Good Afternoon BogiDope Fam!

I wanted to provide a general overview on C-130 deployment life for you all:

– C-130 “Hercules” Deployments since 09/11 in many Guard squadrons have been a 4-month tasking. The squadron will receive the full 4-month tasking and will (typically) break that into two 2-month long deployments (“first half” and “second half”).

-Most guard squadrons will plan for enough volunteers to raise their hand such that everyone only has to go for a “half,” should they have enough manning and volunteers to make that happen. If volunteers or manning is short, then crewmembers will be tasked with deploying the entire time. All “new guys” will be deploying unless there’s a rather extreme circumstance as to why it would be a major hardship.

-Deployments are truly a double-edged sword in many ways. It’s great to be out on the road “hackin’ the mish (mission)” with your best friends. You truly get to know your fellow crewmembers and squadron mates when you’re deployed in a way you wouldn’t have otherwise. My first deployment was to the Horn of Africa and the flying was adventurous, challenging, and unlike any other kind of flying I’ve done in my career. The drawbacks are the time away from family, loved ones, and missing all those special events and holidays while you’re gone.

-The great thing about flying the Herk is that you could be doing a wide variety of missions on any given day. Anything from hauling cargo, performing airdrops, flying a med-evac mission, combat search-and-rescue, or landing on NVG’s into a blacked-out forward operating base are all on the time. The variety of flying is very satisfying and keeps you on your toes as an aviator. Also, any overnight time away from your deployed location is a welcome change of scenery as well!

-In the last year, the guard has been looking at transitioning from a 4-month deployment tasking to a 6-month deployment tasking to guard Herc squadrons (I have a few tanker friends who may be lookin at this same change as well). This would result in your “first half” and “second half” being 3-months each. It’s unclear if NGB (National Guard Bureau) plans to keep this model or if they will test it out and then revert back to the 4-month long tasking.

-DM me if I can offer any more insights or thoughts!

Cheers

Austin Wayland