Service requirement

A

armypanda_

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Jun 27, 2022
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I understand the service requirement after graduating is 5 years AD and 3 more years in reserves; however, if you choose to serve more years in AD (like 10 or something), would the 3 years in reserves still be added on to the end of that? Just curious.
 
armypanda_ said:
I understand the service requirement after graduating is 5 years AD and 3 more years in reserves; however, if you choose to serve more years in AD (like 10 or something), would the 3 years in reserves still be added on to the end of that? Just curious.
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No, it would not be an additional 3 years Reserves. The service obligation is 8 years, which is currently broken into 5 AD/3 Reserves. That ratio can be changed by The Secretary of Defense at any time, but has been 5/3 for as long as I can remember (30+ years).
 
For some it is six years instead of five. I don’t know if this was only done for one class as an experiment. Also, not everyone in that class has a six year commitment. I think it was a box to check on the application asking if they would be willing to do six years if accepted.
 
UHBlackhawk said:
For some it is six years instead of five. I don’t know if this was only done for one class as an experiment. Also, not everyone in that class has a six year commitment. I think it was a box to check on the application asking if they would be willing to do six years if accepted.
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Oh which year? Does that mean their 3 years in reserves was reduced to 2?
 
armypanda_ said:
Oh which year? Does that mean their 3 years in reserves was reduced to 2?
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6 AD and 2 reserves. The 2 yr reserves thing is IRR unless you head to the drilling reserves. Drilling reserves is your one weekend a month and two weeks a year tagline that you commonly hear associated with the reserve component. IRR (Individual Ready Reserve) is where you are administratively part of the military, but you are a civilian for all intents and purposes. You aren't paid, you don't drill, and you're not really held to military standards (no PT test, no grooming standards, etc.). You are pretty much just on call in case there is a national emergency requiring a rapid military build up. Same thing with retiring from the military. You're a civilian, but you go to the retired reserve instead of being free from the military. But if I give 20 years of my life to the Nation, I am fine if the Nation needs me to give a bit more.
 
Usnavy2019 said:
Same thing with retiring from the military. You're a civilian, but you go to the retired reserve instead of being free from the military. But if I give 20 years of my life to the Nation, I am fine if the Nation needs me to give a bit more.
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is there an age limit for the retirees coming out of reserves too? What if someone’s 80 or 90 and can barely walk?
 
armypanda_ said:
is there an age limit for the retirees coming out of reserves too? What if someone’s 80 or 90 and can barely walk?
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By all means, you're go to go as long as you bring your own equipment:

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I know it's a slow go on SAF right now, but come on. I've just been watching to see how many posters will continue to indulge these questions. Does no one have anything better to do?

Apparently, I don't.
 
UHBlackhawk said:
For some it is six years instead of five. I don’t know if this was only done for one class as an experiment. Also, not everyone in that class has a six year commitment. I think it was a box to check on the application asking if they would be willing to do six years if accepted.
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When our DS applied for the class of 2024, there was a box on the application to check if you were willing to accept 6 years. He checked it and then ended up declining his appointment in favor of USNA. He has a few friends in that class, some were assigned 5 years active, some 6. Not sure if that continued for the next two cycles or not.

And yes, @armypanda_ the best part of this forum is how pleasant people are.
 
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Heatherg21 said:
When our DS applied for the class of 2024, there was a box on the application to check if you were willing to accept 6 years. He checked it and then ended up declining his appointment in favor of USNA. He has a few friends in that class, some were assigned 5 years active, some 6. Not sure if that continued for the next two cycles or not.

And yes, @armypanda_ the best part of this forum is how pleasant people are.
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2024 sounds right.
 
Some branches have different service commitments. For example, as of the class of 2019, Cyber requires six years AD (+ 3 year reserves). Aviation and medical require even more.
 
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After graduation/commissioning, 2LTs attend the Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC) for their respective branches. The duration of BOLC varies by branch. Cyber BOLC, for example, is 11 months, but that is part of the six-year service committment; it does not extend it.

There is talk that the service commitment for Cyber may be increased in the future as there has been almost 100% attrition of Cyber officers once their commitment is up.

Also, if a cadet chooses BRADSO to increase the odds of getting their first-choice branch, there is an additional three-year service commitment. So, if someone chose to BRADSO for Cyber, for example, that officer’s commitment would be nine years AD (+ 3 years reserve).

The point is, to answer your original question, the service commitment varies by branch and options like BRADSO, grad school, etc.
 
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