How many years do u have to be enrolled in the forces before you can retire?

I am almost out of high school and am thinking a lot about joining this nations forces such as the army, marines, navy, etc. also which one is the best one to join? How long do u have to be enrolled before you can get out

Public Comments

1. 20 years for retirement. It depends on your contract on how long you commit for, some people do 4 some people 6 some people retire. It just depends. I love the Army but I am being biased. It's possible to get 100% but that is 40+years of service and is extrememly rare. 30 years does not get you 100% just 75% (which isn't too shabby)
2. Retirement is after 20 years. It depends on your branch and your contract how long you have to stay in. I know that the Army has a two year contract now. If you want the GI Bill I am pretty sure you have to serve at least four though, but I am not sure and I could be wrong. My brother did an 8 year contract at first in the United States Air Force. My fiancee is on a 4 year contract in the Army. If you don't go 20 years and get out, it is not called retirement. You are just discharged. You want an honorable discharge, not a general and definitely not a dishonorable discharge.
3. the mandatory minimum is 4 years but to retire with benefits 20 years must be attained the best branch depends on the person Army- good sense of tradition good all over Navy- good for computers, ships, and flight Air Force- good for communications, flight, and computers Marines- best for infantry and the greatest sense of tradition
4. 20.
5. 20 years is a pretty vague answer to give you. Just so you know... It's 20 years and you get 50% of your base pay. 25 years and you get 75% of your base pay. 30+ years and you get 100% of your base pay.
6. To Donovan: Your answer is wrong. You can't retire out of the military with 100% of your base pay. The highest and longest that an enlisted member can be in (as of now) is 30 yrs and they only retire with 75% of their base pay. You are correct at the 20 yr mark it is 50% base pay and it goes up a percentage each year after that. As for an officer, I don't know what their retirement is. I know a 4 star general can go past 30 yrs.