The Army’s principal regulation for re-enlistments and service extensions has been updated to consolidate all the messages and directive changes of the past year, including the new retention control points, authorization for Selective Retention\u00a0Bonuses and a\u00a0straight-forward listing of the basic eligibility requirements for re-enlistment under the Precision Retention Program in force during the drawdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While re-enlistment criteria can vary from one specialty to another, age and citizenship requirements cannot be waived, nor can\u00a0continue to be non<\/span>waiverable, as are <\/span>retention control points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To qualify for re-enlistment, soldiers must be 18 years or older on the date of re-enlistment, and not more than 62 at their new expiration term of service\u00a0date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Soldiers with fewer than 10 years of federal service may re-enlist for periods of two, three, four, five or six years of service, provided they meet requirements for retention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Staff sergeants and higher who have 10 or more years of service at the time of re-enlistment only <\/span>will be permitted to re-up for an indefinite period, unless otherwise specified by the Army.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Soldiers who have completed 20 or more years of active federal service will not be allowed to re-up or extend for a term of service that will carry them beyond the last day of the month they reach age 62.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Soldiers may serve in the Regular Army up to the retention control point for their rank, or until age 62, whichever occurs first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Retention control points, the high-year tenure limits for the ranks of private through command sergeant major, have seen several adjustments since the force buildup of 10 years ago, and likely will see a further tightening as the Army moves deeper into the drawdown, according to Pentagon sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Under the most recent change (Oct.1), Regular Army and Active Guard and Reserve (Army Reserve) soldiers selected for promotion to sergeant first class and master sergeant no longer attain an extended RCP until actual pin-on to the higher rank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While further changes are possible, the following RCPs will be in effect May 1:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Private and private first class:Pvt. through Pfc.<\/span>\u00a0five years\u2019 active service<\/p>\n\n\n\n