Expert: Howard Lorenz - 4/29/2008

Question
My husband is trying to go active army. We had a recruiter at the house a couple weeks ago, working on the paperwork, he said he would have my husband shipped out within the week. He called the next day, and said he couldn't re-enlist. He said he had 2 voluntary discharges, and that he had been put in the IRR illegally.



My husband went split-ops in high school, for KY Guard. Went to basic between 11th and 12th grade and was supposed to go for his MOS after he graduated. He never graduated, so they told him it voided his contract. He never signed or received a dd214 from them.



A couple years later, 3 or 4, he talked to a Indiana recruiter. He came to our home told him he could get him back in, send him to AIT, and go from there. They went over the basic information, my husband signed off on his dependents, or so he was told, and a couple months later he was called about why he hadn't showed up for drills. He told the man he didn't realize he was already in, and to found out when he needed to go for his training. They never called back again.



Now from what we've gathered on the net, he should have been put in the IRR, which concerns us that the current recruiter didn't know what he was talking about. Also that he was tricked and became what people call a "paper soldier" for that Indiana recruiters numbers.



We've requested copies of his DD214. But our concern is what happens when we get them. From what we've read a re 3 requires a waiver, would the recruiter have known that, and if he has a re4 he's pretty much sol.



He loved the army for the short time he was in. Doesn't have any problems that I've seen people writing about, drugs, medical, criminal record. Just a normal good man and now father. If you can help or know anyone who can please let us know.

Answer
I think that you should have a congressional inquiry into this one. Everything that you just told me....put in a ltter and sent to you local congressmans office and they will do an inquiry to find out what the Army did and how they will fix the problem....this process starts at the top and filters down. By walking into the recruiters office , it will never get out of the office unless you find a recruiter that wants to help him get in...