What's the service commitment after graduating from the Naval Academy?

I'm considering applying to the Naval Academy, but I'm curious about the length of service commitment required after graduation. How many years do grads typically need to serve, and are there options to extend or shorten this period based on service roles?

Upon graduation from the United States Naval Academy, midshipmen are commissioned as officers in the US Navy or Marine Corps and have a minimum active-duty service commitment of five years. This applies to nearly all service roles, including Surface Warfare, Submarines, Naval Aviation, Naval Flight Officers, and Special Warfare/Special Operations.

Some specific fields or assignments, however, may require a longer service commitment. For instance, Naval Aviators have an active-duty service commitment of eight years from the time they earn their wings, which means the total obligation could be close to ten years depending on the length of flight training. Similarly, Nuclear Submarine Officers have a five-year commitment starting from completion of submarine school, which can be roughly seven years total from graduation.

Although these are the standard service periods, it's important to note that the length of service can also vary based on career decisions. Officers who choose to make the military their career may elect to serve for 20 years or more, making them eligible for a military pension upon retirement. On the other hand, there isn't typically an option to shorten the required service commitment. Unique individual circumstances would likely dictate any exceptions, but they would be rare.

Overall, the service commitment is seen as a significant part of the honor and responsibility that come with graduating from the Naval Academy, and it's definitely something to consider seriously when thinking about applying.