Since I decided to stay in the Naval Reserve and not resign my commission, I must admit that I never paid much attention to the details of how much obligated service I owed after my release from active duty. I am now, officially, CDR, MC, USNR (ret.)
So, let's clear things up.
Kerry enlisted as an OCS candidate on 18 February 66.
Kerry was commissioned as an Ensign, USNR on 16 DEC 66.
How many years of obligated service including active duty, Individual Ready Reserve and Inactive Reserve was Kerry liable for?
Did the obligated service extend for 11+ years from December 1966 until February 1978?
Others who have looked into the matter claim that his obligated service would have been completed by 1972.
I can only speak about the reserve officers I served with, but they had a six year obligation with three years active duty and three years reserves. That said, the Navy's manpower requirements declined abruptly in the early 70's as the Vietnam War wound down. I know that there was plenty of competition to get pay billets in the reserves. The units were oversubscribed. I looked into it when I left active duty and decided it wasn't worth it. Besides, I joined the Foreign Service making it difficult to attend drills etc.
Did the obligated service extend for 11+ years from December 1966 until February 1978?
I have no idea. I assume from my own experience that you spent six years in the Standby reserves as a matter of course. I had more than completed my four years of active duty (changed to five) and spent a total of 13+ years on active duty and in the Standby Reserves. Frankly, I paid no attention to it since it took no action or participation on my part. I think we would have to look at the Reserve rules at the time and see how they were administered. I suspect that they were administered loosely as the size of the military declined rapidly.
Others who have looked into the matter claim that his obligated service would have been completed by 1972.
I think that is correct in terms of being subjected to recall. Kerry was released from the inactive reserves on July 1, 1972, which is a milestone date. He immediately went into the Standby Reserves with no gap, which is why I believe it is a standard transition process leading to discharge. It is like the distinction between permanent and temporary rank.