Length of service in Navy (or other branches)?

Question

How many years are you required to serve in the Navy if you sign up? I'm considering enlisting in the Navy after I finish college.

Answer 1

yep you have to do "8" years. For example

if you enlist for 3 years you have to do 5 years inactive
if you enlist for 5 years you have to do 3 years inactive

Which means that after you get out of the military, after active duty that is, you still owe the military so many inactive years. And that means at any time during those inactive years you could possibly be called back to active duty.

Answer 2

all enlisted contracts are for eight years, regardless of Branch. this is divided up into Active Duty, Reserves and Individual Ready Reserves. how much time you spend in each is dependent on your rating (some require a 5 or 6 year Active commitment, for instance)

Answer 3

8 years in total, including your individual ready reserve time. That's the way it is for everyone, in all services.