Understanding deployment from the perspective of those who have served

The term deployment is used by the military to describe sending troops to carry out a combat, peacekeeping, or humanitarian mission. The purpose of this analysis was to illustrate the variations around combat deployment experiences. Qualitative descriptive methodology was used to examine data from 17 members of the U.S. military who deployed at least once to a combat zone after the September 11, 2001 attacks. No two deployments were the same between individuals or within individuals if they deployed more than once. Variations were discovered in deployment experiences related to deployment demands, deployment resources, and coming back changed as individuals. Regarding deployment as a singular concept does not take into account the variations in the deployment experience. Individuals caring for those who have served in war would benefit from understanding that each deployment is unique and a life-altering experience. •Deployments are rarely, if ever, what a service member expects even if returning to the same place.•The first deployment is not always the worst deployment.•Paradoxical effects were found for deployment demands (both stress filled and stressless) and deployment resources, such as communication with family (both stressful and supportive).•Poor leadership may exacerbate the stress of being deployed.•Veterans may be changed after deployments in ways that are not always visible.•Health care providers may be able to better tailor care by establishing rapport, asking open-ended questions about deployment experiences, and exploring combat exposures for lingering invisible effects.