How many times a year does a fighter pilot deploy?
Unfortunately, this question has no firm answer. As a general rule, a single squadron may deploy for one 3 to 6 month tour every 18 to 24 months. That is just a potential combat deployment, though. Squadrons may still deploy to locations for Flag exercises (Red Flag at Nellis in Las Vegas, for example) or for a variety of other training deployments or cross-countries. It is also possible that a squadron will be assigned to “cover” a six month deployment, and they will do so by swapping out their pilots halfway through, which means that everyone gets a 3 month deployment rather than the full six. The precise number of days a fighter pilot will be gone from home varies widely and may depend on a pilot’s timing (when he arrives; i.e., if he gets there right after the squadron returns from a deployment, it may be awhile before they leave again), the political environment, the squadron’s capabilities, the leadership, and just about any other variable you can think of.
