Choosing deployment locations in the US military?

Hi folks, I'm seriously thinking about joining the military after I graduate from high school. But I was wondering, do soldiers have any say in where they get deployed, or is it completely up to higher-ups?

In the U.S. military, your deployment location is primarily determined by the needs of the military and your assigned duty station. While you may have preferences for certain regions, the ultimate decision is not in your hands. That being said, each branch does have its own system for allowing servicemembers to express their preferred duty stations, but these are taken as requests and are not always able to be granted.

When enlisting, you typically have the opportunity to express your preferences in terms of job/defense section. This can somewhat influence eventual deployment, as some roles have more frequent or varied deployments than others. Furthermore, depending on your chosen branch and career path, you might be stationed at a base where specific types of missions operate, which can affect your eventual deployment.

It's also worth noting that some branches, such as the Air Force, use a system called the Base of Preference (BOP) program that allows airmen to list their preferred bases. However, this system again works according to the needs of the military, and these are considered requests, not guarantees.

If location is a significant concern for you, it could be helpful to research which branches and which roles within those branches have bases in the locations you're interested in. Although it won't guarantee anything, it could potentially increase your chances of ending up somewhere you'd like to be.