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The Navy offers a very few two year and three year contracts, where the recruit spends two or three years on active duty, followed by six years in the Active Reserves. The other services offer four, five, and six year enlistment options (The Air Force only offers four and six year enlistments).
Can I do 2 years active duty?
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). The minimum active duty enlistment periods offered by the Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps are four years.
How many years do you have to serve in the Navy before you can retire?
20 years
Minimum of a 4 year contract and you have to serve 20 years to retire with full benefits. The military (active duty) retirement system is arguably the best retirement deal around.
How many years can you do active duty?
Most first-term enlistments require a commitment to four years of active duty and two years of inactive (Individual Ready Reserve, or IRR). But the services also offer programs with two-, three- and six-year active-duty or reserve enlistments. It depends upon the service and the job you want.
six months
In the Navy, a tour of duty means the ship and its occupants stay on a tour for six months and return to shore for a period of maintenance and exercise before going back on the tour. There is a current push to get the sailors to extend their time up to four years.
Can you do 2 years in Marines?
While this program is often referred to as “two-year” enlistments, the actual required time on active duty is 15 months, following basic training and job training. After that, members must either re-enlist for two years or spend at least two years in the active (drilling) reserves.
Can you retire from the military in less than 20 years?
At 20 years, the servicemember becomes fully vested. However, individuals can receive retirement benefits with fewer than 20 years of service under the disability retirement system and under Temporary Early Retirement Authority (Section 4403, P.L. 102-484, October 23, 1992).
How many years can I be in the Navy?
Today, the three-year enlistment period for enlisted personnel is just one of several possibilities. For officers, the most common duty tour is for eight years – three or four years in active duty, plus four or five more in the U.S. Navy Reserve, bringing the total to eight years.
A typical sea deployment on a Navy ship can last anywhere from six to nine months. Ships typically deploy once every 18-24 months. In preparation for deployment, Sailors should be prepared to go to sea for 10 to 14 days each month for training.
How long can you stay in the military after 18 years?
When you reach 18 years of service, federal law guarantees that you’ll be allowed to continue on active duty until 20. If you leave active duty for the Reserves or National Guard you’ll still be able to serve up to at least 20 good years, but you may also have a six-year commitment to the unit.
How long does it take to serve in the military reserves?
Typically, people initially enlisting in the military serve from two to four years on active duty with the remainder of their eight-year obligation spent in the reserves. Military reserve service itself is divided into two categories — active reserve and inactive reserve.
What happens when you finish active duty in the military?
Military service comes in two flavors: active duty and reserve duty. The Department of Defense (DOD) says that once you finish your active duty, you may have to serve several years in the reserves. Your reserve obligation termination date depends on how much time you spent on active service.
Can I join the reserves if I left active military service?
If you left active military service with no reserve obligation but now want to join the reserve, you may be able to do so. Generally, it’s easy for former active duty servicemembers to join the active reserve within 90 days of leaving active duty.