Can you quit easily if you join the Marines or the Army...?

Question

If you join the Army or the Marines (by 19, 20, or 21), how many years is it compulsary?

And can you withdraw or quit the job anytime you want? Like if you're in Iraq and said I dont wana work anymore, will they end your contract?

PS: I'm talkin about the US army or Marines

Answer 1

You cant quit, but you can get kicked out.  However, if you do that, things will be bad for you.  Companies don't like to hire people with less than honorable discharges, you wont be able to take advantage of VA programs etc.  One you are in, you are in until your enlistment is up.

Answer 2

The commitment required when you join is 8 years total - if you join the Marine Corps you are looking at 4 years active and 4 years in the IRR (Individual ready Reserve) or 6 years reserves and 2 years in the IRR.  The Army has varying initial enlistments from 2-4 years with the balance of the original commitment being in the IRR.  The Army reserve and guard have the same 6 year initial and 2 year IRR commitment.

Quitting is not an option once you enlist.  The only time you can quit is when you are in the delayed entry program (DEP).    

Answer 3

easily lol, no. but possible, yes. If your scared to go to Iraq or any dangerous place dont join, more than likely you will go somewhere you dont want to go to.

Answer 4

3 or 4 year Enlistment Agreements.  Some branches offer 6 year Enlistments with bonuses.  You are free to walk or switch to the Guard orReserves after your Enlistment is over but that is your option.

Answer 5

No you cannot quit any time you want. You are under contract and that means you must serve that time you agreed to. There is usually 4 years active duty and 4 years non active reserve, which right now usually gets called back up to active. When you sign that contract that have you for 8 years even if you only sign for 4 active. Once 8 years has passed from your first contract then you are free in clear.

If you decide that you no longer want to work for them, and they tell you tough sh*t soldier (which they will I have seen it happen) and you decide to leave any way, this is called AWOL. You will have to go through a legal process to get yourself cleared, but I will tell you know its complicated and there can be some very severe consequences depending on how you are caught and what your unit was doing at the time you deployed. I have helped my husband through this process after he served for 10 years and could no longer serve due to the lack of mental health care the army refused to provide after he returned from both Bosnia and Iraq, and the fact that he refused to take part in an illegal war, or work for a government that continued to mistreat its soldiers.