Options for Prior Service

After a contract is finished, many soldiers decide they would like to re-enlist for reasons like:

• Additional benefits
• New job training
• Continued pay

If for nothing else, some even just love what they do. Depending on demand, many are able to re-join to the same branch of service and continue on with the job they have training in. In some other cases, soldiers would like to switch branches to try something new, or to gain more knowledge in their MOS.

While switching to a different branch within the Armed Forces can depend on where they need soldiers most, many times it is possible to move around. Going through boot camp or physical training may be necessary once a soldier is moved, but it is not always required.

Whether a soldier stays in the same branch or moves around, chances are that the pay they received prior to re-enlisting will remain the same. Even if it is not the exact same, it will be comparable and better than needing to start from the bottom. Many can find jobs that they already have training in, depending on the need for that career in the Armed Forces.

Even if a soldier decides not to re-enlist, the jobs that are available to them in the civilian world are still plentiful. Soldiers in Infantry have many choices in the law enforcement field at the federal, state or local levels. Re-enlisting with prior service can also mean additional signing bonuses or incentives on top of continued pay and benefits.

Soldiers who may be unsure of what they would like to do in the civilian world might think about re-enlisting, since they have the skills and job. Additional time in the service can bring new jobs and training, as well as more time to decide what they would like to do in the future as a civilian.