Benefits of a 3 or 4 year contract in the army over a 2 year?

Question

I joined the military and have not been sent yet. I was wondering what the benefit of a 3 or 4 year contract is over a 2 year? Is it a better deal with pay and benefits?

Ok so, im full active as a 19D. If you are not in the military, please keep your peace loving comments to yourself.

I'am also a E3 because of college credits.

Answer 1

it gives you twice as long to enjoy the beauty of Iraq

Answer 2

If you just sign up for 2 years, more than likely, all you will do is be infantry and go to iraq. The Army isn't going to spend a lot of money to train you on something you can benefit from and then get out. They would rather know they have you for 4 to 6 years, and then they will give you a better job, one where you might not spend as much time in Iraq as you would on a 2 year tour. Plus, you will probably gain rank much faster as a 4 year enlistee that a 2 year, since they don't know if you are staying in, they will probably promote the guy that is in 4 years over the guy that is doing 2 years.

Answer 3

3-4 years lets you go to another country. 2 years, you have to stay stateside.
There is a big difference between being overseas and stateside.
If you love the military, then you can re-enlist. If you do 2 and hate it, then you just wasted 2 years of your life and not 3-4.
Pay is Pay and the benefits are the same regardless how long you signed up for. If you sign for 4 years, then you get a paycheck for 4 years.

Answer 4

You will make rank just as fast if you have a 2 year contract as opposed to a 4 year contract. trust me, i have a 2 year contract, i still have 6 months left and im already an e4. the thing is though, if you only sign on for 2 years, you do not get the GI bill.

Answer 5

if you are contemplating NCS, its a really crappy choice if there is even the remotest chance you want to stay Active after your 15 months. Additionally, NCS doesn't get the same GI Bill as everybody else does.

as for a straight AD run.. choosing a longer enlistment could mean being eligible for more and/or larger bonuses. Better opportunities for promotion as well. More opportunities for more training as well. better control over where you get sent.

don't forget that ALL commitments are 8 years long.

Answer 6

The main differences are:

Mos's available to be trained in.
GI BILL

2 year enlistees are limited in the mos's they are allowed to train into.

2 year entistees do not qualify for the GI Bill.

Of the two, the lack of the GI Bill is the most important consideration.

Answer 7

I would definitely go for a longer contract just for the promotion alone.
Would suck if you were in slot and your contract was up and you just missed it, atleast with a longer contract you get to experience a new rank.