AEF deployment tempo—how it works

Published June 12, 2008
By Angela Beavin
72nd LGRR

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- The thrust behind the improvements in the Global Air and Space Expeditionary Force construct are driven by aligning the AEF process with what has come to be the deployers "reality timeline". Meaning, if you remember shortly after 9/11 one departed for 90 days, but it eventually turned into a 120 day deployment. Add to this the fact that mission mandates that one's redeployment back to home station was delayed by say an average of an additional 40 or 60 days. Hence, in reality, deployments have been consistently lasting as long as 6 months for many of our Tinker personnel.
   Under the new plan, officials acknowledge that about half of the airmen can expect the previous 4 months out and 16 months home deployment tempo. About 45 percent will deploy for six months at a time. Deployment lengths and frequency will vary by Air Force Specialty Code and functional Unit Type Codes and these will be reviewed annually. Air Force leaders believe the new system restores predictability in that airmen can better plan and prepare for their AEF band.
   How it works:
   · The new construct uses an "ops tempo-based" rule set which assigns UTCs to one of five tempo bands.
   · "Tempo band A" is the baseline and it matches the current AEF construct with five 120-day AEF pairs operating on a 1:4 deploy-to-home station tempo. For example: the 1:4 ratio means that one is deployed 4 months then home 16 months, which meets the original 20 month cycle.
   · However, "tempo bands "B" through "E" have been added to provide predictability for the nearly 50 percent of AFSCs currently operating at a tempo greater than 6 months deployed and 24 months at home. Additionally, these bands apply to anyone deployed for a duration greater than 120 days. For example: an Airman's AFSC aligned within Band "C" has a 1:3 deploy-to-dwell tempo. This Airman can expect to deploy for six months (179 days), then spend 18 months at home before becoming vulnerable to deploy again.
   Benefits of the changes:
   -- Allows Tinker's deployers a quick assessment of their deploy-to-dwell timeline
   -- Ensures Tinker continues providing combatant commanders with world-class capabilities
   -- Simultaneously give our Airmen and commanders more predictable and stable deployment schedules
   -- The new construct allows continued crucial participation of our Air Reserve Component colleagues. The enhanced visibility of the active component tempo will enable more predictable planning for ARC participation in both volunteer and mobilized status.
   Operational testing of this construct for select AFSCs has already begun. Additional functional areas will be brought into the construct in four phases, with initial operating capacity for the total force by late fall 2008.
   Contact your unit deployment manager, supervisor, unit commander or the 72 LRS/LGRR Installation Deployment Office @ 734-2616 if you have specific AEF questions. Additional AEF information can be found at the AEF Web site, which is linked from the AFPC "Ask" site http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil.