Obligated service with army?

Question

After you join the army and become an officer (captain), how many years of obligated service do you have to provide before you can get out permnantly?

If one has to fulfill this obligation, why would army let people leave before the years are due, and then call them back?

I should add more details. The person is not me, it's my BF. He joined army in 1996 and became an office in 2000, and promoted to captain in 2004/05 or earlier. He left army in early 2005 after a year in Iraq. He told me the army requested him to go back, and he had no choice. I am devastated. Is it true that he really had no choice??

Answer 1

The minute he accepted his commission (officer status) he incurred a lifelong obligation. Technically, as an officer they can call you back at any time if they feel like it. Chances are he had an initial 8 year obligation which he served 4 years active duty and now is in his inactive phase. During his inactive phase he can be reactivated. The Army uses this obligation loophole in order to keep from reinstituting the draft. The government would rather call back people who have already received training than enact a draft and train a whole new set of inexperienced people.

Answer 2

If you go right in as a captain [i.e. O-3], that usually means you are either medical or legal. Usually the Army has given you some assistance with college and want something in return. They get their return by a slightly longer obligation. If you resign your commision before this, you owe them money back instead of time. After the initial obligation, they may put in active reserve or even inactive reserve status. This is cheaper for their payroll. A reservist gets paid less than an active duty member. But, if they have someone on reserve status that has skills they need to utilise NOW, it is easier to get them back and into a job than to train someone from scratch.

Answer 3

You need to provide a little more information. Are you asking the question if you join the Army as a captain? In that case you typically have to receive a direct commission as a doctor or lawyer. If you mean starting out as a 2LT then 1LT then a CPT it depends on your source of commissioning. If you are a West Point grad it was a 5 year commitment but I think it is now 6 years. So once you reach the rank of CPT you will need to serve 2 more years. Also it takes 4 years to reach CPT (2 years each at 2LT & 1LT) and that is the typical total commitment time required ater receiving your commission through ROTC or OCS. If you go Voluntary Indefinite (meaning you agree to remain in the service passed you original commitment) then you obligation continues until:
1. you resign your commission
2. you fail to achive further promotions and are seperated from service
3. you retire ater 20 or more yesrs of service.

Answer 4

Yes, based on what you wrote. The key thing for Officers is their commission which is different than being discharged from the service. As long as he hasn't resigned his commission, the Army can recall him at any time.

Answer 5

Once you reach Capt. you can resign any time you like as long as you have done your tenure.