Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Thae vast overwhelming majority spend only 4 years. I don't know the exact percentage, but it's a very small percentage that stay 20 years. The way the military is structured it's impossible for most people to stay for 20. The positions are a fewer and fewer the closer you get to the top and there's tenures for every rank where you'll be separated from the military. 6 years for e-3. 8 years for e4. 13 yrs for e-5. At least that's the Marines, not sure what it is in other branches
As macjr82 said above, the vast majority of enlistees leave the military after their initial enlistment. Just like with any company, the military needs a lot more workers at the lower levels (pay grades) than they need at the top. So staying beyond your first enlistment depends on a number of things; what military job (specialty or rating) you have, what job vacancies your service has when it's time for you to reenlist (and it may be possible to retrain into another job to stay in the military) and a number of other factors.
As for staying on active duty to (and past) the 20-year mark, there are several factors. I'm only familiar with the Air Force so I'll have to rely on the other C-Ders to comment on their branches. To reach the 20 year mark in the USAF, you must have reached the rank of SSgt (E-5) or higher. Beyond 20 years you must attain higher rank depending on how many years you want to stay. I know the requirements of what's called "TOPCAP" recently changed, so I'll defer to my fellow Blue Suiters that are currently serving to fill in the current details. For example, you used to be able to stay in for 24 years if you were a Master Sergeant. (I don't believe that's still the case, though)
As for committing to a 20-year career when you're only a few years in isn't necessary. You reenlist at various points along the way to retirement eligibility. Depending on the needs of the service, you may be offered a bonus to leave (or stay, depending on your skills) And many military members transfer to the Guard/Reserves sometime during their career to keep serving but in a different way.
High year tenure has just been rescinded recectly. HYT for MSgt in the AF from 2002-2010 was 26 but it's not back to 24, SMSgt is back to 26 from 28. As for the percentage, it's roughly in the 16-18% range that make it to 20 or beyond. I wouldn't be surprised it's an even smaller percentage w/ the current force shaping taking place. I will say this, it's going to be even harder for the newer generation to make it to 20. 20 yrs is a lot of wear and tear on the mind and body.
High year tenure has just been rescinded recectly. HYT for MSgt in the AF from 2002-2010 was 26 but it's not back to 24, SMSgt is back to 26 from 28. As for the percentage, it's roughly in the 16-18% range that make it to 20 or beyond. I wouldn't be surprised it's an even smaller percentage w/ the current force shaping taking place. I will say this, it's going to be even harder for the newer generation to make it to 20. 20 yrs is a lot of wear and tear on the mind and body.
I've heard that it's something like only 20% reenlist after their first enlistment and less than maybe 5% retire with at least 20 years.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.