Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73
§509 Voluntary extension of enlistments: periods and benefits
Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle A— - General Military Law › Part PART II— - PERSONNEL › Chapter CHAPTER 31— - ENLISTMENTS › § 509
Summary
Members may extend their enlistment by written consent under rules the Secretary sets, but total extensions cannot exceed four years. Discharge after an extended enlistment gives the same rights and benefits as discharge without an extension.
Full Legal Text
Title 10, §509
Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Under such regulations as the Secretary concerned may prescribe, the term of enlistment of a member of an armed force may be extended or reextended with his written consent for any period. However, the total of all such extensions of an enlistment may not exceed four years.
(b)When a member is discharged from an enlistment that has been extended under this section, he has the same rights, privileges, and benefits that he would have if discharged at the same time from an enlistment not so extended.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
10 U.S.C. § 509
Title 10 — Armed Forces
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73