What is the minimal amount of years you can sign up for the army and will the army pay you to live off post?

Answer 1

Everyone who enlists in the United States Military, whether its for active duty (full time) or National Guard/Reserves (part time) incurs a MINIMUM eight-year service obligation. That's right -- when you sign on the dotted line, you commit yourself for eight years!

Whatever amount of time is not spent on active duty (which is full-time duty) or spent in the Drilling Guard/Reserves (those who drill one weekend per month, and two weeks per year, and are subject to be called to active duty), is spent in the IRR (Individual Ready Reserves).

In the IRR, individuals are not required to drill, nor do they draw any pay, but their names remain on a list and they can be recalled to active duty at any time, until their total eight year service obligation is complete. In fact, for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army has already recalled over 5,000 soldiers in the IRR back to active duty (so far, the Army is the only service who has recalled IRR).

For example, let's say you enlist in the Army on a two-year active duty contract. At the end of the two years, you separate from active duty. For the next six years, you are subject to recall to active duty at any time, if the Army feels they need you to help supplement active duty or reserve deployments.

Keeping the above in mind, the Army offers active duty (full-time) enlistment periods from two years to five years (only certain jobs are available for two and three year enlistees). .




BAH rates vary whether you have dependents or not.
The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is based on geographic duty location, pay grade, and dependency status. The intent of BAH is to provide uniformed service members accurate and equitable housing compensation based on housing costs in local civilian housing markets, and is payable when government quarters are not provided
Because BAH has now reached the goal of zero out-of-pocket expense — for servicemembers living in civilian rented housing — the BAH rates will begin following the cost increase and decrease of the local rental housing markets. Although BAH rates will generally either remain stable or increase, there may be some areas that decrease due to a decreasing local rental market. However, individual rate protection will still apply. Individual rate protection prevents the decrease of a BAH rate as long as the status of a servicemember remains unchanged. The servicemember will receive any published BAH increase, but no decrease. When the new BAH rates go into effect, rate protection assures that the servicemembers typical out-of-pocket costs may be less, but never more, than upon their reporting date.

BAS is a continuation of the military tradition of providing room and board (or rations) as part of a servicemember's pay. Although BAS is meant to offset the cost your meals, it is important to note that BAS is not intended to cover the costs of meals for family members.

Since January 1, 2002 most enlisted members get full BAS, but they must pay for their own meals, even those provided by the government.*

Because BAS is intended to provide meals for the servicemember, the monthly rate is based on the price of food. Therefore, each year it is readjusted based upon the increase of the price of food as measured by the USDA food cost index.

Answer 2

It depends on MOS, but the shortest is 2 yrs and some require 6 years. In the end, you're signing an 8 yr commitment regardless and whatever time is not on active duty is in the Inactive Ready Reserves which requires no specific commitment of time, but means you can be recalled for it.

And yes, if you're married, have reached a certain pay grade/rank, or the post quarters are over crowded, they will give you BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) to live off-post.

Answer 3

You are issued some uniforms and other things during your first week of training in all of the branches of the military that you do not have to pay for, you will have to pay for uniforms later. You will be issued some equipment throughout your time in the service, and you will be required to purchase other things. You will be given a debit card when you get to basic that has a certain amount of money on it based on which branch of service you join. You will be required to buy a few things, such as your shoes (in the Army at least) and some hygiene supplies. You will also probably need to buy quite a few things depending on what your drill sergeants/MTI's want you to have. Basically, you will get all of your pay in your account minus the amount they will deduct that equals the amount that they put on the card. Also, regular taxes, retirement, and other fees will be taken out of your paycheck, just like any other job. They give you the money on the debit card because you haven't been paid yet when you get to basic, but you still need to buy things. Not everyone has the money to buy the things that they need when they get to basic, so they give you an advance on part of your first paycheck.

Answer 4

I'm an Army recruiter here -

National call to Service option (volunteer draft, if you will)

18 month enlistment PLUS your training time. It's only for a combat arms MOS e.g. Infantry, Artillery, et al

I have never seen much in the way of bonuses aside from the standard MGIB (38k for higher education) and you better believe you'll be deployed for most of your time. This option is offered to fill last minute critical shortages in units of action that are set to deploy. Having said that, you can be certain you'll ship out pretty darn quick! I've seen folks leave in as little as four days.

So - for all you parents out there that only *skimmed* over what I said and are freakin' out - let me reitterate:
National Call to Service *OPTION* (emphisis on 'opion', obviously) and 18 mo ACTIVE DUTY term (plus training)

Second question? Maybe.
If you're married, then yes - you will get Basic Allowence for Housing (BAH) based on the average rent prices for your ZIP code or closest Metro area. If you're engaged, dating, seeing each other, bootycall, ect - then no. You will not get BAH.

Answer 5

all first terms are for 8 years. as few as 2 and as many as six of those years willbe contracted for Active duty, it just depends on what job you take.

as for living off post:

Single servicemembers typically have to be a certrain paygarde before they will be eligible for BAH.. E4 or E5 in most cases. Now, this doesn't prevent people from maintaining both a residence off base and their assigned barracks room, but they will be paying entirely out of pocket for the off base residence.

married SM of any paygrade are eligible to live off base or in militray family housing at permanent duty stations, although some bases may have rules requiring certian paygrades to live off base( or even on base).

Answer 6

8 years. Some of that may be active and the rest reserves depending on your contract.

Answer 7

well most of the time the max yrs is up to 30 years of service unless retired early or disabled and i do not actually remember what my grampy told me what the army pays you to live off post

Answer 8

2 years. They will pay for you to live off post if you are married, and there are no quarters available, or if you are single and their are no quarters available (this is rare for enlisteds). So yes, they will pay for you to live off post, conditionally, and that pay is determined, by your rank, and geographical location. If you are single, generally, quarters will be provided for you.

Answer 9

four years.
and yes.
basic allowance for housing (commonly known as BAH)

your husband will also get BAS (basic allowance for sustinance)
the amounts depend on your husband's rank.

and there is the WONDERFUL perk of the commissary.
it is what civilians would call the "grocery store"
it is one of the best things about military life!!