For six-month-long tours a soldier will receive one period of R&R that is two weeks long, starting from the time they leave the operational theatre until they return. This means the family usually sees the soldier for approximately 10 days depending on flights.

In the Army, the tour of duty could last anywhere from six months to 12 months and up to 15 months. A soldier who has a family will experience a tour of duty that lasts 36 months, if accompanied by the family.

Kristoffer Bryan Domeij (October 5, 1982 – October 22, 2011) was a United States Army soldier who is recognized as the U.S. soldier with the most deployments to be killed in action; before his death he had fourteen deployments over ten years.

During World War II the average deployment in the combat theater, it was six months.

Soldiers in World War II were deployed for the entire war and could be in active service for 4 to 5 years.

Jorge A. Otero Barreto

1968 Battle of Khe Sanh

Norman Marous at the time of his retirement, was the oldest, longest-serving noncommissioned officer in the United States Air Force, with 41-1/2 years of service….Norman Marous.

The oldest active duty age limit for the Army is 35; for the Navy, 34; for the Marines, 29; for the Air Force, 39; and for the Coast Guard, 27.

Vessey retired on September 30, 1985, several months before the expiration of his second term as Chairman. He was the last four-star World War II combat veteran on active duty and, with forty-six years of service, had served the longest of anyone then in the Army.

He may be the youngest person to hold the rank of brigadier general in the US Army; at the age of 20, he remains the only general too young to vote for the president who appointed him….

The federal law that can be manipulated in a case by case basis states that the minimum age for enlistment in the United States military is 17 (with parental consent) and 18 (without parental consent). The maximum age is 35.

Pay Tables Officers will start out at a higher pay grade than enlisted personnel, though enlisted service members are eligible for a variety of bonuses that can be quite substantial. Officers will also receive higher benefits such as monthly Basic Allowance for Housing.

Recruits who join the military after college skip general enlistment and move straight into officer training after their basic training courses. Most officer positions require a four-year degree and may also necessitate a specialized degree program.

If your plan is to join the military and you have a college degree, it is definately worth it. Officers make a lot more money than an enlisted person. They are also treated much better.