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Re-enlistment rules: Army

The Army generally allows qualified soldiers to re-enlist when they are within 24 months to three months of their expiration term of service (ETS) date.

Policies governing re-enlistments are described in AR 601-280 (Army Retention Program).

Soldiers who re-enlist for options other than the needs of the Army must commit for three, four, five or six years, or if applicable, take an indefinite enlistment (normally staff sergeants with 10 or more years of service).

Re-enlistment options are:

Option E1 – needs of the Army.

Option E2 – current station stabilization (soldiers will not be moved from their current location for at least 12 months

Option E3 – Army training (can be functional training, such as Airborne School, or reclassification training for a new military occupational specialty)

Option E4 – overseas assignment of choice

Option E5 – stateside assignment of choice.

A Selective Re-enlistment Bonus program featuring lump sum tiered payments capped at $10,000, $15,000, $20,000, $30,000 and $40,000 is available to qualified soldiers who re-up in the Regular Army for duty in designated MOSs for periods of three to six years.

Here are several links to additional information about re-enlistment policies and incentives:

• The latest re-enlistment bonus charts. (Army Times link)

• The Army Re-enlistment Station, an extensive listing of references and data on reenlistment-related issues, http://members.tripod.com/thereupman/id58.htm

• Army Regulation 601-280 (Army Retention Program), www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/601_Series_Collection_1.htm

• Enlisted Personnel Management Directorate of the Human Resources Command, https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/active/enlist/ENLIST.htm