I'm interested in enlisting in the army, but...?

Question

I would like to (and I know you don't exactly make demands with the military) only serve two or maybe three years. I have a friend at school who is enlisting and he says for six years requirement. I'm interested in serving and the like, but for me six years is way too long. Outside of the reserve, are there any options in which I can do a 2 or 3 year tour?

There is probably a recruiter assigned to this site waiting for a question like this....

Answer 1

Unless its changed its a 7 year commitment. Its whatever number of years you take, 2, 3, 4 or 6 year enlistement. The rest is an inactive reserve (IRR) commitment that totals with your enlistment. 7 years. This basicaly means even after you ETS you can be called back to active duty during that 7 years in times of national emergency or need. Hope that helps.

Answer 2

I'm surprised at the answers thus far... the minimum amount of time that you sign up for with the US Army, currently, is eight years, which recruiters are usually reluctant to tell you up front. Now, that doesn't mean that those eight years are active; most first-termers sign up for three, sometimes four years, depending on their MOS, station-of-choice (if they have it), and other factors. I'm not currently aware of a "two-year-only" active tour, but if such a thing exists right now, that is something the recruiter will probably be happy to tell you, since it would sound good to potential recruits. If you only fulfill the first contract (be it three or four years) on active service, you still have to fulfill the rest of that eight year term (four or five years) as a Reservist, or on the IRR, Inactive Ready Reserve. If you reenlist for a second active term, for example, and get out of the Army after eight years, that eight years is up and you're not automatically on the IRR. I'm preparing to get out of the Army myself right now, after four years, and I'll be on the IRR for an additional four, until my eight year commitment is up. If you take what I've told you to a recruiter and he disputes it, a red flag should go up--he isn't telling you the truth. I'm not a recruiter and I've nothing to gain whether you take my advice or not; I'm telling you the truth since I'm having to deal with this matter myself at the moment... bear in mind that recruiters, honest or not, DO have goals to maintain... so try to take what they tell you with a grain of salt, ask to see fine print, and use resources like you have here at Yahoo Answers and elsewhere for second opinions on anything you're not sure about. The Army can be a good experience, overall, but I think you'd have a better time of it if you at least felt, coming into it, that you are prepared and know what to expect from it realistically.

Answer 3

The minimum in the Army is 2 years Active Duty but remember you still have the Inactive reserve which you will be on for 6 years in you join for 2 years AD. No matter what you sign your total time served is 8 years...

Answer 4

A standard military contract is 6 years. Normally it is 4 years active and 2 years reserve. However, I have heard of 3 years active and 3 years reserve. But?!? isn't that still 6 years? I think you get the point.

Answer 5

ok first and ultimate the army is tricky. Wanna be a tough woman, connect an Airborne unit. on an identical time as the USMC has Airborne, such as you suggested, they can't assure you Airborne college. the army has greater funds than the Marines. Marines nonetheless use M60s and Cobras, on an identical time as the army has upgraded to M240s and Apaches. the army is a plenty greater advantageous branch because of the fact it has waaaaay greater oppurtunites than the Marines. each and every physique loves the Marines using delight that they have got... and the uniforms. yet individually i admire the army's uniforms. Why no longer connect the army? each and every branch has a tricky occupation field. in case you prefer a branch will ties on your loved ones pass military. The military gets far greater funds, has greater oppurtunites, has greater style of jobs, and a greater advantageous existence than the Marines.

Answer 6

i dont know if the army has this program or not but the navy has a program that we call 2 by skates. in which you do 2 years active dutie and 6 years in inactive reserves. i wish i did that program...6 years does sound kind of stiff.. hey im a seabee in the navy, we dont go on ships but we are a construction force that builds things for bases and much more. u should check it out. we also have 6 month deployments compared to the army having 1 year deployments. word of advice dont believe everything the recruter tells you. google what ever you want to do in the military.

Answer 7

I signed up for 2 years, not to include my basic training and AIT. however I had 6 years of inactive status when i was placed in the IRR. I could have been called up, which thankfully i wasn't. I did have to get a 5 year physical with some National Guard units, but that was all.

Answer 8

ALL contracts are for 8 years. The active duty commitment can be as little as 15 months, but your job options are very limited, and you would be required to put in 24 months of Reserves Duty afterwards, before going to IRR.

Answer 9

see the first post. even though your only doing 2 years active, it doesn't guarantee to you to get out in 2 years. yes, going on IRR for the next 6 years but that doesn't mean that they can't call you back.

Answer 10

you can make demands make sure you demand a bonus. i wish that i would have. the army wants you more than you want them and they will probably do anything you ask. its true.