Royal Navy (UK), operational tours can last approximately 9 months. Although with the Royal Navy Reserves, this is only 6 months. A junior doctor may be on board a ship for a seven-month stint. Army A general tour of duty for soldiers comprises service that can last from half a year to four years. Generally, duties that last longer than two years are eligible to receive medals of merit related to their service. Tours of duty can also be extended involuntarily for service members, such as in September 2006, when the tour of duty was extended for 4,000 US military personnel in Iraq. They were increased up to 15 months for tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. As of 2018, typical tours are 6-9 or even 12 months' deployment depending upon the needs of the military and branch of service. Soldiers are eligible for two weeks of leave after six months of deployment. In the UK, tours of duty are usually 6 months. In 2014, UK army tours in Afghanistan were extended to 8 months. Army doctors accompany their regiments on tours of duty for up to six months every two to three years. See also Roulement References Military deployment Military terminology