Maximum active duty after ROTC?

zl677

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I'm planning on applying to an ROTC program, and I know that there is an 8 year service requirement after completion of the program. I'm planning on serving for a while longer than that and most likely making a career out of the military. On the army website it states (during your required 8 years of service) "You can serve full time in the Army for three years (four years for scholarship winners), with the balance in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR)." Does this mean I can only go on active duty for 4 of my req. 8 years? Is it a maximum or minimum of years of active duty? Also, would this mean that when I am in the IRR, I wouldn't be a full member of the military (living on base, full pay, etc.)?
 
Notice now that it says "you can", implying it being an option (it is the minimum you serve for people who don't plan on being career military). "You can" stay on active duty for the remainder of your career if you wish. Not trying to put it against you or anything, but it is a good trait if your going to the military to pay absolutely maximum attention to detail, as it can mean the difference for you and/or your men between life and death.
 
Hi zl677-

There is an entire thread called ROTC and a military career another page back that may have some answers you're looking for. I'm going to try to paste the link here:
http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=7291. This is the place to ask questions and get answers- yours is an entirely appropriate question and you're asking it in the right place. It's not quite an "simple" as the above response implies.
Good luck to you.
 
Good idea to post that link, kgrmom.

to the OP - I suggest you bring up these questions during your ROTC interview. They are excellent questions and great conversation starters.

The Army has several different programs for cadets to serve their obligation. There are various combinations of Active duty, Guard or Reserves or a combination of the two.
 
It's not quite an "simple" as the above response implies.

I don't recall ever saying anywhere that it was as(not n) "simple" as that...I'm wondering where you got this. I gave a direct response that answered what I knew to be fact as the answer to his first two questions. If you have more info to give, fine, all the better, but please don't belittle my answer, as it is correct (to stay on active duty you ask to stay on, I just didn't go into the exact absolute details), helpful, and answers his question.
 
OP and others, it may be helpful to know that 2012Cadet is a high school sophomore. Not that he doesn't have valuable information to share , but his approach is a little rough around the edges.
 
I don't recall ever saying anywhere that it was as(not n) "simple" as that...

Thank you for your grammatical correction. I obviously did not proof-read my work before I hit send. 20 lashes for me. One thing I have always found very inviting about this forum is the fact that very few people here put anyone else down for whatever reason. There are no stupid questions for anyone entering this process- that was essentially my point. It was not an attempt to belittle you in any way. I've got to be about the most non-confrontation person around. :biggrin:
 
So, just to be sure, I can do active duty for all 8 years of my req.?
 
So, just to be sure, I can do active duty for all 8 years of my req.?

In short, yes...I'll leave it to the others to explain the exact details since I'm not absolutely sure about . Are you planning on being career military? If so, then I'm pretty sure you just opt to re-up when time comes.
 
Not trying to put it against you or anything, but it is a good trait if your going to the military to pay absolutely maximum attention to detail, as it can mean the difference for you and/or your men between life and death.

I wasn't going to post anything after reading this thread; but, I can't resist pointing out a little bit of irony. The above, rather condescending response to the OP's question stresses strict attention to detail as a necessary trait for those with ambitions of military service. Yet, in making the point, the author has used "your" to mean "you are." The correct contraction is "you're" in that context. :smile:

No worries, though, as this is an internet forum, and all questions/inputs that are related to the subject matter are valid.
 
An ROTC graduate can serve "at the pleasure of the President."

Take a look at the list of AF officers; more than half are NOT from USAFA...they're MOSTLY ROTC graduates and some OCS graduates, and a few "direct commissions" and such.

After your "commitment" you simply continue to serve. With moves, schools, advanced training, etc., you pick up more commitments, etc., and then you get promoted to Major and get selected to be a "regular" officer...and then you press ahead.

IF you want a "20+ year career" then you can have it IF you continue to advance!!

FYI...a few that have done okay...

http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=5457

http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=7751

http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=7751 BERKELEY!!! :eek:

http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=6008

http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=6196

http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=6617

http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=4769

They're ALL ROTC grads!

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
Gen. Kehler is a four star missileer!! That's awesome. From a former capsule crew dog at Minot, I like to see that. Bully!!! Only the Best Come North (and only the lucky leave).
 
