commitment

[AutoRotate]

Ihad always been told that usma and other sa commitments were 5 years active after the academy. It was recently brought to my attention that usma is 5 years active 3 years reserve.
When was this change?

 

[MChansard]

i thought it has always been 5 and 3 for army, navy, air force?

 

[Maximus]

It has been 8 years commitment for a long time. From the USMA FAQ section:

"Q: How long must I serve in the Army?
You must serve at least five years of active duty and three years in a Reserve Component, a total of eight years, after you graduate. The active duty obligation is the nation's return on a West Point graduate's fully-funded, four-year college education"

 

[Just_A_Mom]

This is why I get crazy when people talk about going to a Service Academy is a 9 year committment - 4 at the academy and 5 after. In reality it is a 12 year commitment.

ARGH! Everyone who joins the military signs for 8 years. The AD time may be different but the balance is served in the reserve or IRR. Total is 8 years.

a 4 year AROTC scholarship = 4 yrs AD and 4 yrs reserve. A twoyear AROTC scholarship = 3 years AD and 5 years reserve.

The problem is the Reserve component can be served either in the Army Reserves, National Guard or IRR. IRR is the Individual Ready Reserve. In the IRR, there is no duty like the Reserves - unless you are called up. With the War, plenty of IRR in the Army have been called up. Not so much AF and Navy.

Sadly, last month Cpt Brian Bunting, USMA Class of 2002 and a member of the IRR was KIA in Afghanistan. He had been called up to serve with the NY National Guard.