How many years do you need to stay at your duty station ?

2020-09-29T09:17:05-04:00

I just want some clarification because I been told by some that you only need to do 2 years in your current duty station although my contract is 4 years but then others say that is not true ? I’m gonna hit 2 years on my current duty station next year and I’m planning to stay in the army but I want a different duty station

Response by SSG Steven Borders made Sep 29 at 2020 9:23 AM

2020-09-29T09:23:55-04:00

That is correct PFC Private RallyPoint Member Your contract is for the Army, not for the Base. You can get put on orders to another duty station or you can sit right there. You go where Big Army sends you. You can look at your Assignment Satisfaction Key, but more than likely you will sit right there until you reenlist or come down on orders.

Response by MSG Dan Castaneda made Sep 29 at 2020 9:26 AM

2020-09-29T09:26:59-04:00

If your initial enlistment is four years, the likeliness of you PCSing are slim. At the two year Mark you may get looked at but the Army probably won’t move you unless you reenlist. You can always go check out Korea your last year.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Sep 29 at 2020 9:47 AM

2020-09-29T09:47:35-04:00

As you have been advised, you are needs of the army .. if your in a valid slot, and or the post your on has other open valid slots for a combat medic, you're not going anywhere at the moment. When you reach your reenlistment window you can see what options for a new duty station are available.
Or about 1 year out from ETS you may come down on orders to PCS.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2020 9:50 AM

2020-09-29T09:50:08-04:00

It all depends. The "ideal" time between PCS moves for Soldiers is between 2-3 years per assignment.

HOWEVER, there are some posts that are considered "Black Holes" where you may not ever truly PCS from the post; simply get bounced around between Brigades or Battalions. While I was assigned to Fort Campbell, one of my NCOs, a SSG, had been at Fort Campbell for his entire career, and was just then (2012) getting his first PCS.

The "Black Hole" posts are said to be Drum, Bragg, Hood, Bliss, and Polk. If you're Airborne qualified, Fort Bragg will keep you there for as long as it possibly can. Between deployments and "fences" you may never leave, except for ETS.

The only other possibility is to re-enlist for "Station of Choice." But be aware that each post has it's own flavor of stupid, so if you're trying to get away from stupid at your unit/post, it's futile. Also realize that the "best" posts are: 1.) the one you are going to, and 2.) the one you just left.

Good Luck!

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2020 10:38 AM

2020-09-29T10:38:39-04:00

3 years and due to covid you can request an extra year.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2020 10:52 AM

2020-09-29T10:52:07-04:00

If you reenlist, it’s two years on station. If your branch places you on assignment, it’s one year on station. If you’re going to training it’s one year on station. For you, training would be Airborne, Flight Paramedic, MOS change, or Independent Duty Medical Technician (IDMT).

Response by SGT(P) Christopher Poole made Sep 29 at 2020 12:12 PM

2020-09-29T12:12:21-04:00

Depending on what you're trying to do and your unit/retention.

From my understanding, for a Korea tour you only need 12 months Time on Station for requesting to relocate to that area.

To clarify even more, using CTRL+F, I think your answer should be in AR 614-30 (overseas service) and AR 140-10 (Assignments, Attachments, Details and Transfers) or ask your Retention NCO on the regulation or criteria on the subject.

So far the information that you've been provided seems to be very helpful. Keep google searching your questions and looking around, ask other/more people, because somewhere and someone has asked the question or answered it. Never settle for one answer unless it all comes out the same, in most times they are different and keep getting clarification.

Hope this helps.

Response by LT Christopher Miller made Sep 29 at 2020 12:30 PM

2020-09-29T12:30:15-04:00

I am not sure how it works in the Army, but you might be able to call your detailer and see if there are any critical jobs for your MOS that need filling.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2020 1:43 PM

2020-09-29T13:43:39-04:00

It partially depends on where you’re going. I don’t have an overall answer for you. But for example, Germany was changed to three years minimum (this happened last year I believe). And Korea is typically just a one year tour. I’m not sure about anywhere stateside though, I’ve only been OCONUS so far.

Response by SPC John Decker made Sep 30 at 2020 9:47 AM

2020-09-30T09:47:22-04:00

When I was in, there was no choice. I was only in for 3yrs. A European assignment was 18 months (single) and 36 months (married, traveling with spouse, E-5 and above). Korean assignment was 13 months (including 1 month leave). Not sure about other assignment locations.