How to succeed during a deployment

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Bryan Payne
  • 332nd Communications Squadron
BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq --  Editor's note: The following is submitted by Senior Master Sgt. Bryan Payne, a Reservist with the 916th Air Refueling Wing who is currently deployed to Iraq where he serves as the superintendant for the communications squadron.

1. Get out of your comfort zone - Be prepared to do something you have never done nor have little knowledge in. Our career fields have many tasks that are not performed at every base. You may end up in a job at your deployed location that is in your career field, yet you have never done the work, or it may be a task that is not in your career field. In many cases Airmen have to learn an entirely new job that they have never experienced before - what ever you assignment, be prepared to leave your comfort zone. 

2. Lead or Follow - if you are a leader, be prepared to be a follower, and if you are a follower be prepared to lead. In the AOR you may have responsibilities as a leader that you have never had before. Conversely, you may be in a position to be a follower at your assignment. In any case, be prepared to be part of a much bigger team, the AOR is not practice, and it is the big game and we must all be team players in any position the coach deems necessary. 

3. Fitness! Fitness! Fitness! - Get into the best shape possible before you leave. Get strong, build endurance, improve your balance, and your cardio vascular system. It is extremely hot in the area of responsibility, duty days are long and sometimes go on for weeks and weeks without a break. You will need all the physical and mental strength you can muster. The better physical shape you are in to start will give you a leg up on being able to meet all the challenges you come across. 

4. Situational Awareness - Contact your AOR unit as early as possible. Find out who you will be replacing and what the job entails, the responsibilities, and the skills you will be using. Brush up on the skills that you have not used in a while. Get familiar with your assignment before you arrive. The more you know ahead of time the more effective you will be and more value you will provide to your deployed unit. Request any continuity documents (unclassified only) that may be available (in soft copy if possible). 

5. Plan Ahead - Prepare your personal life to run without you. Set up automatic bill pay or review all your financial obligations with your spouse or significant other. Ensure that important decisions and bills are taken care of in your absence. Communications systems and remote access to personal business is not always available. Use Powers of Attorney as needed (with advice from the JAG). Pre-purchase any birthday or anniversary cards and bring them with you. Find out the right way to make morale calls through the nearest base to your home to reduce the cost of long distance calls. 

6. Separate routine from deployment - Take a break before you go to the AOR. A long weekend or even a week of vacation. This will help to separate you from your normal life and your deployment. It will help you deal with the stress of leaving just before you go. Some downtime with your family will give those closest to you some new memories to help carry them through the separation while you are gone. 

7. Aim to accomplish - Set goals for what you want to accomplish while on the assignment - catch up on reading, improve your phyical training, accomplish military education or Upgrade training, learn something new. You will achieve more if you have laid down goals as you will be motivated to complete them while at your AOR assignment. 

8. Reboot your system - Make some time for yourself everyday. It may not be much, but try to do something you enjoy, before you are so exhausted, that all you want to do is go to sleep. Read, watch television, play video games, but do something you like to do. You will have less stress, and feel better after having some amount of time that you control. 

9. There is no time like the present (in the AOR) - Take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. If you can learn something before you go or while in the AOR learn it. If you have time for a meal, eat it. If you can do PT, do it. If the BX is selling something you need, buy it (it probably won't be there tomorrow). In the AOR, situations change rapidly. This is the big game. Play it as it comes at you. Planning is important, but you should understand that the best plans are only good when the situation is ripe for their execution. Be flexible. 

10. Attitude is everything - Keep a positive attitude! Deployment away from your normal life, family, friends, and climate can be draining. Keep a positive attitude and look for ways to contribute. With a positive attitude, your mission will be more successful, your sense of accomplishment will be greater, your time will go by faster, and you will appreciate your opportunity to have served.