Just remembered this info:
There are now short, full and long careers. You join up for your min 5 years now, once you pass your inital trade and then get promotion chance are you will be offerd service up to 12 years,(Short Career), further promotion and other trade quals will get you the offer of a full career that now 24 years, beyond this, you will get offers to renew your contract every 6 years, up to 55,(Long career)(however, if you join,at 18 and take full career + 3x6 years that only takes you up to age 54?!!!) I reckon some time in the future the rules will change again and those desk bound old crusties will get another 6 yeras to serve up to 60, not that I'm saying that the army change the rules for their benefit, but i've only been doing this now since the first options for change came in during the early 90's.
Remember, the offers are at the Armies discretion, every thing is geared for them, they can make you an offer or your time is up and its off to 1 civ div. In this present climate more people are joining, so its good news for the MOD, and they can pick and choose who they keep. when the economy picks up, less people join, its better for those in at those times.
Hope this helps Mick AKA Dawns Hubby RE.