Visiting a Deployed Soldier: Rules and Exceptions

Overview of Soldier Deployments

Deployments are a significant aspect of a soldier's military career, often involving missions to war zones or regions with ongoing hostilities. These deployments can be for various purposes such as training, combat, humanitarian aid, evacuation, or security. Given the nature of these missions, it's important to understand the rules and regulations surrounding family visits to deployed soldiers. This article will explore the circumstances under which family members can visit a soldier deployed overseas and the limitations that apply.

Can Family Members Visit a Deployed Soldier?

Generally, family members cannot visit a soldier during a deployment. The rules for deployment are strict and ensure that soldiers can focus on their mission without disruptions. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. During the Vietnam War, soldiers were allowed to take "R and R" trips, or Rest and Recreation (R and R), to places like Thailand, Hong Kong, and Australia. During these trips, family members were sometimes allowed to meet their service members, provided that they made their own travel arrangements and adhered to the stringent military and local rules.

One such example is a personal experience shared by a soldier who took an R and R trip to Japan and met his wife there. Despite the complexity of military and Japanese travel regulations, she made her own travel arrangements and successfully met her serviceman. While this is indeed a pleasant memory from a challenging time, it's important to note that such exceptions were rare and usually not applicable in modern deployments.

Deployment Types and Accommodations

A deployment is defined by its mission and purpose, which can range from training and combat to humanitarian aid and security. Deployments are not tourist destinations and are designed to be temporary and focused on military objectives. As such, they do not provide accommodations for family visits. Deployments can be categorized into different types, each with its own set of rules and limitations:

1. Permanent Change of Station (PCS)

During a PCS, soldiers can be stationed in countries like Germany, Korea, or Japan. In such cases, family members can indeed visit the deployed soldier. Families might be able to get a visitor pass to come on post and meet their soldier when he or she is off duty. This is possible because these locations are not considered war zones and offer more relaxed conditions for family visits.

2. Potential War Zones

In cases where soldiers are deployed to potential war zones, such as Iraq in 2006 or Afghanistan before the withdrawal, family members cannot visit. The security risks and strict regulations make it nearly impossible for civilians to enter these countries, let alone for soldiers to spend time off with their families. The primary focus during such deployments is on the mission and safety of the soldiers.

3. Middle Ground deployments

For deployments to less volatile regions like Saudi Arabia or Guantanamo Bay, the situation lies somewhere in between. While not exactly war zones, these areas still face certain challenges that make it difficult for family visits. Families might be able to come out to visit their soldiers, but the process is more complicated and there are fewer recreational activities available.

Conclusion

Understanding the rules and limitations governing family visits during a soldier's deployment is crucial. While family members cannot typically visit a deployed soldier during the mission itself, there are some exceptions, particularly for PCS assignments in more stable regions. However, the main rule is to prioritize the mission and ensure the safety and focus of the deployed soldiers.