2-year military enlistment contract Questions for the Army, Navy, AF, MC, CG, and NG...?

Question

2 questions regarding the 2-year enlistment program with the military.

1. Do all branches of the military offer 2 year enlistment contracts? If not, which ones do and which don't?

2. If I want to serve in multiple branches of the military, can I serve one branch for 2 years active and then instead of going inactive for the remaining 6 years, can I tranfer to a different branch and go active duty with them? If I do this will I lose all the benefits I earned from the first branch I was enlisted in?

Answer 1

You will need to talk to the recruiters and ask them. Just ask them if they offer a 2 year enlistment option, get the answer, and walk away. *L* Know you know about that.

I know that the US Army, at one point, did offer the 2 year option, in fact, I used it. While I was recruiting (1997-2000), none of the other branches offered it. HAVING SAID THAT, there were VERY few jobs in the Army that had that option. In the 3 years that I was recruiting, I only saw two (2) people get that. It's there, but it's hard to find.

To transfer to another branch of service, you will have to be completely discharged from one, then enlist into the other. Example: You enlist in the Army, get out when it's your time, then go find a Marine recruiter and do the entire process over again. I know of several people that have done this, and have been in 3 different branches so far. Trick to it, tho, you MAY be stuck doing the same job, over and over and over, depending on what your job was.

Please remember, the Marines will make you go thru Boot camp REGARDLESS if you were in another branch of the military. The Army will make you go thru Basic if you come from the Navy/Air Force. The Navy/Air Force won't make you go thru it again. Best bet, if you REALLY want to play that game, start with the Marines (no 2 year option, no guaranteed job), then go Army (2 year option, guaranteed job), then the other two.

You will have a 6 year Inactive Reserve commitment if you get out and stay out. EVERYONE enlists for 8 years, regardless of branch of service. That 8 years is 2 years active + 6 years inactive, or 3+5, or 4+4, or 5+3, or 6+2.

Answer 2

I can only speak for the Army National Guard.

We offer a 3 year enlistment option. It comes with a $15K-$20k bonus. As far as transfering services you can but your basic training may not be recognized by the new service. The Army (and NG) only recognize the USMC and the Army's basic training. Airforce and Navy personell have to go through a special 6 week "Warrior training course" designed for people from other branches to convert to the army way of life. You also cannot come from those other branches into the Army/Army National Guard any higher than an E-5.

Answer 3

As far as I know only the Navy offers a 2 year active duty tour. All other services are a minimum 4 year contract. And yes....you can transfer to a different service after your Active portion of the enlistment expires.....however; some services DO NOT accept the bootcamp of other services in leu of their own ( specifically, the MARINES ) So you could potentially have to repeat bootcamp in order to enlist in a different branch of service. Also you will not lose benefits....but could potentially lose some rank ( again...this depends on the branch of service...think MARINES )

Answer 4

well im not totally sure on the other branches but i do know that there really is no such thing as a two year enlistment in the army. you serve two years active duty and then 6 years in inactive reserve (you dont go to training or anything, but if they need more soldiers they re activate you). all enlistments in the army are 8 years. as for changing branches, it can be hard, and there is a possibility that you would lose rank in the process.