Is it possible to serve in the military for less than four years? Do any branches have a shorter contract?

Question

Is it possible to serve in the military for less than four years? Do any branches have a shorter contract?

Answer 1

In case you have not noticed the contract is meaningless. With he stop loss policy in effect now you are signing up for he duration. There are troops on their third or even fourth tour in Iraq because there are not enough volunteering for the military to let people go just because they have served their contracted time.

Answer 2

Yes there is a two year contract option. There are different requirments and you don't get to pick your MOS. Just don't forget ALL contracts are 8 years, just how many active and how many inactive is different for different reasons. But there is a 2 year contract my friend did it in the Marine Corps.

Answer 3

Army has 2 year contracts I believe.

Answer 4

Yes it is possible.  Some branches says for example the Navy have 2 year contracts, but the catch is that you have to do 2-3 years of reserves after your 2 years of active duty.

Answer 5

All services have enlisted contracts for eight years by DOD rules.

However, that time is varied between active, reserve and inactive.  In many cases, you can get shorter contracts.  The Army will offer as small as a 2 year active contract.  Naval reserve will offer options for 2 or 3 years active to staff ships.  Any of the services will accept whatever a MEPS commander will sign.  However, MEPS commanders are mindful of the service restrictions and will not violate them as a general rule.

Unless you have a special circumstance -- that is, some specific skill a service wants, you will generally need to accept their default contract.  The Navy and Air Force like 5 - 6 year contracts, but will accept 4.  The Marines insist on 4 years.  The Army really likes 4 year contracts, but will accept less, especially if an additional reserve commitment is involved.

All services will accept reserve only contracts, though usually the minimum is 6 years of reserve time.

Remember, any contract you sign with any branch is for 8 years.  You can be recalled and reactivated.  So don't whine that nobody told you you could be 'stop-lossed'.

Thanks for serving.