How long do we serve

[Chris89]

2 or 4 or 6 years? or life!

[LRSU_Dog]

The simple answer is that all enlistments are for an 8 year commitment, although there are no 8 year contracts. This is called your Military Service Obligation.

Your contract will be for a time period (for example 3, or 6 years) that you will be activley serve with a unit in the military. The remaining time is considered the Inactivel Ready Reserve (IRR) - a pool of qualified soldiers to draw from in the event of a need to do so. This is a one time event - after you have served for 8 years your MSO is complete - all re-eanlistments are simply for the term of the enlistment, this includes if you served for 6 years in the military, and seperated - when the 8 year mark passes from the date of your initial enlistment your MSO is complete.

If you enlist for 3 years, you will have a 5 year IRR commitment. Similar to what Outbreak posted - the important thing is that when you enlist and are preparing your contract you need to ensure that this is fully explained to you so that you are able to understand what your contractual commitment is.

In IRR you do not drill, or participate in any training - you are a soldier who seperated from service - and you go about your life as a veteran. In some cases, as has been done in the past and during the initial Global War on Terrorism, some IRR soldiers are recalled back into active service with an Active, National Guard or Reserve unit.

[Chris89]

How many years can we stay in max? Im 17 I sign up on the 17 of May. I believe. How many years can I serve

[Chris89]

I know how you feel - but in truth it is actually less complicated than it sounds. It is however an important part of the enlistment process, and your contract and obligations after signing-up and swearing-in.

Do not be shy about talking with your recruiter about this issue so that you understand.

Two questions when do I swear in? After I sign up or after AIT
?

[acydrx]

Two questions when do I swear in? After I sign up or after AIT
?

Technically they were part of the same question. Anyway, you swear in before going to Basic. You will take the oath of Enlistment at MEPS prior to shipping out to BCT.

[vilmatic]

good looking out on explaining the enlistment process, im doing 6 X 2 (6 yrs. on drilling status, 2 yrs. on the IRR)

[BulletSponge62485]

I am doing 6x2 as well.

[JonTheBaptist]

In I.R.R. you are virtually a civilian... so can you grow a beard beyond military regulations? I know its a stupid question but if im just taking an annual APFT whats the matter?