I enlisted active duty so how reserve and National Guard work I do not know. Both of those still do the 8 year contract. How it works for active duty is you sign an 8 year contract and depending on your MOS and signing options 2-6 years of that will be your active duty commitment. The remaining 6-2 years is called IRR, individual ready reserve.
For all intents and purposes when you are IRR you are out of the military.
How the time commitments work for Officers I do not know.
It has been that way since the mid 80s.
I enlisted active duty so how reserve and National Guard work I do not know. Both of those still do the 8 year contract. How it works for active duty is you sign an 8 year contract and depending on your MOS and signing options 2-6 years of that will be your active duty commitment. The remaining 6-2 years is called IRR, individual ready reserve.
For all intents and purposes when you are IRR you are out of the military.
How the time commitments work for Officers I do not know.