It was never actually four years. The active duty contract is typically two to six years of active service, and then another four years of reserve afterwards. Basically, even after your active duty time is up, they can still call you back in (or just refuse to let you leave in the first place) for another four years.
It’s, or at least was, an eight year commitment with the typical active cycle 4 years but some would do 2 active 6 inactive or 6 active, 2 inactive. Education or additional active years (6/2) could bump up starting rank.
It was never actually four years. The active duty contract is typically two to six years of active service, and then another four years of reserve afterwards. Basically, even after your active duty time is up, they can still call you back in (or just refuse to let you leave in the first place) for another four years.
It’s, or at least was, an eight year commitment with the typical active cycle 4 years but some would do 2 active 6 inactive or 6 active, 2 inactive. Education or additional active years (6/2) could bump up starting rank.