Current Events > Can you stay in the military as long as you want?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Like if you wanted to just give up on civilian life completely and never need to worry about work or bills or any of that, could you stay in the military forever and just eventually move on to roles that suit your age as you get older?
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No.
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How does it work? Like they're always begging us to join the army, so I would think they'll take whoever they can get.
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As a former military person...

No, they'll find a reason to kick you out before your retirement or you'll become so overbearingly depressed that you'll wish to be out.

And if you're one of the "lucky people" who does 20 years, congratulations, you sold out.

Also you'll be worried about work in the military more than any other job, but it is possible to get free housing for the entire 20 years in the military.

They'll even give you a housing allowance to live off base eventually and it's something you can't collect UNLESS you have a place, so that part is pretty sweet.

The military doesn't need everyone. If you can't meet their standards, physically or otherwise, they can discharge you. I'm pretty sure the longest career military goes is 22 years.
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If you can become an officer you can stay a very long time.

But enlisting isn't the route you take to become an officer.
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Yes and no.

Active duty military pensions are fucking ridiculous. If you get to 20 years they start paying out immediately and for the rest of your life (even if you joined at 17 years old and retire at 37) and its pretty damn generous.

Basically if you are wiling to stick it out you can do your twenty and have a pension the rest of your life that will cover the basics along with giving you permanent access to base facilities anywhere in the world, health care, and other perks.

But generally people can't just stay in the military into old age. The oldest person I've knew in the military was a guy that spent a good chunk of time in the Army as enlisted (up to E-7 Sergeant First Class) and then he switched over to Warrant Officer (google it if you don't know what this is) and worked his way up to CW-5. At his retirement ceremony even the officers and Sergeant Major talked about him being the oldest guy they had served with.
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