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.
Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA. Electronic address: bmjennings@knology.net.
Bonnie Mowinski
BM
Jennings
Center for Nursing Science and Clinical Inquiry, Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio, San Antonia, TX.
Kristal C
KC
Melvin
The Geneva Foundation, Tacoma, WA; Center for Nursing Science and Clinical Inquiry, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA.
Donna L
DL
Belew
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
Afghanistan; Deployment; Iraq; Military personnel; Qualitative research methodology; Veterans