Regarding enlistments in the armed forces: [View All]

[1monster]

When one enlists in the armed forces, the government and the enlistee are entering into a binding contract, are they not? Is that contract not for a specific time only with only a few means to end that contract before its end date?

Let's say that one signs up for a six year gig. Four of those years on active duty and two on reserve. This person serves his four years active duty and a year and a half of his reserves when his unit is called up to go to Iraq. He has been over in Iraq now for nearly a year, and his contracted time in the service is over. But the government announces that no service person will be granted discharge for an unspecified time.

How can the government do this? Once the contract is over, how is the government legally able to extend the contract against the wishes of the enlisted?