General
ets
What does ets mean?
The date a service member's current enlistment contract ends, and the process of separating.
"I'm counting the days until my ETS."
Origin
U.S. military acronym, 'Expiration of Term of Service.'
Frequently asked questions
What does ETS mean in the military?
It stands for Expiration of Term of Service — the date a service member's enlistment contract ends, and the process of separating from active duty.
How is ETS used?
It works as both a noun for the date ('my ETS is in June') and a verb ('I'm ETSing next month'). Troops often count down to their ETS.
Is ETS the same as retiring?
No. ETS is simply the end of a current enlistment term; retirement is separating after a full career (typically 20+ years). You can ETS and rejoin, or ETS and leave for good.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
