What is the minimum service requirement in the Air Force?

Question

I am fresh out of college and am thinking about going into the Air Force as an Officer. If I join the USAF and am commissioned as an Officer, what is the minimum number of years that I must serve?

While I am highly interested in being a part of the USAF, I do have other interests I wish to pursue and do not want a full career in the armed forces. Information from a current USAF commissioned officer would be highly appreciated.

Answer 1

Well, you asked for an answer from a current AF Officer, so here goes:

Unlike enlisted personnel, our term of service is NOT 4 years active, 2 years inactive. Instead an oath of comission is a lifelong oath (hence while there is a re-enlistment requirement, there is never a need to re-commission an officer).

The minimum term of active service for an Air Force officer is (assuming you paid for school on your own, as it appears you did) only 4 years. After that time period you will retain your commission at your current rank (probably Capt, maybe high 1st Lt) for the rest of your life as a member of the inactive reserve. While there is NO service requirement as long as you are a member of the inactive reserve, the implication is that if the crap hits the fan you CAN potentially be called back to service at any time in your life. This is HIGHLY unlikely to happen, but in the event of a full scale war with the threat of a need for a draft (ie, world war III), the inactive reserves who were of appropriate age could feasably be called back into service.

Answer 2

Enlisted personnel must serve a total of eight years.. any combination of Active Duty, Reserves and Individual ready Reserves.

Officers must serve at least 4 years Active Duty. More if you incur any debt such as being sent to Naval Postgraduate School or other long term instruction(Aviation, for instance)

HOWEVER. Both communities are subject to Stop Loss. basically that means the Military can and will prevent you from leaving if they determine that your skills are highly necessary and it would be a detriment to the service if you left.

My husband's community in the Navy, for instance, is currently StopLossed in certain areas. He is an Information Warfare Officer.

Answer 3

The minimum service requirement is six years, but for an Air Force Officer there's no cut and dry number as to how many years are active or inactive reserve. The best thing for you to do would be contact your local recruiter and let them figure out what you're qualified to do or what they can train you to do. Good Luck!

Answer 4

As an enlisted member in the AF, I know the minimum is 4 years. I am unsure about commisioned officers, but I believe that it is also 4 years.

Honestly though, if your passion is to get a career started, Armed Forces is an easy way to get sidetracked. Unless you have an undying love for the military, I wouldn't recommend it.

Answer 5

What you do after commencement relies upon on your provider determination (no longer your substantial in college). sometime for the duration of your junior/senior years, you will put in ideas and the army or AF will inform you what you get to spend the subsequent 4+ years doing. After commencement you will bypass to college for that particular interest. you're allowed to maintain a activity, besides the shown fact that it takes a back seat to each thing alongside with your unit. "I might desire to artwork" isn't an excuse for lacking an ROTC experience. Plus, remember that in case you're on scholarship, ROTC will pay your training besides as a stipend.

Answer 6

1. Four years active
2. Two years inactive.
3. Pilots get elite treatment
4. Military service is great honor
5. Best of luck, I salute you.

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Answer 7

6 years total, four of which are active duty and 2 more in the inactive reserve, which means they can reacall you or not let you go after the intial four.But they don't normally do that, so you normally serve four years.

Answer 8

Go to the web sight, airforce.com

Answer 9

AS A PARENT WITH A SON IN THE MILITARY,MY ANSWER TO YOU IS ITS A QUESTION YOU NEED TO ASK YOUR FAMILY WHAT THEY THINK. CAUSE YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE THATS GOING IN...IN WAR TIME LIKE NOW YOUR FAMILY WILL GO THROUGH A MENTAL HELL.