Also, to add on to the point sprog brought up a few posts earlier, the language on the army's website is extremely vague. The statement that one "can" serve 4 years of active duty makes no sense. It could mean they "can serve up to", which is what makes the most sense, but it certainly can't be instantly interpreted as meaning 4 is the minimum. In that sense, I think 2012 Cadet's comment was rather unnecessary and frankly rude. I find it especially strange that someone (who another poster identified as a high school sophomore) felt the need to tell me how attention to detail (especially in terms of reading things, as this is very important in combat) could mean the difference between life and death when he himself has no combat experience whatsoever.
 
Did I ever say I had been in combat...I was merely repeating what those who have been in combat that I know have reiterated numerous times to me. DON"T imply my meaning as I try to be as literal as possible with no hidden meaning.
 
Also, to add on to the point sprog brought up a few posts earlier, the language on the army's website is extremely vague. The statement that one "can" serve 4 years of active duty makes no sense. It could mean they "can serve up to", which is what makes the most sense, but it certainly can't be instantly interpreted as meaning 4 is the minimum. In that sense, I think 2012 Cadet's comment was rather unnecessary and frankly rude. I find it especially strange that someone (who another poster identified as a high school sophomore) felt the need to tell me how attention to detail (especially in terms of reading things, as this is very important in combat) could mean the difference between life and death when he himself has no combat experience whatsoever.

Folks I don't know why this simple question has suddenly become contentious- it shouldn't be, so everyone please calm down and stop shooting or shouting at each other.
They are intentionally vague on the Army web site because there are a number of ways your committment can play out. To begin with: You owe 8 years of service. How you pay that back has several options. Keep in mind that the only absolute fact in this is that the Army will take your obligation to fit it's needs before yours. They will not make you serve more than 4 years of active duty based on your ROTC commitment (well they may actually- as an IRR member or a drilling reservist you can be mobilized again and Stop Loss is always hanging out there).
So- how can you fulfill your obligation: One of them is that you may be required to serve 4 years of active duty (for a scholarship winner) and can finish out the balance of your 8 year commitment by serving in the IRR or in a USAR or NG unit. (If you are getting a scholarship- unless it's from the USAR or Nat Guard- plan on this being the case). as a College Program graduate you can apply for active duty as well- if you get accepted -it'll be 3 years minimum but once you are on active duty same scenario as scholarship winner. Once on active duty- If you really want to - as long as you have been selected for promotion you can continue on active duty thru your 8 years and beyond up until you hit your Mandatory Retirement date. (While there used to be Officers commissioned as USAR who went on active duty and then had to apply to remain past their intial obligation-now you are a Regular officer if you commission and go on extended active duty and a USAR officer if you are on for Active Duty for initial training only- the point being that you don't have to apply for augmentation into the Regular Army once you go past your 4 years.) So- if you get promoted to Captain- you can stick around until you hit the Major's board - and then if you are successful there- until you hit LTC at which point you can be in that grade until you have 26 years - a Col until 30 and if you are really good- a GO gets 5 years beyond his last promotion. Is this viable? You bet- more General Officers and more officers of all ranks on active duty are ROTC graduates than USMA or OCS.
You may also be given the option of serving all of your 8 years in a drilling Reserve Unit- however, truthfully if you are an Army ROTC scholarship winner right now I have not heard of that option being offered to anyone other than winners of specified Reserve and NG scholarships- there are plenty of college program graduates (ie they didn't get a scholarship but got the Stipend after they contracted and went to LDAC) however who follow this path.
 
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So, just to be sure, I can do active duty for all 8 years of my req.?
Yes. In fact, in the Army some have been required to do so since stop-loss went into effect.

There are many permuations on how you can fulfill your commitment. The most common is 4 years AD and then 4 years IRR for those who chose to leave the Army. Many soldiers choose to leave AD and serve in the Guard or Reserves and do so for many years. Some will serve until retirement and beyond.

I can see how you would be confused - the website attempts to simplify something that is actually complex.

EDIT: sorry cross posted with Bruno.
 
I apologize if my comments were too confrontational, I was just offended and should have been more thoughtful. Anyway, thanks Bruno for the detailed response, I think that definitely clears it up for me. It seems that the army very much wants you on active duty for as long as possible so I guess that it won't be a problem.
 
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