365-day deployments have advantages

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tonnette Thompson
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  There are those in the military who cannot imagine a deployment lasting longer than three months. Others have led the type of career that keeps them in remote locations for the better part of a year.

For those who don't mind the long separation from the States, or who want to take advantage of the base-of-preference option offered to those who complete a remote, there's the 365-day TDY extended deployment.

Kimberly Kennedy works in the personnel and readiness unit for the 82nd Mission Support Squadron. PRU runs the 365-day TDY program.

"Most of the people who choose this deployment do it for the base preference," she said, and then revealed the base most of these Airmen are performing a year-round stint for is our own Sheppard.

"They've built a life here: they've bought a house, their kids are in school. They'd rather spend a year away than uproot their family," she said.

Once the TDY is finished, the Airman's next assignment location requires nothing more than a completed AF IMT 392, Assignment Preference Statement.

"You can list seven bases, and you're pretty much guaranteed to get something from that list," Ms. Kennedy said.

Though this TDY offers the same BOP perk as orders to Osan Air Base or Kunsan Air Base, this remote won't take its Airmen to Korea. The 365-day TDY exists to provide support to Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, which means those who volunteer for it will be squarely in the middle of the War on Terrorism.

Nevertheless, people are volunteering. Maj. Garrett McCoy, 90th Flying Training Squadron, is currently preparing for his 365 days in the combined air operations center at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. He chose Sheppard as his BOP because he plans to retire in Wichita Falls.

Major McCoy said he would recommend the 365-day TDY to anyone.

"I'd tell them they're going to where everything's happening, the epicenter of what's going on in the Middle East," he said. "It's an opportunity to go support our troops and our country."

The 365-day TDY is a voluntary program; however, "when there are no eligible volunteers, (the Air Force Personnel Center) will use established short-tour selection rule sets IAW AI 36-2110," according to the 365-Day TDY Non-Volunteer Vulnerability information sheet.

However, very few people have found themselves in the "volun-told" predicament. Ms. Kennedy said 13 Sheppard personnel are currently on 365-day deployments and another five are projected to leave in the near future.

For those curious about their vulnerability, the Randolph Air Force Base website https://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil/Restricted/DPA/365Deploy/365Vulnerability.doc could offer more insight into their status.

For more information, contact either the PRU at 676-6873, or your installation deployment officer.