#5 (permalink)
Zoe MilitarySOS Jewel Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: London, England Posts: 9,893 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 47% Longevity: 28%	Ryan was at Bragg for 3 years and was supposed to be in Germany as a single soldier for 3 now he's gonna be here for 4.5 - (boo)

11-02-2009, 06:49 AM	#7 (permalink)
gunsgirl I love cats Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: kingsland GA/ HITRON JAX Posts: 4,375 Classifieds: (3) Activity: 60% Longevity: 39%	it is different for each branch. we are CG and the average ENLISTED tour length is 3 yrs- but we have tours that are, 1 yr, 2yr and 4 yr. for officers almost ALL Officer billets in the CG are 2 yrs. __________________ GA licensed Realtor Dawn

11-02-2009, 06:51 AM	#8 (permalink)
bluexwings Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 12 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 4% Longevity: 0%	my fiancee was overseas for a little less than 2 years but he said you can request to extend it if you want. i think it varies depending on your job.

11-02-2009, 06:53 AM	#9 (permalink)
Amber deadliest catch without the crabs. Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: we are in va beach. Posts: 15,196 Blog Entries: 1 Classifieds: (2) Activity: 92% Longevity: 24%	Depends on job and branch. If DH stays in, he is supposed to be attached to his ship for 5 years. I don't know if either of us can take 5 years in this place, some ******* driver will probably kill us first. __________________

11-02-2009, 06:54 AM	#10 (permalink)
bluexwings Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 12 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 4% Longevity: 0%	on a ship for 5 years? do they really do that? i heard the tours are about 6 months to 1.5 year.