By: fedweekAlthough the Air Force still seeks a goal of four-months deployment out of every 20, many airmen aren’t finding it that way. Four of every 10 making an Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan will be there six months or longer. Security forces, for example, are being deployed six months followed by six months or less at home. Furthermore, as of June 30, more than 550 airmen were in Iraq or Afghanistan on one-year tours. These qualify as permanent assignments, so they are not part of the AEF system. In addition, airmen in special operations and mobility units that are not part of the AEF system will see two 90-day deployments in a year, thus serving the equivalent of six-month tours. Officials suggest the AEF cycle will return for all airmen after the requirement to fill Army and Marine slots is lifted.
