At what point during your deployment do you begin your countdown to going home or do you?

2013-12-23T06:12:44-05:00

Almost all of us have been deployed, I am currently deployed
and the discussion has come up as to when you should start your countdown to
going home. Some say the day you arrive,
others say not until half way, and others wait until the single digits.

When you were deployed what worked best for you and
why? Or is it a mind over matter thing
and the days just don’t matter until you get on a plane.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Dec 23 at 2013 6:22 AM

2013-12-23T06:22:02-05:00

It's tough not to "count down" in your mind while you are deployed. The important thing to remember is not to lose focus on the task at hand. Leaders always talk about complacency the closer a unit gets to redeployment. Stay focused and keep your Soldiers focused. It is healthy to think about getting on that plane, but it shouldn't be what dominates your mind. Good luck!!!

Response by SSG V. Michelle Woods made Dec 23 at 2013 8:44 AM

2013-12-23T08:44:49-05:00

SFC Boyer

My first deployment I put up a calendar and crossed off each day. That was a terrible idea. Second deployment, I paid no attention to the days and before I knew it, I was rushing to pack up :)

Response by LTJG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2013 10:02 AM

2013-12-23T10:02:24-05:00

I don't.

Have had more than a few Sailors who start counting down from day one (drives me crazy since draws my attention back to a concept of "time"). I try not to worry about how long things have been, or how much further we have to go, and before you know it, we are done and heading back home.

I suppose that I start thinking about it once we start preparations to return, since such things do require logistical planning.

"A watched pot never boils..."

-Unknown

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2013 10:08 AM

2013-12-23T10:08:56-05:00

When we deploy the countdown usually starts with how many months. At the half way mark it switches to weeks. We don't count days until we're about a month out from getting on the plane. A lot of guys count down until the replacement unit shows up, not the day we actually get on the plane. What makes me crazy are the guys who start counting the day the minute we step foot in the AOR.

Response by Jordan Gaudard made Dec 23 at 2013 10:14 AM

2013-12-23T10:14:10-05:00

One year passes so quick, there isn't a reason to start a count down. The last 3 days seemed to last longer than the whole deployment. Customs and inventories are brutal.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Dec 23 at 2013 10:22 AM

2013-12-23T10:22:24-05:00

I found that counting down only made things longer and with the way things would change, it was never a good thing. I guess for me, the closest I got to counting down was on final approach into Maine.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Dec 23 at 2013 1:22 PM

2013-12-23T13:22:04-05:00

I had a tracker that I'd update every few days. Couldn't resist seeing that giant number (15-month deployment during troop surge) go down little by little. Remember it like yesterday.

Response by SFC Jason Porter made Dec 23 at 2013 2:12 PM

2013-12-23T14:12:49-05:00

The last 30 days actually along with playing "Its the Final Countdown" from the band Europe. lol But also keeping in mind not to get complacent as well, we were still conducting some ops but reduced. The enemy does not care when you go home he will shoot to kill regardless! Stay Alert Stay Alive!

Response by LTJG Robert M. made Dec 23 at 2013 2:50 PM

2013-12-23T14:50:38-05:00

Always had Countdown, Deployments, Transfers, Re-enlistment, & Retirement!! Started at 99 and counted down to event!

Response by TSgt Candace Becker made Dec 23 at 2013 2:58 PM

2013-12-23T14:58:21-05:00

I just started counting down, and I have about 1.5 months left. I had a calendar up that I occasionally mark days off on. Usually I forget about it for a week at a time, so its always nice to cross off a couple days. :)

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2013 3:01 PM

2013-12-23T15:01:42-05:00

I have watched too many people count various things, days, times, number of rotating liasons etc... I watched as they became more and more anxious too. I found the best thing for me was to not count anything. I kept the mindset that when I landed at home, it would be finished, hopefully. I worked until the end and found it was a very easy transition and time went by extremely well. Of course, the hours at work followed by a pretty strict workout schedule and tried to maintain regular eating habits...

Response by Cpl Ray Fernandez made Dec 23 at 2013 3:04 PM

2013-12-23T15:04:15-05:00

The moment we knew our actual return day. I've had some deployments that were open ended and were not told exactly when we would be returning. One short deployment we were told we would be returning in 2 weeks, which kept going on for a while. While we were at sea during a West Pac, we didn't start the count down until after returning to Hawaii. Last thing any of us wanted was to jinx ourselves by counting down only to receive orders to turn around and deal with some problem. Even after we returned and were back at our home unit from the ship, we still counted down for a month because we had a month that they could if necessary recall the entire MEU.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2013 4:55 AM

2013-12-24T04:55:59-05:00

I count down the months and not the days, I probably will count down the days when I hit the last month.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2014 1:26 PM

2014-01-27T13:26:29-05:00

I've never counted down. I just take it in stride, it makes the deployment go much faster. One day your unpacking the next thing you know you're tearing down equipment and loading connex's.

Response by CPT Mike M. made Jan 27 at 2014 1:53 PM

2014-01-27T13:53:50-05:00

Is JRTC or NTC before deployment too soon to start counting down roughly the end of deployment?

Seriously though, as soon as I had a decent idea of dates out of country we started counting down. That and on our FOB we did a cigar night every week so from about the middle of deployment on, we were able to get a pretty good estimate of how many cigar nights were left.