Hello! I have a friend who is in the Army and has finished his deployment tour in Afghanistan. He is currently at one base and he said that they may have a flight the next day for a flight to Kyrgyzstan where they will be out-processed. From Kyrgyzstan, he will be flown back to his base in Germany.

How long does it take for out-processing? What is a reasonable time limit that I will know that he is safe back at his base in Germany? I am worried for his safety.

Thanks!

I didn't know they were using K'stan now but, then, my son was in Iraq. It can take anywhere from 2-10 days depending on how many people they are outprocessing and where in the overall scheme he rolls in. They might be returning an entire BCT which would take about 10 days. However, he might show up on day 8 of those 10 days or he might show up on day 1 so totally up in the air as to how long it might take.

On the plus side, my son was able to call a couple of times while he was outprocessing in Kuwait so your friend may be able to do the same thing.

We've been using Messenger as a form of communication to reduce the phone costs. It has been about 8 days now (counting Afgh time) that I have heard from him.

What actually happens during outprocessing? What does outprocessing entail?

You mentioned that outprocessing can take anywhere from 2-10 days, but it may depend if he shows up on the 2nd or 8th day. Can you explain this in more detail? If he arrives on day 8, does this mean that there are some additional delays?

Thank you so much!

Outprocessing is just that- turning in equipment that will stay in theather and not go back when him, medical screenings, dental screenings, de-briefings, etc. Then there will be the wait to be manifested on the aircraft. Last I heard there was no fighting between US and the K-stan folks, maybe so internal troubles, but little that would affect he on base.

its likely that he simply doesnt have access to computers. Once they leave the deployment site for transtion back to home station they are transients-they are billeted in transiet billets which do not have the same ammenties as permenant party as or deployed party billets as far as access to internet and such. He would have no option to use local isp since he would not want to purchase that for just a few days and its likely that MWR internet cafe facilities are limited and have long lines. I know that once my husband gave up his duty position and went into the process of transitioning to come home i didnt hear from him again until he hit the states-he would give up his local cell phone, dsn duty phone and The period of time they are in the out process facility depends on the size of the group and how many other troops are out or in processing theater at the same time. They have to clear customs, get all the equipment they are taking back to home station that is not traveling with them properly packed and secured for shipping, turn in any equipment that is staying as theater issue, clear theater finance and such. Once they are finished they then have to wait for airflow. flights can be impacted by the number of soldiers needing to travel, aircraft mainentance,aircraft and pilot availablity and weather. I would not become overly concerned unless it has been more than 21 days.

Thank you everyone for your responses! Thank you orchidj5 for your details and assurances. I won't be too worried about it then.