>>Why don't we hear more of this from vets who recently left the military and can now speak freely?<<
They cannot speak freely!
Because an enlistment is for 8 years not 2 or 4. There is the active enlistment and then there is the inactive enlistment. They will total 8 years.
It is DoD policy under 10 U.S.C. (reference (b)) that:
4.1. Every person, on initial entry into a Military Service, shall serve a total of 8 years, to be fulfilled, in accordance with this Instruction.
4.2. The MSO for any person whose initial entry into a Military Service is on or after June 1, 1984, shall be for a period of 8 years from the date of enlistment, appointment, or, when authorized by law, induction.