Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 4/25/2009

Question
Good afternoon,
I have been out of the Navy since June 1998.  I have thus been to college and Gradschool.  My degree was in counseling, but I read that in order to be a counselor in the Navy, one must have a doctorate. Not sure if that is true.  If so, is there any way to become an officer with such degrees?  I am presently 33 years old and had an honorable discharge. I was in the inactive reserves until 2002.  What are my options?  If not officer, would I be able to reenlist in the Navy and keep the rank I was when I got out (E-4), or would I be able to negotiate because of my schooling.  I am just curious to see if the Navy has a future for me or I should move along.

Answer
Jeff,
Let me dissect your question and answer each piece.

1.  It all depends upon what your separation documents say.  On your DD214 form you'll see a 3-digit code (it could be 3 numbers or 3 letters) which is a Separation Code which translates into why you were separated.  Also on that form there is a Reenlistment Code which looks something like this:  RE-1M  These codes are contained in your military records and may be annotated on various other military separation documents. The Department of Defense will no longer allow the military services to release the meanings of these codes to the general public, but I can tell you what yours mean.  Send me a follow-up question with your specific codes and be sure to mark it "private" and not "public".

2.  Yes, the Navy, like most Services, is requiring counselors to have a Ph.D.  Same with therapists.  Why, I don't know.

3.  You can still enter the Navy via OCS into a related field and use the Navy to pay for your Ph.D.  Since you already have your Master's degree you will be a shoe-in.

4.  Since you're 33 you need to act quickly, the Navy will not accept you past your 34th birthday.

5.  Don't even think about going in enlisted.  A man with your education would be wasting his time and talent.  But just to satisfy your curiosity, they will only accept you for up to 5 years after you get out.  Longer than that and they'd have to retrain you all over again because technology is changing the world so fast.  Even if you were out less than 5 years they force you to lose one stripe.

Do it NOW!  The Navy needs men like you.
Colonel H