What is an active duty service obligation?
Olivia Shea
Updated on April 27, 2026
The active duty service obligation (ADSO) is a specific period of active duty that an officer must serve before becoming eligible for voluntary separation or retirement.
Can you get out of an adso army?
Active duty officers have an Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO) of 3, 4, 5, or 6 years, based on initial contract, and may resign from active duty once complete. Any time under 8 years will be completed in the RC.
Is there an adso for promotion?
A commissioned officer who accepts a promotion does not incur an ADSO. However, an officer in the grade of lieutenant colonel or colonel must serve in that grade for not less than 3 years from the date of promotion to voluntarily retire in that grade unless waived under some other provision of law.
What is Bradso army?
A BRADSO is a commitment to serve three additional years on top of the five required of all West Point graduates in order to increase your chances of getting the branch you desire. Offering to BRADSO cannot change your bucket and take you from being preferred by the branch to being most preferred.
Can I use TA for masters degree?
Additional Army TA Eligibility Requirements Soldiers can use TA for up to 130 SH for a bachelor’s degree and up to 39 SH for a master’s degree. The 39 semester hour limit applies to all credits taken after completion of a baccalaureate degree.
What does Refrad mean in the military?
Release from Active Duty
According to the Army Regulation for Officer Transfers and Discharges, if you would like to request a Release from Active Duty (REFRAD), you should do so between six and 12 months before the date you would like to exit the Army.
Do you have to serve 8 years in the military?
It may surprise you to learn that ALL non-prior service enlistments in the United States Military incurs a total eight year service obligation. Yep. When you sign that enlistment contract, you are obligating yourself to the military for a total of eight years.
Does Tuition Assistance incur an adso?
By law, officers who use TA incurs a service obligation. Active Duty officers incur an Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO) of two years, and Reserve Component officers incur a Reserve Duty Service Obligation (RDSO) of four years.
What branch of the military is Westpoint?
The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known as West Point, Army, Army West Point, The Academy, or simply The Point, is a four-year federal service academy in West Point, New York.
What is a Jrotc kid?
Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, or JROTC, is a high school elective program whose mission is to teach students citizenship, leadership, character, and community service.
Will military pay for Phd?
The GI Bill is designed to help active duty service members and veterans pay tuition and fees to obtain higher education. Students using the GI Bill are able to enroll in a variety of academic programs, including those at a doctorate level.